The Two Nerdy History Girls Talk About Life 250 Years Ago

Some years have passed since author Susan Holloway Scott and I posted for the last time at our Two Nerdy History Girls blog.* Since that time, however, Meena Jain, Director of the Ashland (Massachusetts) Public Library, has invited us back regularly for virtual chats about history.

This time, Meena has asked us to be part of the Ashland Public Library’s sesquicentennial (try saying that fast three times) celebration series. As usual, we’ll leave politics and battles to those who are experts in these topics. We’ll focus on everyday life in 1776. As you can imagine, some aspects of life went on as usual while others changed, as they are bound to do in a time of upheaval.

The Two Nerdy History Girls - Everyday Life in 1776

''Pulling Down the Statue of George III", oil painting by William Walcutt (1819-1882), circa 1854.

  7-8PM on Monday 13 July 2026 via Zoom

To learn more about the program and to register, you can follow the link below:

Virtual - Celebrating America's 250th: The Two Nerdy History Girls Discuss Everyday Life in 1776

˜ ™™In Other News

SAVE THE DATE: Whether you are writing or hope/plan to write a book set between the late 1700s and the before-Victoria 1800s, you might want to join us at the Regency Fiction Writers Conference July 30th – August 1st, 2026. Again, you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home or wherever you do your staring at the screen. I can attest to the educational and fun aspects of the conference. As always, we have an excellent speaker lineup, including, I’m happy to report, my good friend author Caroline Linden, who’s a keynote speaker this year. You needn’t be a member of RFW to attend, although you can save some $$ if you are. You’ll find all the details at the conference link above.

*Though we stopped posting at the end of 2018, the blog remains, although I can’t promise that all the links will work.

Celebrating the Rocket Man, Robert Hutchings Goddard

Title page from Robert Goddard Biography, with note "Flown to the Moon on board APOLLO 11 July 16-24 1969, signed by Buzz Aldrin

Miniature Robert Goddard biography that went to the moon with Buzz Aldrin

On 16 March 1926, Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard launched a rocket from his aunt’s farm (now a golf course) in a town a few miles from where I live.

The rocket did not go far in terms of physical distance. It shot up forty-one feet into the air and landed one hundred eighty-four feet away, having traveled for two and a half seconds.

That short flight changed everything.

In July 1969, the little book pictured above, a biography of Goddard, was the first book to travel to the moon. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin took it there.*

Artemis II, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, is expected to launch in a few weeks, if all goes well.

In short, that brief flight started us on the path to the moon and beyond. It showed what was possible and led to more than space travel. But I’m not going to tell a story that others have covered. You’ll find abundant links, with wonderful images, online, that are part of the Goddard Centennial celebration. The images exist thanks to Goddard’s wife, Esther. She documented all he did and kept his memory alive. During Women’s History Month, of course it makes sense to recognize Esther Goddard. You can see many of Esther’s images online.

The Goddard Library is offering several exhibitions and two lectures. The latter will be available to view online, as well. On 17 March at 7PM, John Emond, former NASA program manager offers, “Robert Goddard: A Vision. A Reality. A Hope.” On 19 March at 4PM, Kevin Schindler, co-author of Robert Goddard's Massachusetts, offers “The Dreamer Who Launched the Space Age.”

You can learn more about Clark University’s Goddard Centennial events here.

Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket

Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts.

If you’re in the Central Massachusetts area between now and 1 August, you can also visit the Museum of Worcester’s Goddard exhibition, “Worcester to the Stars: The Goddard Rocket Centennial.” If you’re around between now and early April, you might want to catch “The Rocket Man: The Robert Goddard Musical.”

More about Goddard celebrations here.

I’ll finish by pointing out that this celebration, which has gone nationwide, very likely would not have happened if not for my indefatigable friend, fellow alum, and former colleague at Clark, Charles Slatkin.

*A couple of years ago, I saw the little book up close and personal at the Robert Hutchings Goddard Library. This is a building with which I’m familiar, having studied there as an undergraduate and post-graduate student as well as having done research some years later for my historical romances.

Photo credit for miniature Goddard bio, Walter M. Henritze; Goddard and rocket image courtesy NASA via Wikipedia.

Happy Valentine's Day & A Save-the-Date

Valentine’s Day entry from Hone’s Every-Day Book, originally published in 1825-26:

Two hundred thousand letters beyond the usual daily average, annually pass through the twopenny post-office in London on St. Valentine's Day. “Two hundred thousand twopences,” said an old gentleman as he read this in a March newspaper, “are four hundred thousand pence,” and he was going to cast up the amount—"Why, papa," said his daughter, "that's just the number of young folks there must be in love with each other that's the way to reckon." "Ah, my child, that's not the way to reckon; you have taken something into the account that has no business there: all Valentine-writers are not in love, nor are all lovers Valentine-writers; and remember, my dear girl, that as smiles on the face sometimes conceal cruel dispositions, so there are some who write Valentines, and trifle with hearts for the mere pleasure of inflicting pain."

Well, Papa isn’t wrong. And his remarks hold plot potential for a romance novel. Reading one, I believe, is a fine way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The exchange of notes or cards goes back to the Romans. This article from the American Antiquarian Society briefly summarizes the history. You can also click on the links to see examples of early Valentines, and discover Esther Howland, a 19th century entrepreneur from my hometown. The 1914 card I’ve used for this blog post was the front of a post card. You can read the card if you follow this link.

In other romance news, the Ashland (Massachusetts) Public Library will hold its annual Romance Festival (formerly RomCon) on 16 May. I will be there. I wouldn’t miss it for anything except a month in London, which kept me away last year. For details, please follow this link. The event is free, but you are asked to register, so that planners can make sure there’s room for everybody. You can register directly via this link.