“A Gateway to the 19th Century: The William Steinway Diary, 1861–1896”—National Museum of American History, through April 8, 2011 Showcasing the diary of William Steinway, the first president of famed piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons and a key figure in the cultural, economic and physical development of New York City. The complete diary is available… Continue reading ‘A Gateway to the 19th Century: The William Steinway Diary, 1861–1896’

Montgomery Ward Department Store “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Book, National Museum of American History Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first appeared in 1939 when the Montgomery Ward department store asked one of its copywriters, 34-year-old Robert L. May, to create a Christmas story the store could give away to shoppers as a promotional gimmick. The retailer… Continue reading Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer