Blog - Karen A. Chase

The Real Reverend Ewing

April 25, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

While researching various aspects for my novel, Carrying Independence, now and then I discovered an historical figure (not the usual founding father) who I’d never heard of, and whose life could bring extra meaning to the story. Enter Rev. John Ewing of Philadelphia.

Doctor John Ewing, More than a Reverend

I first encountered John Ewing, on the pages of a 1953 Historic Philadelphia book, published by the American Philosophical Society and given to me by friend Bill Ochester (who is also a reenactor as Ben Franklin).

In these pages, Ewing was described not only as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church on Pine Street, but as Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, a mathematician, and scientist. He was the “Director of the Observation of the Transit of Venus in 1769 in Independence Hall Yard under the auspices of the American Philosophical Society.”

I fall hard for historic figures who illustrate how we humans have long-been nuanced. Today, we too often position scientists and the clergy as opposites. Here was a devout theologically-minded minister who also mapped the trajectory of Venus, and challenged the thoughts of the day—so much so that even Dr. Benjamin Rush was said to have “left the church because of Doctor Ewing.”

Rev. Ewing’s Own Words

A bit more investigation on Ewing, and I discovered research gold. A 444-page book of Ewing’s own words—his sermons—was published in 1812. It includes a brief biographical sketch and words spoken about him at his funeral. In the book is a footnote about how Ewing often referenced a lesson learned in his own childhood after coming upon a snake and a frightened bird.

In my novel, readers will find Ewing in his rectory, peering through a telescope borrowed from the Philosophical Society, sharing this childhood tale (paraphrased, of course), with a member of his congregation—one of my fictional characters. Hopefully I have portrayed Ewing’s “easy and affable” manner well. By his actions, I trust you’ll experience Ewing as he saw himself—a thoughtful man convinced that “his own investigation confirmed him in his belief of the doctrines of grace.”

A PDF of Rev. Ewing’s sermons can be found linked through my Carrying Independence Research Pinterest Page here.

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For more history nerd tidbits like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

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Tuckahoe Plantation Then and Now

April 23, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Recently, I visited Tuckahoe Plantation—about 30 minutes from my home—for the first time. For Thomas Jefferson, whose birthday we were celebrating at the estate, he first came to Tuckahoe when he was just two. According to Jefferson biographer Dumas Malone, Jefferson recorded his earliest memory of riding in a carriage, propped up on a cushion held by a slave, heading to what would be his home for the next seven years.

The History of Tuckahoe

Built by William Randolph and Maria Judith Page beginning in 1730, by 1945 it was home to their suddenly orphaned children. In his will, William declared Thomas Jefferson’s parents as guardians, and rather than uprooting the Randolph children, the Jefferson’s moved to Tuckahoe Plantation.

It is not difficult to image little T.J. running the halls of the H-frame home and being educated in a tiny one-room school house on the property. The house has been incredibly well maintained as a National Historic Landmark and that school house still stands beyond the tulip gardens.

Tuckahoe Today

It’s also easy to imagine the estate occupied by a family because it still is. Although the home is open to visitors, it is still privately owned, and rooms are filled with a mixture of then and now. Founding father portraits look upon framed family photos of weddings and graduations. Period antiques are cushioned by the occasional modern rug gracing rooms still inhabited by the current owners.

While these modern family and functional pieces keep the visitor grounded in current day, it is the gardens, outbuildings, and thankful preservation of the home, (it was nearly demolished to put in a highway—gasp) that allowed me to wander through the door and back to the 18th century. It’s a splendid example of the period—from the dark paneling to the paint colors to the perennials. (Check out the glass windows etched with signatures of visitors on their Instagram feed.)

The plantation is open daily from 9–5 with limited tours inside the home. For tour and photography information visit the Tuckahoe Plantation website.

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For more history nerd tidbits like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For behind-the-scenes author-related news, giveaways, and to find out where I might be speaking near you, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Do Author Signatures Matter? Will mine?

April 9, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

I was in a bookstore a few weeks ago, buying a book written by an author I admire. The bookseller informed me, with much enthusiasm, that they had a stack of signed copies. The author was not there at the moment, and with dozens of signed copies before me, I wondered just how valuable the signature was. To the author. To collectors. To me.

As with every part of this publishing journey, I decided to stop and ask two questions about the process. Why do we do that? Do I need to do that?

What’s in a signature?

In a world in which there are fewer reasons to sign documents, as outlined in this 2018 New York Times article, Why Signatures Matter, to some the signature has lost all meaning. It used to be that, as Steven Petro writes, “each signature was an original creation.” Now, in many cases—credit cards with chips for instance—the signature has become moot. Based on that logic, sign all the books I want, right?

However, in the last couple of years, the only documents that required my signature (and proof of it) were forms to refinance my house, my passport, banking documents, and HIPAA/medical release forms. Those are major documents where the signature becomes part of a binding agreement, and not one to lightly toss around. So is my signature more valuable than I thought?

Does an author signature have value?

An item—art, stamps, a signed book—has value for the joy it brings the owner. However, as my parents always said of stamps and art… it’s only worth money if I sell it. For book collectors, the same applies to author signatures. There are multiple variations on the way authors sign books, as outlined in this article by Denise Enck. Whether it’s inscribed, signed, or attributed, ultimately the worth of the book, “could be large, moderate, or negligible, depending upon the book in question.”

I own an illustrated edition of David McCullough’s 1776. I could buy it signed for $150 on ebay, but the copy I have is more valuable to me because it was a gift from a dear friend. Would I want McCullough to sign it if I met him? Not necessarily, because it’s not like I’m going to sell it. I’d rather ask him if he ever got the letter I wrote to him and then I hope we’d talk about George Washington in Harlem Heights, but I digress…

Perhaps popularity or whether an author is alive or dead matters. A first-edition Ann Patchett can run about $10. A first edition Hemingway, A Farewell To Arms, sold for over $18,000 in 2014. I ain’t no Hemingway.

Mine is a first edition. But it’s a paperback. But I’m kind of a nobody and alive. For now. So what am I to do? I turned back to the story within my book and to the founding fathers.

P145_Signing_the_Declaration_of_American_Independence_Cassell_KarenAChase — “Signing of the Declaration of American Independence.” *Cassell’s Illustrated History of England, Volume 5*, page 145. (1865)

This country is founded on the importance of signatures.

The whole premise of CARRYING INDEPENDENCE is based upon the simple fact that the newly-formed Congress in 1776 deemed it 100% necessary to ensure the original signatures from all 56 men in Congress were affixed to ONE copy of the Declaration of Independence. (My protagonist, Nathaniel, also struggles mightily, as many an Americans did, over whether to sign an oath to the Crown or to the colonies.)

When the last delegate, Thomas McKean, signed the Declaration (a topic for another day), Congress had a formal unanimous agreement to separate from the Crown (which they had done verbally on July 2nd), and now they had a written contract that also bound together the 13 united states. We still honor that document today. Revere it! Signatures damn-well mattered.

Limited Signed Editions of Carrying Independence.

After much thought, and in the spirit of the document, I am limiting the number of signed copies of my novel to just 76 (in honor of the year 1776, of course). I am reserving the first 20 copies for personal use and charitable endeavors, and 56 are being made available on a first-come-basis to the public during the pre-sale period, which begins this Thursday on April 11th. Each of those 76 copies will have a full signature, each will be numbered, and each will carry my personal seal (shown here).

“But how will you autograph them at book talks?” a friend asked. I will still inscribe a copy to readers with their name, but alas, my full signature will not be penned. Nor will you find my scrawl in stacks of books set upon tables for just anyone to pick up.

Is that arrogant? Maybe. Isn’t assuming everyone will want my autograph equally so? Ultimately, I believe that signatures matter. They surely did in 1776. Perhaps one day history might determine mine does, too.

Follow/watch my Author Facebook page on April 11th for details on how you might secure one of the 56 signed copies.

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Thanks for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Why the Revolution?

April 4, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

On Writing About the American Revolution

A Guest Post by Lars D. H. Hedbor

I’m often asked why I write about the American Revolution. It is true that here are many fascinating and compelling eras in human history. Indeed, when I reach the end of my explorations of the Revolution, I expect to broaden my scope.

There is Opportunity in Writing About the American Revolution

In part, I started writing about the Revolution because of the opportunity—there are a lot of fascinating small stories that contributed to the big events of the Revolution, and few of them have been explored in fiction. Having a wide, uncrowded field in which to work is hugely appealing.

Too, the events of the Revolution are familiar (if imperfectly), so I’m not having to explain to my readers that the Americans fought the British to achieve independence. They open my books knowing that much. The details and nuances, though, make terrific grist for my imagination.

Then there is the opportunity to remind readers that history is shaped by the small decisions of ordinary people. The Revolution was not accomplished by just a few heroic figures striding across the pages of history atop mighty white horses. Critical events were shaped at the kitchen tables of folks who would never make it into our histories. I take my readers to those kitchen tables and let them imagine what choices they might have made—and reflect on how they may affect history with their choices today.

The American Revolution Changed Humanity

Most importantly, though, I write about the Revolution because it changed the course of human history. It is unique in that it was not fought over the question of which prince would rule over a patch of dirt. The American War of Independence was as much a philosophical revolution as it was a military one. It reframed the very concept of governance—the whole relationship between the people and their leaders.

With the Revolution, we emerged from being subjects of the King to becoming citizens of the Republic. We were no longer ruled under divine right, but are led by men and women of our own choosing. It has become fashionable to focus solely on the imperfections of the Revolution—which were many and about which I write unflinchingly. However, thinking only about what the Founders got wrong tends to overlook how much they got right.

This magnificent accomplishment, which took a scattered collection of hardscrabble colonies and united them as one of the leading nations of the world, is well worth understanding deeply. That is why I write about the American Revolution, and will do so for some time to come.

Lars D. H. Hedbor is the author of the Tales From a Revolution series, each of which explores the Revolution as it unfolded in a different colony or future state. His most recent release is The Tree: Tales From a Revolution—New-Hampshire, which follows a young man as he is abruptly orphaned, and is left to manage his father’s timber grants with only the help of his eccentric aunt. He finds comfort in a new friendship with Betty, a decidedly odd neighbor. Defying the Royal Governor’s crackdowns and his aunt’s commands, Abe makes choices that put him on a collision course with both. With rebellion in the air, Abe must escape detection by the Governor’s agents and solve the puzzle of Betty’s past in order to secure his future.

The Tree is available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. You can learn about all of Hedbor’s books on his website, LarsDHHedbor.com.

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Thanks for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts like this one are welcomed and encouraged––by academics, historians, authors, artists, and storytellers. Contact me for details.

For Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

How to Garden Like Thomas Jefferson

March 28, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Watercolor ”View of the West Front of Monticello and Garden” (1825) by Jane Braddick. Peticolas. The children are Thomas Jefferson’s grandchildren. – WikimediaCommons/PublicDomain

While planting season in Virginia usually begins around tax day, I’m anxious to get into my garden now. I live an hour or so from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello where I frequently visit his historic gardens, which are still jaw-droppingly impressive. In three distinct garden areas, the estate sprouts flowers, fruits, and vegetables. To produce gardens, even on a small scale, that will make us equally proud, here are three simple tips:

One: Keep a Gardening Notebook

In order to be a keen observer of what works in different areas of your garden from season-to-season, you can keep notes in a brief journal or calendar. Jefferson kept track of the weather and how it affected plantings, along with sketches and other memoranda, in what he called his “Garden Kalendar.” (Which you can meander through thanks to the Massachusetts Historical Society, Thomas Jefferson Papers.)

Two: Buy Heirloom Seeds

Over 300 varieties of vegetables were produced by Monticello including beans, peppers, and tomatoes. Thanks to a long-sustained heirloom project—whereby seeds were and are harvested from plants each season—some of those original varietals can be yours. Why heirloom? According to Lynn Coulter on a post on Gardening Know How, some reasons may include better taste, pest resistent, or more fragrant flowers. With delightfully-painted new package designs, by local artist Tim O’Kane, the Monticello heirloom seeds feel even more charming.

Three: Plant Abundant Flowers Along Walkways

In a letter from 1807, Jefferson writes that a “limited number of our flower beds will too much restrain the variety of flowers in which we might wish to indulge.” The borders of his walkways—which were curved, not straight—were packed with flowers that help keep the gardener amused and enthralled.

