Window On the Past Archive
The Hidden Gallagher
Irish Architect James Gallier Sr. left an indelible mark on New Orleans with his masterful…
Window on the Past: Where Shall We Seek for a Hero?
180 years after his birth on June 28, 1844, the lessons of legendary Irish rebel,…
Arthur O’Shaughnessy: Reluctant Herpetologist, Ardent “Music Maker”
He is best known for one part of one poem he published in 1873. Arthur…
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Window on the PastThe Irish Bambino
In late 1990s baseball, home runs were everywhere. The balls were allegedly juiced. The sluggers were definitely juiced. Players who had been lanky rookies would later display cartoon-sized muscles, thanks […]
Window on the Past: Stampede of a New York Cowboy
Calgary, nicknamed “Cowtown,” is home to the largest rodeo in the world, the Calgary Stampede, which annually draws millions of visitors. The first Calgary rodeo in 1912 was organized by a New Yorker […]
Window on the Past: The Triumph of a Sad Clown
The extraordinarily gifted Emmett Kelly, who turned clowning into an art form. Though he was most certainly a clown, Emmett Kelly’s performances were wistful rather than slapstick. Instead of wearing cheerfully bright […]
Window on the Past: Manifest Destiny
Two words from one Irishman who trumpeted the world’s superpower. “Manifest destiny…” These words, placed together, command one’s attention. They sound important, almost biblical. But they didn’t come from an […]
Window on the Past: A Savior of History
John Gilmary Shea preserved much of the existing knowledge of the beginnings of American Catholicism. Considering the Irish-American influence on U.S. Catholicism, it makes sense that someone of Irish descent […]
Window on the Past: Wall Street’s Forgotten Financial News Genius
Etched against the burgeoning lower Manhattan skyline, a lone figure rowed his tiny skiff toward the white-capped inner port. This was no fitness buff; his dark suit and bowler hat […]