History

2021-06-26 03:14:26 Goldsmith at work (Shepherd and Robertson, Delhi India, c.1863).
This photograph was published in 1869 with the text;
'The Sonar or gold and silversmith is an indispensable member of the Indian social condition of life; and he is to be found in every village, almost in every hamlet, as well as in all towns and cities. In the Deccan, where original national institutions are preserved in village communes, and wherever they are at present existent throughout India - the Sonar is a member of the hereditary village council, which includes the carpenter and blacksmith, the potter, and other useful and indispensable mechanics, and is twelve in number, presided over by the patell, the hereditary magistrate or head manager.'
Source Open / Comment

2021-06-25 00:39:39 A second poster targets use against sailors. It reads;
'Our fleet.
Do you permit death to vomit his poison over the earth yet again?'
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2021-06-25 00:36:40 The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom issued this poster in 1924 as protest against the use of poison gas. Especially since the war had seen the increased involvement of civilians, it was worried it could be used on towns and cities. This fear would never go away as, for example, in 1939 and 1940 when gas masks were issued across Britain.
In any case, the 1925 Geneva Convention agreed to outlaw the use of poison gas in warfare.
Source Open / Comment

2021-06-23 01:42:00 Evidently the sender did not like him much, but his secretary found it amusing enough to keep.
Source Open / Comment

2021-06-23 01:41:15 In 1942, Winston Churchill attended the Second Washington Conference to discuss Allied strategy in the war. Whilst there he received an anonymous letter from Denver. Open / Comment

2021-06-22 01:07:10

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2021-06-22 01:06:54 Flag of the Company of Scotland, that became the flag of New Caledonia (1698-1700).
The colonisation project aimed to establish itself in Panama, and had the backing of about 20% of Scotland's national wealth. Owing to many factors, perhaps most of all poor planning, it was a complete disaster. Open / Comment

2021-06-20 00:37:45 Milkha Singh, Rome, 1961. The Indian athlete was born in what is now Pakistan before partition. His family was killed by a mob during the breakup of the Raj, and he fled to India where he joined the army.
After entering athletics and achieving global fame, he became known as the 'Flying Sikh'.
He died yesterday aged 91. Open / Comment

2021-06-19 23:56:46 Today is Juneteenth in America. This is a short video explaining what it is and why it matters to African-American communities in the USA. Open / Comment

2021-06-19 23:56:46 Today is the first time Juneteenth has been officially observed. Open / Comment