Catherine Hayes (not to be confused with the murderess of the same name) was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1818. Abandoned by her musician father at age 5, Catherine grew up in poverty with her mother and younger sister. While singing in the garden one day, the purity of twenty-year-old Catherine’s voice was heard by … Continue reading Irish Women in History – Catherine Hayes, The Victorian Pop Star
She had four different names. Born Lucille Wood Smith, her parents soon changed her name to Frances Octavia Smith. When she started her radio career, she took the name, Marion Lee. In 1930 she changed her name to Dale Evans. Evans started her singing career at seven years of age singing gospel solos at church. … Continue reading Horsewomen in History – Dale Evans and What You Might Not Know About Her
Selika Laszevski is in fact so little known, many historians question her existence at all. The portrait here was taken by Felix Nadar in 1891, Paris, France. The photo is thought to be of Lasveski, but it is not certain. Some historians speculate that this photograph was taken of an unknown model and Nadar attached … Continue reading Horsewomen in History – Little Known Selika Laszevski
Velma Bronn Johnston knew more about pain and suffering than most of us. Born to Joseph Bronn and Gertrude Clay in 1912, Velma, at eleven years of age contracted polio and was confined to a cast and hospitalization for several months. The disease left her physically disfigured, and the subject of ridiculing and cruelty by … Continue reading Horsewomen in History – Velma Bronn Johnston
Esther Howland, at age 19, never thought when she received an expensive European paper Valentine from a business associate of her father’s, that she would one day be known as the “Mother of the American Valentine.” Beautifully decorated with ornate cut-out paper flowers, a lace border, and a small envelope in the center containing a … Continue reading Esther Howland – Of Love and Letters
She trained at the Paris Opera Ballet at seven years old, made her professional debut at age eleven, became a fashion icon at sixteen, and was muse to some of the most notable artists and photographers of all time—but who was this woman? Someone destined for greatness from the beginning. Her parents, the Austrian landscape … Continue reading Dancer, Model, Muse – Cléo de Mérode
Born in 1907, Freda Josephine McDonald, Josephine, as she was later called, was destined to be an entertainer. Born to dancer Carrie McDonald and possibly Eddie Carson, (her father’s true identity has never been confirmed) who was also in show business, Josephine made her first appearance on stage at the age of one when the couple brought her … Continue reading Josephine Baker – Entertainer, French Resistance Agent, and Activist
By many historical accounts, Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of the 16thPresident of the United States, is portrayed as emotional, irrational, difficult, and spoiled. In all fairness, she might have been these things, but the explanations for the reasons behind these behaviors varies. As a teenager, Miss Todd’s contemporaries described her as kind, intelligent, well-educated … Continue reading Mary Todd Lincoln – Judged Unfairly by History?
Watch this video about my upcoming e-book release, Shoot like a Girl, the prequel novella to Girl with a Gun. If you like Annie Oakley, you will love these tales of intrigue in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show! You can purchase Girl with a Gun at these retailers. Spark Press: https://gosparkpress.com/product/girl-with-a-gun/ Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MyCdrs Barnes & Nobel: https://bit.ly/2xTsplN Are you a historical … Continue reading Upcoming Book Release – Shoot like a Girl!
Phoebe Ann Mosey, (or Moses) most commonly known as Annie Oakley, learned self-reliance at a young age. Her family lived in a cabin near Greenville, Ohio, where the winters were often treacherous. When she was six years old, Annie’s father left the home in a snowstorm. He returned frost-bitten and grievously ill. He died a few months … Continue reading The Life and Times of Annie Oakley (Repost from 2012)