Harper's Weekly, illustrations by Winslow Homer. Top: Harper's
Weekly, 11/29/1862, Winslow Homer, "Thanksgiving in Camp."
Bottom: Harper's Weekly, 12/8/1864, Winslow Homer,
"Thanksgiving-Day in the Army—After Dinner: The Wish-bone" On
the fourth Thursday in November of each year virtually every
American citizen celebrates Thanksgiving Day in some form or
another, either through traditional custom or individualized
celebration. The Smithsonian American Art/National Portrait
Gallery Library holds two monographs related to this holiday.
Celebrations The Complete Book of American Holidays by Robert
Myers states that one woman virtually started a movement to
create this national holiday. She was Mrs. Sara Hale who ‘…
started her crusade in 1827 while editor of the Boston Ladies’
Magazine and continued it with mounting success until the
victory was won in1863 with President Abraham Lincoln’s
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation.’ Harvest festivals can be traced
back to most cultures throughout history in such observances