From the Treaty of Paris to Dick Cheney’s lousy shot, this certainly was an interesting week in history. Who knew that Oregon was inducted into the Union on Valentine’s Day? How fitting that my lovely fiancé hails from “The Beaver State.” You learn something new every day. So, in this spirit of erudition, let’s take a look at what happened…

This Week in History

February 10, 1763: Under the Treaty of Paris, France ceded Canada to England, ending the French and Indian War.
Read of the dramatic events that took place prior to the Treaty of Paris around the colonial fortified town of Louisbourg in A.J.B. Johnston’s Endgame 1758: The Promise, the Glory, and the Despair of Louisbourg’s Last Decade.

February 11, 2006: Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded his hunting companion.
For tales from a more, well, experienced shooter, check out The Best of All Seasons: Fifty Years as a Montana Hunter by Dan Aadland.

February 12, 2004: In defiance of California state law, officials began performing marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples in San Francisco.
For an insightful collection of articles by social scientists, psychologists, social workers, and attorneys on gay and lesbian marriage and family issues in twenty-first-century America, pick up a copy of The Gay and Lesbian Marriage and Family Reader: Analyses of Problems and Prospects for the Twenty-first Century edited by Jennifer M. Lehmann.

February 13, 1914: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was founded in New York, NY.
Literature and music form an easy partnership. Need proof? Check out UNP’s fine selection of books on music here. 

February 14, 1859: Oregon became the 33rd state admitted to the Union.
Interested in how the unique political terrain of Oregon has been shaped over the years and where it stands today? If so, you’ll want to take a look at Oregon Politics and Government: Progressives versus Conservative Populists edited by Richard A. Clucas, Mark Henkels, and Brent S. Steel. The book provides not only an overview of the state’s politics and government; it also explains how the divide between progressives and conservative populists defines Oregon politics today.

February 15, 1820: Susan B. Anthony, the famed American suffragist, was born in Adams, MA.
Read of the advances made in obtaining fair representation for women in the U.S. government and the hurdles we have yet to overcome in the pages of Women, Elections, and Representation, Second Edition by R. Darcy, Susan Welch, and Janet Clark.

I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of TWIH. Regardless of where you are, it may very well be a fine weekend for staying indoors curled up with a good book. Why not give one of the above recommended titles a try? Until next time!