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Tag: 1851 deaths

  • José Antonio de la Garza–May 31, 1776

    Cover art for May 31, 1776: Closeup of each side of the coins minted by José Antonio de la Garza. Image reportedly came from KVUE-TV in Austin but we can't pin it down as definitively their image.

    José Antonio de la Garza was born in what we now call San Antonio. They may have called it that back then as well, but the area was called San Antonio de Béjar at the time, and was a mission around which the eventual city grew.

    Texas was still a territory belonging to Mexico (i.e., Spain), and in the early 1700s the popular thought was that building these missions would strengthen Spain’s claims to the territory. That…sort of worked for awhile, until disputed territories were locked into treaties, or ceded one way or another, or occupied by a military force.

    At any rate, once you’ve listened to the episode, you’ll have a better understanding of how Texas got its nickname.

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  • May 6, 1775: Mary Sherwood

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    Cover art for May 6, 1775: Mrs. Mary Sherwood, artist unknown.

    First, I think we need to address the elephant in the room that Mike brought up during this episode: Winona Ryder comes third out of four; Katharine Hepburn and Saoirse Ronan are way ahead.

    And let’s just pretend June Allyson didn’t happen.

    Mary Sherwood is one of those authors who, it appears, was fated to fade into obscurity after dying despite the huge popularity they enjoyed in life. It still happens today; ask anyone under 40 about Erma Bombeck or Kurt Vonnegut.

    Fortunately you have us to learn a little bit about her and her work.

    [powerpress}