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This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne continue their fascinating discussion with author Pamela McColl about Elizabeth "Libbie" Custer, the resilient wife of General George Armstrong Custer. In part one, they explored her pioneering experiences living with Custer in the West. Now, they're diving deeper into the incredible changes she witnessed during her lifetime - from the Civil War to the dawn of the 20th century, through World War I, and into the Great Depression. They examine how Libbie's own experiences as a widow fueled her mission to support others navigating life after the death of a beloved husband. They also discuss how Christmas evolved into a cherished tradition after the Civil War, bringing people together during an Ordinary Extraordinary time of great change not only for America, but much of the world navigating new found identities.

View this episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/663DRer_nFk?si=V6gbPOpNJ5GVBobz

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here:
https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Links to Libbie Custer's books:
"Boots and Saddles"; Or, Life in Dakota with General Custer
And
"Tenting on the Plains"; or, General Custer in Kansas and Texas
Can both be ready for free on Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/40799

Physical Copies can be purchased here:
https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/author/custer-elizabeth-bacon/

Resources used to research this episode include:
Monnett, John H. "Christmas With the Custers: In Bitter Cold and Battles, Libbie Custer Fought for Holiday Cheer ." https://www.historynet.com/. 24 Dec. 2016. www.historynet.com/frontier-christmas-custers/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Enright, Gary. "The Life of Libby Custer ." https://www.sdpb.org/. 3 Oct. 2017. www.sdpb.org/images-of-the-past/2017-10-03/the-life-of-libby-custer. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

, Mandan Historical Society . "Elizabeth Clift [Bacon] Custer (1842-1933)." http://www.mandanhistory.org/. www.mandanhistory.org/biographiesac/elizabethcuster.html. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Hufford, Deborah . "Elizabeth Custer—The Great Woman Behind the Man ." https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/. 18 Aug. 2020. www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/elizabeth-custer-the-great-woman-behind-the-man.