Growing up in Kansas, some of my fondest memories were those made on my grandparent’s farm. My grandfather worked in the oilfields, farmed, and performed other odd jobs to support his family of six. My dad, who passed several years ago, told me the story of how my grandfather helped clean up an old dairy located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma that closed in the 1960’s. Read more
As a visitor to American Digger Magazine’s 1st Annual Chattanooga Civil War Show & Sale, you would have thought it was the 10th such show. The inaugural event was flawlessly executed in every imaginable facet. From the signage leading patrons to the show, the welcoming reception of those working the entrance, the well-organized layout of exhibitors, and the quality of items on display; down to the facility itself, the visitor experience was nothing short of phenomenal. Read more
For those of you that follow our blog, it should come as no surprise to you that I’m an unabashed nerd when it comes to Civil War history and artifacts. As such, I would like to dedicate this article to a delightful “nerd moment” that I recently experienced at The Winery at Bull Run. Read more
In 2017, if we weren’t writing code for RelicRecord.com, we were writing articles for our readers to enjoy. The topics we write about are largely dictated by the interests of our readers. Simply put, we do our best to give people what they want! So what exactly do our readers want? Well, according to our data, here are the 10 most read, shared, and talked about articles of 2017. Enjoy! Read more
Spending time swiping through an endless stream of Facebook posts typically doesn’t lead one to accomplish anything of great significance. But to every rule, there’s an exception. In this article, Justin Sully of CoinRingsbySully.com, shares how one unsuspecting image sparked a passion for creating beautiful coin rings… Read more
We recently worked the 38th Annual Southeastern Civil War and Antique Gun Show in Marietta, GA. In addition to enjoying the rich history on display, we also got a chance to visit with some old friends. I was reminded of the time many of us spent together just a year before, trading stories of some of our favorite Civil War artifacts and recoveries. In case you missed it, here’s a small sampling…
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“Reader, did you ever eat a mussel? Well, we did, at Shelbyville. We were camped right upon the bank of Duck River, and one day Fred Dornin, Ed Voss, Andy Wilson and I went in the river mussel hunting. Every one of us had a meal sack. We would feel down with our feet until we felt a mussel and then dive for it. When we got to camp we cracked the shells and took out the mussels. We tried frying them, but the longer they fried the tougher they got. They were a little too large to swallow whole. Then we stewed them, and after a while we boiled them, and then we baked them, but every flank movement we would make on those mussels the more invulnerable they would get.”
Last weekend I spent some time with Ray Hunt, a collector of Florida maps and postcards to learn more about his collection and what led him to collecting. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ray, his wife Linda, and their sons, Brad and Bryan for over two decades now. I was in school and Boy Scouts with Bryan but it was only later in life when Ray hired me to work for him that I learned about Ray’s collection of historic maps and postcards of Florida. Since Will and I started a company offering software for collectors, it was only fitting I spend some time with Ray learning more about what he collects. Read more
Anita Holcombe of American Digger Magazine recently shared her story of recovering a Jeff Davis Hat Pin from a Civil War site in Belle Plains, Virginia. With Anita’s help, we explore the hat pin, its origins, and the purpose it served. Let’s first start with a little background on where the hat pin was recovered.
“Colonel Woodward did not weigh more than 110 lbs, had long curling hair flowing over his shoulders. His very small legs were stuck in high cavalry boots reaching above his knees; and on which, was an enormous pair of Mexican spurs. He had a cavalry saber that was much too long for him and an army pistol attached to his belt; which contrasted with his size, looked like a small cannon. His grey pantaloons were stuffed in his boot, while a dark grey hunting shirt with a narrow brimmed corduroy slouch hat completed his apparel. All this, with an extremely dust-begrimed face, made a picture ridiculously amusing.”