For more information and events about the historic plantings at Monticello and in early America, connect with the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants.

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Thanks for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For deeper dives on book-related research, giveaways, book news, and author events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

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Martha Washington, Aide-de-camp

March 14, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Women in History: Telling a More Complete Story

The Martha We Learn About

I remember visiting Colonial Williamsburg when I first moved to Virginia. A reenactor spoke to our tour group about all Martha Washington accomplished during her life. Land holdings inherited from a first husband, passed via coverture to the second, George. Childbirth. Hostess to hundreds of visitors at Mount Vernon each year. During one particular hog-season, she oversaw the slaughter and smoking of 50 hams.

This five-foot-nothin’ Virginian had always been shown to me as a noble, rosy-cheeked woman who would become our first First Lady. Not once had I ever heard her being referred to as an aide-de-camp.

Martha as Aide-de-camp, No. 33

In 1776, aides-de-camp were all men—officers in the Continental Army who were General Washington’s private secretaries or couriers, who gathered intelligence, or handled Washington’s correspondence and social affairs. There were 32 in all. Until 1906.

That year, Worthington Chauncey Ford, chief of the Manuscripts Division at the Library of Congress, reviewed Martha Washington’s role in the Cause. She often traveled with her husband and stayed at headquarters during the winter months, including Valley Forge in 1777, where she did more than simply improve morale through social events. She also fulfilled the role of clerical assistant to the general, contributing so much that Ford added Martha to the list.

While this designation is well-known among Revolutionary historians, for me that her contributions had been overshadowed for over 130 years—and never were they discussed in any of my American history classes—was a revelation. The lopsided history we’re often shown about the men winning the war, while the women smoked hams… well, that’s bologna. (To be sure, it was slaves who Martha was overseeing each hog-season, and their stories are thankfully getting deeper coverage in historic places now.)

Learning through my own studies that “contribution” is not tied to race, gender, or official rank has enabled me to feel quite free, especially as a “popular historian,” to chase history about lesser known roles, people, or events.

Besides, what could I possibly add to GW’s lexicon of life stories? According to biographer Ron Chernow, there are approximately 900 biographies about George. Plus over 6000 articles with his name in the title! Yeah… that’s enough already.

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Thanks for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For deeper dives on book-related research, giveaways, book news, and author events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Washington’s Rules of Civility, No. 55

March 7, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Out of Season Street Food

Though George Washington had some great, and common sense thoughts, not all of his Rules of Civility pass my taste test. Take number 55: “Eat not in the Streets, nor in the House, out of Season.”

While I champion eating seasonal fruits and vegetables as they are more likely to be from local farms, a plump raspberry popped in my mouth in the dead of winter is just the burst of spring I crave.

To be fair, in George’s day, without refrigeration, smoking or salting were the primary methods to preserve food. While finding a raspberry jam might have been possible, a salted berry… I suppose not.

Reading his No. 55 maxim another way, I wonder if G.W. would frown upon the immense satisfaction I get from eating street food. The food carts in Portland, OR. The vendors in midtown Manhattan. The lunch trucks right here in Richmond. With warmer days not far off, I can’t wait to plunk down on a downtown curb with one of my favorite Boka tacos in hand.

If GW were here today and he ate a Sabretts hot dog, while watching baseball, I suspect he’d pick up a pen and strike out number 55. (Once he removed the giant foam finger from his grease-stained hand.)

What do you eat out of season or out of doors?

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Thank you for joining me and learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Kris Spisak–On American Language

January 17, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of an American Language

A Guest Post by Kris Spisak.

When people think of the American revolution, freedom comes to mind—freedom, liberty, and independence from the necessity of following rules established without any thoughtful representation. But these ideals weren’t and aren’t limited to government. The English language itself went through its own revolution, with founding fathers such as Ben Franklin at the helm here too.

It was an era when “thee” and “thou” were just starting to decline in usage. Our “unalienable rights” were discussed rather than today’s standard “inalienable rights,” and “the” was more commonly written “ye” as a stand-in because the “th” sound no longer had a single alphabet letter to represent it as it once had.

The English language has continuously evolved for hundreds of years, but because the first print dictionaries were published in the 1600s and 1700s, this was an especially turbulent time for words.

