Liberty's Puppies

September 18, 2015 by Alex Skerry in Dogs, Presidents, America

In 1975, President Ford's dog, Liberty, gave birth to nine puppies at the White House. These were not the first babies born at the White House, however. The first White House baby was Thomas Jefferson's grandson, Martha Jefferson Randolph's son James Madison Randolph. The only president to have his own baby born at the White House was Grover Cleveland. After losing the presidency, then being re-elected for a second, non-consecutive term, Cleveland's wife Frances Folsom Cleveland, 27 years his junior and the daughter of Cleveland's former law partner, gave birth to their second child, Esther

Vanderbilt Chivalry

May 07, 2015 by Alex Skerry in Amazing People, ArchiveGals

Today is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. As a former PSNC employee (who loves Gilded Age history and all things Vanderbilt), Alex used to hear a lot of family lore about one of America's richest (and most interesting) families while working at the Breakers. One story that always stuck with her was that of Alfred Gwyn Vanderbilt (the 4th child of Cornelius Vanderbilt II), who died while on board the Lusitania. Alfred was last seen removing his life vest and wrapping it around a woman with a baby.

Now That's a Dress!

April 30, 2015 by Alex Skerry in ArchiveGals, Civil War, Girl Power, Military, National Archives

Finding images in military records is rare, but we do occasionally come across a photograph, a tintype, or even a daguerreotype in the files. This daguerreotype was found by a gentleman doing genealogy research on his family- he was not as excited, since apparently it was great-great-great grandad's 1st wife, and his family descended from the 3rd, but we were PUMPED. As a warning to those about to attempt tracking down family genealogy, people in the 19th century got married A LOT!