Stories of America’s Past
Welcome to America Comes Alive!, a site I created to share little-known stories of regular people who made a difference and changed the course of history. Look around and see what inspires you! — Kate Kelly
Tombs Angel: A One-Woman Social Service Agency
Rebecca Foster Salome was a middle-class woman who earned the apt name the “Tombs Angel” for her daily visits to the Manhattan courts and detention center in the 1880s-1890s. Known as the Tombs, The New York City Halls of Justice and House of Detention, was a surprising place for an upper middle-class wife to find herself. But there were no social service agencies to help the poor and newly incarcerated, and Rebecca Foster learned how…
Bid Whist and Sleeping Car Porters
Sleeping car porters are a well-known part of history. The card game of Bid Whist is not. Yet the story of the men and the story of the card game are very much intertwined. As the Pullman porters traveled the country, they spread information, music and card games like Bid Whist. (Bid Whist is a trick-taking strategic card game compared to spades and bridge.) Why haven’t more people heard of it? Here’s the story: How…
Dr. Charles Drew, Medical Pioneer in Blood Work
Dr. Charles Drew was a pioneer in medicine who achieved recognition in a racially divided America for his work with blood collection and storage during World War II. But those who knew him said that his greatest pride was in having mentored many Black surgeons who might never have moved forward in the field of medicine if it hadn’t been for Dr. Drew. Dr. Drew was one of several scientists working on ways to get…
Red Ball Express: Transport System Helped Win WWII
The Red Ball Express was a desperately needed World War II truck transport system that came about six weeks after D-Day. By late July of 1944, the Allies were progressing farther and faster than expected after the June 6 surprise landing on the beaches of Normandy. The military was struggling to keep the front lines supplied. The creation of a truck convoy system would provide a way to get ammunition, gas, and supplies to the…
On
This
Day
On April 25, 1947, President Truman unveiled a new bowling alley in the West Wing of the White House. It was paid for by a group of Truman’s friends from Missouri. Eisenhower closed the alley in 1955, but another was built nearby in the OEOB. Over the years, the presidential residence has had putting greens, swimming pools, a jogging track, a tennis court, and even a tree house (Amy Carter) for its residents.
Women Leaders
The Woman Behind the Salvation Army Bell Ringers
The Salvation Army bell ringers, introduced in the U.S. by Evangeline Booth in the early 1900s, can still be found on city streets at holiday time. They have transformed themselves […]
Charlotta Spears Bass (1874-1969): Newspaper Owner Who Fought for Civil Rights
• First African-American woman to own and operate a newspaper
• Crusaded against job and housing discrimination, police brutality, and media stereotyping. Advocated for civil liberties, women’s rights, immigration; and championed local, black-owned businesses.
• One of the most influential African-Americans of the early 20th century, galvanizing national energy around civil rights.
championed local, black-owned businesses.
• One of the most influential African-Americans of the early 20th century, galvanizing national energy around civil rights.Woman-Owned, Minority-Owned Construction Company Marks 108 Years and Counting
“The road to success is always under construction,” aptly quotes Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack, a New York construction company involved in many major infrastructure […]
Assuring That Women’s Stories are Told
Gloria Steinem has been quoted as saying, “If we don’t see a history with women, we don’t know that we can create it.” My final post for the month of […]
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Welcome to America Comes Alive!, a site I created to share little-known stories of regular people who made a difference and changed the course of history. Look around and see what inspires you! — Kate Kelly
Recent Stories
Tombs Angel: A One-Woman Social Service Agency
Rebecca Foster Salome was a middle-class woman who earned the apt name the “Tombs Angel” for her daily visits to the Manhattan courts and detention center in the 1880s-1890s. Known […]
Bid Whist and Sleeping Car Porters
Sleeping car porters are a well-known part of history. The card game of Bid Whist is not. Yet the story of the men and the story of the card game […]
Dr. Charles Drew, Medical Pioneer in Blood Work
Dr. Charles Drew was a pioneer in medicine who achieved recognition in a racially divided America for his work with blood collection and storage during World War II. But those […]
Red Ball Express: Transport System Helped Win WWII
The Red Ball Express was a desperately needed World War II truck transport system that came about six weeks after D-Day. By late July of 1944, the Allies were progressing […]
Bass Reeves: Lawman With Integrity
Bass Reeves was a former slave hired to be a deputy U.S. marshal in Indian Territory (what was to become the state of Oklahoma). He was one of the first […]
The First Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Today the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a worldwide symbol of opulence and the grand life of those who live in New York City, but this wasn’t how the tree […]
Part of the inspiration for this site comes from this remark: “People do not want to hear about simple things. They want to hear about great things – simply told.”
Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams (1860-1935)