Brittney Ingersoll

I'm excited to get a chance to write amidst school and work. Because of the busyness of the season, this post will be much shorter than usual. This past summer I picked up an autograph book that was given to Mary C. Lear by what appears to be her Sunday school class in Mt. Airy on September 24, … [Read more...] about An Album of “Love and Friendship”: Mary C. Lear and Her Autograph Book 1882-1884

Several years ago, while wandering around the Vineland Flea Market, I stumbled upon a small booklet on a pile of miscellaneous items. It was an exciting find! Although no date is printed on it, I guessed that it was probably from the 1880s-1920s. The small publication is titled Dr. John's Recipe and … [Read more...] about In Your Dreams: Dr John’s Dream Book c.1890-1930

I am slowly working my way through my book and have approached my first deadline -the introduction. I wanted to have a draft of it completed by September 1st. My goal was to have my introduction be 10,000 words, roughly 20 pages. I finished editing the first draft of my introduction on August 31st … [Read more...] about Writing Blog: Introduction Update

Restore woman to health, and give her what God has ordained as her birthright-- the control of her own person -- and the trade of the abortionist will soon cease; but until then not only will the abortionist flourish, but the larger race of empirics in every city, who sell useless or injurious … [Read more...] about Russell Thacher Trall & His Book “Sexual Physiology” Part 2

As I wait on a book for the second part of the Trall blog, I have decided to share some news - I have begun writing a book on nineteenth-century brothel guides. I honestly did not think this research would become a book, I could not see it grow into something more than my Commonplace article, … [Read more...] about Writing Blog: I Have Begun Writing a Book…

Last time my partner and I went to Philly we visited the record store, The Long In the Truth where I was excited to find a small green book titled Sexual Physiology: A Scientific and Popular Exposition of the Fundamental Problems in Sociology by Russell Thacher Trall, published in 1874. Upon looking … [Read more...] about Russell Thacher Trall & the Water Cure Movement

Recently on a visit to Cape May, NJ my partner and I stopped by an antique shop that we have visited many times before. I purchased several pieces of ephemera and a TY Beanie Baby Goose named "Loosy." No, I will not remove the tag, I do not want her to lose her monetary value, haha. I digress, two … [Read more...] about What is this Really?: Maurice Pepin’s WWI-Era Postcards

A couple of years ago, my brother gave me what appeared to be a reproduction of a nineteenth-century brothel token for my birthday. One side of the coin “All Night $3 Check” is engraved and the other side reads “Uncle Sam Hotel 12 Beautiful Young Ladies to Assist You Yuma Arizona Territory.” Further … [Read more...] about Brothel Token: Fantasy or Repro?

This past year, like many millennials in their 30’s, I have accumulated over twenty house plants. I have also become interested in the different uses of herbs and have made three different salves and candles. I was excited when I stumbled upon a collection of herb books from c. 1930s-1940s. Two of … [Read more...] about Books & Herbs 1936-1939