Author: The Chronicles of History

My name is Samantha Sebesta and I am the author of The Chronicles of History. I love reading, writing, and history fiercely. It is a never ending journey and passion!

The day I met Anne Frank’s Step-Sister: Then The Synagogue Was Violently Attacked!

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Who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met? The daily writing prompt for November 11th, 2025 on WordPress is “who is the most famous or infamous person you have ever met?” and I thought about that for several minutes then decided I had no other option but to take time this morning to respond. There is someone I have met who will forever be in my memory and I want to share that experience. In today’s political climate I think this person’s story is more relevant then ever. She survived the holocaust. Nobody knows more than […]

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A Letter That Changed History: A. Philip Randolph, FDR, and the Fight for Fair Wages

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 “They have looked in vain. Yes, they have looked in vain, for the Pullman Porters and maids are the victims of special-discrimination. The porters are beginning to believe that they are the victim of both race and class discrimination…In every instance upon which they have attempted to meet with the management of the Pullman Company directly to adjust their grievances, they have been refused a conference…” The job of being a porter or a maid for the Pullman Company was far from ideal due to the terrible conditions that were beyond grueling. It was a job that was seen as […]

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The Chronicles Of History Had a Temporary Outage

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I am really sorry! It appears that The Chronicles of History went down October 22nd and hasn’t been viewable until this morning. This was my fault. I’ve been working at a new job since July along with my job in dispatch and on top of still going to school so it just went past my notice. I’ve fixed everything now and all seems back to normal. Once again, I apologize it took me nearly two weeks to discover there was an issue with the site. I’ll do better going forward. I just wanted to write this quick update to say […]

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Where I am From: A Child of the Moon by Samantha Sebesta

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I’ve been taking a class that pushed me as a writer. The course was advanced creative non-fiction. In today’s post, I’d like to share a poem I wrote called ‘Where I Am From.’ The poem is deeply personal. They’re pieces of my childhood, my family, and my roots. Writing this helped me reconnect with those moments and honor the people who made them meaningful. This poem is a tribute to my mother. She taught me to find beauty in chaos and to laugh even when things are hard. She lived life with a wild and open heart. My mother made life […]

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A House in The Sky Book Review: Captivity to Courage

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“In my mind, I built stairways. At the end of the stairways, I imagined rooms. These were high, airy places with big windows and a cool breeze moving through. I imagined one room opening brightly onto another room until I’d built a house, a place with hallways and more staircases. I built many houses, one after another, and those gave rise to a city — a calm, sparkling city near the ocean, a place like Vancouver. I put myself there, and that’s where I lived, in the wide-open sky of my mind.” Amanda Lindhout’s experience as a hostage in Somalia […]

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Roman Holiday [1953] Starring Audrey Hepburn

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“Your Excellency, I trust you will not find it necessary to use that word again. Were I not completely aware of my duty to my family and to my country, I would not have come back tonight… or indeed ever again!” —Princess Anne (Hepburn) Sometimes the crazy whirlwind of daily life makes it too easy to overlook the small moments that bring peace. Our busy schedules don’t offer any time to unwind and relax. A small moment just for us. To counter this, I’ve made it a priority to set aside a dedicated movie night each week to disconnect from […]

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I’m Living The Lives of Many: A Six-Word Memoir

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“Books are the most quiet and constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. When you open a book, you’re not simply flipping through pages; you’re entering into the life and mind of another person—sometimes a mind that is centuries old, other times, one that just shared a similar experience you’re going through. Books never judge you, never tell you that you don’t belong. They just listen, they just speak, and in that, they provide a sense of companionship, even when you are utterly alone.” — Charles W. Eliot What […]

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Lost in Time: The Untold Story of Amelia Earhart’s Mysterious Final Flight

