Janis’ Merchantile

05/04/2026

04/13/2026

01/24/2026

01/23/2026

01/09/2026

On this day in 1869, Fort Sill was established in Indian Territory, becoming one of the most consequential military posts in the history of the American West.

Staked out on January 8, 1869, by Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, Fort Sill stood during a during a turbulent era of conflict, negotiation and change in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

Cavalry units, including the famed 10th Cavalry, the African American Buffalo Soldiers, built stone buildings which still stand today. Legendary figures of Western lore, like Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok, passed through its gates.

Fort Sill became a focal point of the Red River War and the forced transition of Plains tribes onto reservations. Leaders such as Quanah Parker and Geronimo lived pivotal chapters of their lives here. Geronimo is buried on the post today.

The fort also served as one of the few centers of law and order in Indian Territory, mediating conflicts and shaping the future of Oklahoma.

Fort Sill stands as a powerful reminder of the complex history of the American West.

Fort Sill remains active today, hosting around 20,000 military personnel within a total population of about 53,000 (including families) and serving as the U.S. Army's premier center for Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery training.

📷 From our collection, "Fort Sill, Indian Territory, 1899" by William Irwin. 2004.110.2.07

12/27/2025

10/26/2025

10/23/2025

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09/11/2025

In 1908, in a quiet kitchen in Germany, a frustrated housewife made a decision that would change mornings forever.
Melitta Bentz was tired of bitter, over-brewed coffee.
Back then, brewing meant boiling loose grounds, and it left your cup full of grit and sludge. Percolators didn’t help—they just made it worse.
So one morning, she got creative.
She took a sheet of blotting paper from her son’s notebook, poked holes in the bottom of a brass pot, placed the paper inside—and poured hot water over the coffee grounds.
What came out?
A smooth, clean, perfect cup.
That kitchen experiment became a breakthrough.
Melitta patented her invention the same year, started a company with her husband and sons—and by the 1920s, Melitta coffee filters were being used all across Europe.
She didn’t come from a lab.
She didn’t wear a lab coat.
But she changed the way the world starts its day.
Today, the Melitta brand still thrives.
And her story? A reminder that big ideas often start in small, everyday moments—powered by a little frustration and a lot of creativity.🖤
So next time you make your morning coffee, take a sip…
and toast the woman who made it smooth. ☕❤️✍️

09/09/2025

07/05/2025