One hundred or even one hundred fifty years ago, it was quite common for poems to be published in the newspaper. We have many examples in our archives. April is National Poetry Month, and I know that New Ulm has a rich past and present of poets and poetry. Poetry can be difficult to define. It ...

Many of us have a bread box in the kitchen. It’s usually a simple, purely utilitarian affair made of metal or plastic; nothing as fancy as a carved panetiere like this one that sold for $1,408 at Neal Auction. Panetieres were made and used in the Provencal region of France by the 1600s. ...

Spirits need a lift? Immerse yourself in one of these feel-good reads and feel brighter in no time. Place a hold on any title at www.newulmlibrary.org or call 507-359-8331 and library staff will be happy to assist. “The Twilight Garden” by Sarah Nisha Adams. “Two feuding neighbors unite ...

Did you know that New Ulm Public Library has many historical resources available for in-library use? Visit staff at our service desk and they would be happy to retrieve any of these items for you. We have many yearbooks from local schools, including New Ulm Public (Elementary – High School), ...

Glass can be notoriously difficult to identify. Signatures, if there are any, can be faked, molds can be reused, and glassmakers often imitated one another’s decorations. Stiegel-type glass is an excellent example. We know that Henry William Stiegel came to Philadelphia from Germany in ...

Whether it’s as subtle as the serpentine front of a Chippendale chest or as lifelike as the three-dimensional snakes that slither across, Palissy ware majolica, snakes and snake shapes often show up in decorative arts. They are among the oldest, most common symbols in history, standing for ...