Holiday Season

A History of Holiday Decor at the White House

Decorating for the holidays is a time-honored tradition at the White House.

Repositories that Taylor Research Group frequents to conduct historical research, such as the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Library of Congress, hold many photographs that document such décor. From Christmas trees to menorahs, over the years winter holiday ornamentations at the White House have become increasingly grand, public, and inclusive.

Taylor & Hammel’s Holiday Gift Guide

‘Tis the season for warm coats, hot chocolate, family gatherings, religious celebrations, and, well, let’s face it, shopping. For those of you who groan at that very word, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of gift ideas for the history fanatic in your life. The best part? We’ve included one that will cost you absolutely nothing.

How Will We Celebrate Thanksgiving in Years to Come?

Looking back into the past is what we do for our clients every day. To be sure, we love it. We’re always learning something new – and not just about what happened in the past, but about what that means for today as well as for tomorrow.

Patriotic Holidays & Their Origins

To most Americans, summer includes swimming, sand, sun, and overall good time fun. It’s also the season packed with patriotic holidays. Though summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21st, the majority of us bookend the season with two such holidays. Memorial Day kicks it off at the end of May, signaling to kids all across the country that the summer vacation will soon commence. In early September, Labor Day serves as the last hurrah for barbeques, campfires, and, thankfully, mosquitoes. In between, the mid-summer blowout of the Fourth of July is celebrated. Fireworks explode high up in the dark night sky as the country joins in shouting “Happy Birthday!” to America. In this post, we’ll tell you about the origins of these hallmarks of summer — and, more importantly, our country’s history — and how they’ve been celebrated over time.

Last-Minute Gift Ideas for the Historian in Your Family

The holidays are quickly approaching. Hanukkah came and went. Christmas will be here in a few days. But there’s no need to panic. Taylor & Hammel staff are here to recommend a few gifts that if ordered now—as in today, so don’t delay!—might make it to the historian in your family just in time to sit beneath the tree, all wrapped up and looking pretty.