Author Archives: corvusfugit

1904: Columbia

Posted on July 18, 2021 by corvusfugit

A model of the USS Columbia at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904; cropped from a larger photo: The ship to the right may be the Minneapolis. The Columbia was the fourth ship with that name in the US Navy; … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1900's, 20th Century, Miniatures, Ships & Sailing, USA | Leave a comment

1882: Jumbo

Posted on July 12, 2021 by corvusfugit

An anecdote from Matthew Scott’s biography of Jumbo the Elephant (1885): Once when I was riding him around in the Zoological Gardens, in London, sitting on his neck, with about a dozen children on a panier-saddle across his broad back, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1880's, 19th Century, Africa, Animals, Children, Elephants, Great Britain, Jumbo the Elephant, Mammals, Matthew Scott, Sudan, Zoos | Leave a comment

1958: Firebird III

Posted on July 6, 2021 by corvusfugit

The General Motors Firebird III was built in 1958, debuted as a concept car at Motorama in 1959, and was featured at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1950's, 20th Century, Cars, Design, Detroit, General Motors, USA | 2 Comments

1776: Equally as Precious to a Black Man

Posted on July 4, 2021 by corvusfugit

In 1776, Lemuel Haynes, a veteran of the American Revolution and the first black man in the United States to be ordained as a minister, wrote this response to the Declaration of Independence: Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 18th Century, African-Americans, American Revolution, Civil Rights, Lemuel Haynes, Rights, Slavery, USA | Leave a comment

1848: The Devil’s Violin

Posted on July 4, 2021 by corvusfugit

Costume design by Paul Lormier for the 1849 ballet Le violon du diable (source).

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1840's, 19th Century, Art, Dance, Demons, Design, France, Owls, Paul Lormier, Snakes, Theater | Leave a comment

1953: Description

Posted on July 3, 2021 by corvusfugit

A description of what we would now call a depressive episode from a 1953 story by Jean Ferry, “The Traveler with Luggage”: As a result of incidents still obscure to me, I suffered an absolutely atrocious mental breakdown in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1950's, 2020's, 20th Century, 21st Century, African-Americans, Art, Books, Damon Davis, France, Jean Ferry, Mental Health, Sculpture, USA, Writing | Leave a comment

1912: Butterflies

Posted on July 2, 2021 by corvusfugit

Odilon Redon: Evocation of Butterflies (ca. between 1910 and 1912)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1910's, 20th Century, Animals, Art, Butterflies, France, Insects, Odilon Redon, Painting | Leave a comment

1909: Seascape

Posted on June 30, 2021 by corvusfugit

Léon Spilliaert: Seascape Seen from Mariakerke (1909)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1900's, 20th Century, Art, Belgium, Léon Spilliaert, Painting, Seascapes | Leave a comment

1778: Great Indian Fruit Bat

Posted on June 29, 2021 by corvusfugit

Indian flying foxes are found throughout India. Like others of their species, they are gregarious and tend to form large social groups. With a wingspan of four to five feet, Indian flying foxes are very conspicuous in their open roosts … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 18th Century, Animals, Art, Bats, Bhawani Das, India, Mammals, Painting, Religion | Leave a comment

1908: I Dreamed I Was my Husband

Posted on June 27, 2021 by corvusfugit

The following poem appeared in several publications in 1908: A Singular Tragedy I dreamed I was a lady, and I was wooed by Me. (The writer of this story you understand’s a He.) I dreamed (I say) I loved Me … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1900's, 20th Century, Dreams, LGBTQ, Marriage, Photography, Poetry, USA | Leave a comment