For three weeks, I’ve been working through a set of microfilm generously on loan to me from the University of West Florida, specifically, the Pensacola Evening News for 1912. I just finished the last reel this afternoon, and my library will send the film back to UWF tomorrow. This set […]
I do periodic revisits of different databases, since they are updated from time-to-time. For example, Chronicling America (one of my favorites), which updated their electronic holdings of The Pensacola Journal back in June. Sometimes I just don’t catch everything on the first run-through. Database revisits are akin to editing drafts. […]
In honor of Minnie Kehoe and Minnie Neal, two strong women I’ve uncovered in Emmett Wilson’s biography, I want to see this movie. It is due out in October. The link to the movie trailer is here. Of course, no one alive is around to vet the details in this […]
How was your Fourth of July? What did you all do? Traditionally, we go to a fun neighborhood block party that includes the usual cookout, outdoor games for the kids, and a parade. It rained cats and dogs all morning, but thankfully, the sun came out right before noon! Our […]
Notice the date. In sum, here’s what happened, 97 years ago. Emmett was hospitalized at Pensacola Hospital for almost a week prior to his death; he went through a few days of harrowing delirium tremens (and was likely strapped down during the time). It wasn’t a regular hospital room; Pensacola […]
So, what do Emmett Wilson, Richard Nixon, and a bronze terrapin named Testudo all have in common? You can find all of three (in some format or the other!) at the National Archives II, located at the University of Maryland, College Park! I spent the afternoon on campus, and met […]
Yesterday, I ventured inside The Oracle, also known as the National Archives, located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Oracle? Hell yeah. It was one of the best days of my life in the world of Emmett Wilson research. In the 25 years that I’ve lived in the DC area (15 […]
Some alcoholics ‘hit bottom’ (i.e., reach a point where they become teachable, where they are sick and tired of being sick and tired) sooner than others. For myself, it came after about 30 years of moderate to occasional heavy drinking. At the end, it wasn’t as if I was having […]
Back in the mid-1980’s, when I was a year or so out of journalism school with some experience writing for daily newspapers under my belt, I got the itch to move on to a bigger newspaper market, with a more interesting beat, and more exciting stories to write. Columbus, Mississippi […]
I talk to dead people on a regular basis for Emmett’s story. Because the convo is mostly one-way, I don’t get a lot of sass back from my interview subjects. Also, I don’t have to worry about Emmett and his friends not liking what I had to write about them […]
Tell my story. 