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“The woman who creates her own job is the woman who wins fame and fortune..It’s far easier to start something than it is to finish it. Anticipation, sometimes exceeds realization…now, and then, women should do for themselves what men have done—occasionally what men have not done —thereby establishing themselves as persons, and perhaps encouraging others toward greater independence of thought and action. Some such consideration was a contributing reason for my wanting to do what I so much wanted to do…adventure is worthwhile in itself…Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.” […]

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The Abusive Marriage of Thomas Jefferson’s Granddaughter Anne

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“Mr. Randolph and the children arriv’d here last tuesday all in perfect health Ann and Jeff grown so much as to amaze us, Ann seems to promise more every day of resembling her mother. Her disposition is the same already she will no doubt be worthy of her…I have formed a different judgment of both Anne & Jeff from what you do; of Anne positively, of Jefferson possibly. I think her apt, intelligent, good humored & of soft & affectionate dispositions, & that she will make a pleasant, amiable and respectable woman.” I’m currently reading a very fascinating historical novel […]

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America’s First Daughter: Patsy Jefferson-Randolph

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“I’m not only my father’s daughter, but also a daughter of the nation he founded. And protecting both is what I’ve always done. Sons of a revolution fight for liberty. They give blood, flesh, limbs, their very lives. But daughters . . . we sacrifice our eternal souls. From tattered flags and uniforms to friendships strained to the brink, the women of my country had always been the menders to all the things torn asunder.” – Patsy Jefferon-Randolph I read a novel back towards the end of October called America’s First Daughter written by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. Admittedly, […]

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2025 In Crisis – A Message From The Chronicles of History because I don’t Know What to Say

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I had wanted to finish writing a book review as a way to get back to blogging but as I wrote, the post turned more into a rant that was not about the book. As many of you already read last week in A Tribute To Vennie Kenney. My grandmother passed at the beginning of the month after a long battle in the ICU. Her loss has been quite a blow to our family. The new year has begun on a terribly sad note to say the least. Please bear with me as I want to get back to posting […]

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A Final Tribute – Help Us Celebrate My Grandma’s Life

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With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Vennie Cleo Kenney, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Vennie was so much more than just a family member—she was the heart and soul of our family. She was a source of unwavering love, wisdom, and support for everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her kindness, strength, and selflessness were beyond measure. Vennie always put others before herself, teaching us all the true meaning of unconditional love. Her radiant spirit and gentle presence will forever remain in the hearts of those who cherished her. She touched every […]

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Mary Queen of Scots: A Poem of Fate and Loss by Samantha Sebesta

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Mary, Queen of Scots is the most complicated queen I’ve ever favored. My biggest issue with her is the decisions that she made. They resulted in disaster for her reign; however, I can’t help but sympathize with her. She was way out of her depth and didn’t know how to master the power she wielded. As the only daughter of King James V, she was destined to wear a crown from birth but this doesn’t mean she didn’t struggle or have an easy life. At only five days old, her father died, leaving her to inherit a country that would […]

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Resolving Technical Issues: The Chronicles of History Back Online

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Happy Saturday, everyone! I’m pleased to announce that all the issues have been worked out after major technical glitches. The Chronicles of History is back online! Thankfully, everything seems to have been resolved. I didn’t have to do a complete redesign, luckily, but there has been a major overhaul of the previous layout, with some major changes incorporated into a slightly new look. This couldn’t be avoided, as some blocks I had used for the homepage’s format had been discontinued.  There have been several points in the last few days where I had to take things offline, and unfortunately, I […]

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The Most Doubted of All – A Poem By Samantha Sebesta

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“He was the most doubted of all – The one who’d let her spirit fall” This has been quite a crazy week and I’ve been busier then I expected! I meant to post part two of Stalking The Dearly Departed by this morning at latest; however, I am going to have to post that on Sunday instead. Work, family, and book writing is definitely giving me a run for my money. Plus all this awful summer heat is really not helping my motivation in the slightest. The new house doesn’t have any AC hooked up and that’s killing me. Wake […]

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