Readex

Did you know that historical newspapers reveal more than just major events—they capture the heartbeat of everyday life, culture, and community?

In the 1890s, Maine’s Shiloh community made headlines across the nation, not for growth, but for the controversy surrounding a self-proclaimed prophet.

Discover how news coverage shaped public perception and what we can learn from the rise and fall of this forgotten movement. Dive into the story: https://ow.ly/xvgo50Za9S9

What surprising stories have you uncovered in historical newspapers? Share your thoughts below!

🌲 This , we're looking back at a remarkable woman whose personal tragedies sparked one of California's greatest conservation victories.

Josephine Clifford McCrackin — author, journalist, and what one poet called the "Savior of the Sequoias" — survived an abusive marriage on the New Mexico frontier and a devastating wildfire that destroyed her California home in 1899. Rather than retreat, she picked up her pen.

Her editorial in the Santa Cruz Sentinel in 1900, calling on Californians to protect the Big Basin redwoods from private landowners who would cut them down for firewood, ignited a movement. She co-founded the Sempervirens Club, rallied scientists, artists, politicians, and civic leaders — and two years later, California purchased the Big Basin grove for $250,000, creating what is now the state's oldest state park, preserving over 18,000 acres of ancient coast redwoods.

Her story is a powerful reminder that conservation history is deeply human history — shaped by resilience, advocacy, and the power of the written word.

For faculty and librarians exploring environmental history, women's activism, or 19th-century journalism, Josephine's story (documented in Readex's Early American Newspapers and American Indian Wars collections) is a compelling primary source case study.

📖 Read the full article: https://ow.ly/kiFY50Z6Qer

Who were the Holy Ghosters, Maine's forgotten turn-of-the-century cult?

🔎 https://ow.ly/gx3U50Z7Hno