Category Archives: Dame Shirley

Dame Shirley’s Fourth of July

Posted on July 2, 2023 by nancyleek

In 1852, from her log cabin at Indian Bar on the Feather River, Dame Shirley (Louise Clappe) wrote about a 4th of July celebration across the river at Rich Bar. She had the honor of making a flag, of white … Continue reading →

Posted in Dame Shirley | Leave a comment

How Louise Clappe Became Shirley

Posted on July 29, 2019 by nancyleek

Shirley is a common enough feminine name — we all know at least one Shirley. But before 1849 the name was rare as a masculine name, and unknown as a feminine one. It was originally a rather uncommon English surname, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dame Shirley, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday, Dame Shirley

Posted on July 28, 2019 by nancyleek

July 28th marks another bicentennial, the 200th birthday of Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe, better know as “Dame Shirley,” author of The Shirley Letters. She was born in 1819 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was educated in Massachusetts. She attended … Continue reading →

Posted in Dame Shirley, Uncategorized | Leave a comment