Ben Franklin himself suggested that we create a new twenty-six letter alphabet, dropping the letters C, J, Q, W, X, and Y and adding in six new ones of his own creation. His new alphabet would allow, he said, for a phonetic reading of the entire English language. Many ignored him. Many others, like Noah Webster, took Franklin’s many language thoughts into consideration. Thus, when Webster’s American English dictionary was finally published in 1828, he included Franklin’s suggestions that the “u” be removed from “color,” “favorite,” and “honor” and that the “re” in “theatre” and “centre” should be reversed, among many other ideas. The differences between American English and British English were born of this celebration of reason and independent thought, but, of course, the story hardly end there.

The fact that Thomas Jefferson used linguistic ciphers in his correspondence with Merriweather Lewis during his great expedition westward with William Clark is a story for another day.

Kris Spisak wrote her first book, Get a Grip on your Grammar: 250 Writing and Editing Reminders for the Curious or Confused (Career Press, 2017), with a goal to help writers of all kinds empower their communications. Her “Words You Should Know” podcast and “Grammartopia” events follow the same mission. A former college writing instructor, having taught at institutions including the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University, Kris now works as a freelance editor, specializing in fiction. She is on is on the board of directors of James River Writers, is the co-founder and director of creative strategy of Midlothian Web Solutions, and can’t wait for you to hear about her next book. Sign up for her monthly writing and communications newsletter for more tips and trivia like this.

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Alphabet anecdotes and language-based ciphers also play a role in my American Revolutionary novel Carrying Independence, debuting in summer of 2019.

For research related to the novel and to stay updated on Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-news publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Thank you for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts like this one are welcomed and encouraged––by academics, historians, authors, artists, and storytellers. Contact me for details.

Rachel Pater–A Walking Tour for Justice

January 10, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

The Life and Times of Elizabeth Van Lew

A Guest Post by Rachel Pater.

After 20 years in the Midwest and 10 years in the Wild West, my partner and I landed in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. Prior to moving here, I had little knowledge about the Civil War—even less about Richmond’s role in it.

Like many others, the way I can best access history is through narratives from or about people who lived through specific periods of time. Since moving here, my portal to Civil War times has been through the life of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Unionist Spy who lived in Church Hill.

Elizabeth’s story took a hold in me, and I knew I wanted to share it. And so, in collaboration with a few musicians and the Richmond Story House, we recorded an audio narrative of her story (hear a sample here). You can now take this 70-minute, 2-mile, downloadable walking tour on your own time, by yourself or with a group. The tour starts and ends at St. John’s Church in Church Hill.

Elizabeth’s Significance Then and Now

Following the fall of Richmond, Ulysses S. Grant said that Elizabeth Van Lew provided him with “the most valuable information received from Richmond during the war.” Her lessons continue to provide us with knowledge of our city’s participation in the slave trade and the Civil War, challenging participants to make connections between this history and the insidious forms of racism still alive in our city and world today.

Proceeds from the tour go directly to expanding our work in the Richmond City Justice Center, where we run weekly personal narrative workshops. Download the Van Lew Tour and see a slideshow here.

Rachel Pater is the Founder of Richmond Story House. Visit Richmond Story House for the tour, workshops, and also information on volunteering and donations.

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Thanks for sharing in the spirit of learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts like this one are welcomed and encouraged––by academics, historians, authors, artists, and storytellers. Contact me for details.

For Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Washington’s Rules of Civility, No. 110

December 19, 2018 By Karen A. Chase

The Spirit of Giving

I heard this morning that some people don’t like Christmas (or the holiday season in general) because it’s not about them. Sigh… That’s entirely missing the point of the season and of George Washington’s maxim No. 110 from his “Rules of Civility.”

Generosity toward others begins with having a filter to sort out whether we are behaving admirably or not. Also known as a conscience.

Checking in with our inner voice during the holidays, might prevent us from saying things aloud that might dim the light around our dining room tables. Perhaps it might make the fires in our hearts burn a little warmer as we go into the new year, too.

Happy holidays to you all. Make memories, scatter joy.

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Thank you for joining me and learning about our collective American History by subscribing to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For Karen-related author research tidbits, book news and events, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.