If you are an educator, please visit my Programming page to learn more.
Frances Dana Barker Gage
Frances was a reformer, lecturer, author, and a pioneer in working for Women's Rights. In later years she added to her accomplishments the fight for Women's Suffrage. She was friends with both Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton who were key in the success of both Women's Rights and women having the right to vote.
Alice Christian
Alice Christian is a survivor of the famous Titanic. She now lives in 1950 in Toledo, Ohio where she is a writer of children’s books. She and her husband Charles, an Episcopal clergyman, were in England for a clergy exchange when they heard about the maiden voyage of the greatest ship ever built, the Titanic.
They decided to travel home on the Titanic. It would be leaving Southampton, England traveling to New York City. Sadly it didn’t make it; the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912.
Alice tells what it was like to be a passenger on the Titanic and how she survived its sinking.
“WOW! What a fabulous monologue! You entered the building in character! I had students asking if you were a real survivor from the Titanic! I was particularly impressed with your quick wit and responses to my students’ questions. Not knowing what questions would be thrown at you next, you not only stayed in character and gave convincing responses, but included facts about that night to support your feelings and emotions.
The students and I were absolutely thrilled with your performance! Thanks for coming in!”
Amanda Baugh
Amanda (Baker) Baugh was born in 1798 in Hazard, Kentucky. Her husband moved her and their four children to Ohio in 1850. Amanda’s husband died of influenza leaving her without an income. She turned his business building into a lodging house to help support herself. The Civil War is now a part of her life.
She enjoys regaling visitors with tales of her lodgers, rules of the house and life in general during a troubling time in Ohio history.
“The fourth grade students at Scioto Elementary thoroughly enjoyed allowing Amanda Baugh to come into our classroom and share her experiences as a Conductor of the Underground Railroad with them. She taught the class several new terms that were used during ‘her time.’ She also discussed important topics with the class such as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and important people such as Harriet Tubman. She even shared what life was like during the 1860’s like what they ate and wore. The students loved hearing about the Underground Railroad through living history.
I would definitely recommend Mrs. Gage’s program to any history classroom. She really brings history to life!”
Mary Ann Bickerdyke
"Mother of the Union Army." Born on July 19, 1817 in Knox County, Ohio, she became known as “Mother” Bickerdyke to thousands of Civil War soldiers. She helped build 300 hospitals during Civil War, entered battlefields at night to retrieve wounded soldiers, and was praised by Generals Grant and Sherman for her bravery and concern for soldiers.
After the war, Mary Ann helped Union veterans and nurses seeking pensions. She retired to Bunker Hill, Kansas, and died November 8, 1901.
“Darlene Gage really does make history come alive. Her interpretation of a Civil War nurse and a single woman trying to survive during those years left us with a feeling that we were on the battlefield caring for the wounded, or running a boarding house during difficult times.
Congratulations, Darlene for sharing the integrity and commitment you bring to history.”
Myrtle Waddle
Myrtle (Smith) Waddle was frozen in time while visiting the Ohio Historical Society on the Campus of OSU. The year was 1948. Prior to that Myrtle had spent over 30 years with her local library both as a volunteer and as an employee.
After her retirement Myrtle pursued her interest in high profile crimes that were committed in Ohio. She is in her eighties traveling Ohio and giving talks about the crimes. She studied hundreds of crimes and on occasion found the verdict incorrect. These are her stories.
Susanna Wesley
Susanna Annesley Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, was born in 1669. The 25th child of distinguished dissenting clergyman Samuel Annesley, Susanna grew up in an atmosphere of culture. With a natural bent towards religion, she learned to think and to express her thoughts on varied subjects.
Her son John went on to become the founder of what we know today as the United Methodist Church. His brother Charles wrote hymns that we still sing today. She lived to be 73 years old and is buried in Bunhill Fields opposite Wesley's Chapel, in City Road, London England.
Isabella Farnsworth
Isabella Farnsworth is an aging movie actress who started her career in silent movies. She is now in her 50’s and struggles to get acting parts in either the talkie movies or Broadway productions.
She and the Gish sisters, Dorothy and Lillian, were born in Springfield, Ohio. Lillian Gish met Isabella when they both were in W. Griffith’s film Birth of a Nation in 1915. Isabella has always been a bit jealous of Lillian. She spends much of her time talking about her success in the silent movie era, and acting out scenes from some of her movies.
I now have a new program for Isabella. It’s called; The Roaring Twenties - Prohibition, Speakeasies, and Crime.
Isabella shares her memories of life during the roaring twenties. From illegal taverns and crime members, to the birth of jazz and the flapper girl. Prior to prohibition, women had no place in bars unless they were show girls, but that changed during the twenties. Isabella learned to do the popular dance the Charleston, and how to get into her favorite speakeasy by using a password or secret knock. Isabella is now in her 70’s and enjoys sharing her experiences from that historical era.
email: dgage2@att.net
phone: (740) 601-7120