In 1963, Earl Koger Jr., an insurance salesman and part-time journalist, published a 32-page pamphlet, “The Legend of Jocko: The Boy Who Inspired George Washington.” Read More +
Author Archives: Tom Calarco
Understanding the Underground Railroad: New research changes perceptions
The National Parks Service Network to Freedom held its third National Underground Railroad Summit in Indianapolis Sept. 16-19. The highlight was the appearance of the dean of the nation’s Underground Railroad historians, Larry Gara, whose ground-breaking work, Liberty Line, published in 1961, changed our perception of the Underground Railroad. Read More +
Ruger papers top the sale bill at Cowan’s Auction
CINCINNATI – The personal papers of General Thomas Ruger, American Indian War general and commandant of West Point Military Academy were the big sellers at Cowan’s Western Art and Americana auction on June 24 Read More +
The Network to Freedom: A stop on the Underground Railroad
Mount Pleasant is kind of like Mayberry. Everyone knows everyone by their first name, and you don’t see much traffic. Off the beaten track, it doesn’t have even one stop light. But what makes this unfairly neglected hamlet special is that it played an important role in the battle to end slavery. Read More +
Cowan’s firearms and militaria auction goes off with a bang
Wes Cowan’s Auction House in Cincinnati held its Firearms and Militaria auction from Oct. 28-30. More than 2,200 lots were offered, ranging mainly from the period of the American Revolution to World War II. Read More +
Wes Cowan – In search of history
Wes Cowan is truly someone you could describe as the salt of the earth. Affable, easy-going, with a rich baritone voice that hints of his Kentucky roots, he makes you feel right at home when you are with him. Read More +
The Dr. Richard Eells House
Dr. Richard Eells, a Quincy, Ill., abolitionist, lived on the borderline between slavery and freedom during the antebellum period. His house, only blocks away from the Mississippi River, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Read More +
Old-time Discovery Auction at Cowan’s offered great buys
CINCINNATI — About 100 antiques lovers attended Wes Cowan’s Discovery Auction on July 19. It was an old-fashion style auction with no preview catalog or Internet bidding. Read More +
Cowan’s Spring Western and Historic Americana Auction was live and on-line
CINCINNATI – Wes Cowan’s Spring Western and Historic Americana auction offered a fascinating selection of Native American, early republic, antebellum, Civil War, and Western memorabilia at his auction house in Cincinnati on June 5, and online on June 6. Read More +
Native American and Western art at Cowan’s, April 5
A crowd of close to 100 people attended Wes Cowan’s recent auction of American Indian and Western art in Cincinnati on April 5. Read More +