Tag Archives: Historic Figures

Since American Revolution, women have played part on front lines

Women in the United States have always been active participants in war efforts, dating all the way back to the American Revolution.

9 Legends of American Folklore

Words like “myth” and “legend” often make you think of stories from thousands of years ago, but new legends are always being created. America is no exception, with a number of popular myths spreading during the 1800s as the country expanded westward. This article provides a high-level summary of nine of the most well-known American frontier legends–some entirely fictional, but some based on exaggerations around real people and events.

The shortest American Civil War summary you’ll ever read

Key dates and events are highlighted in this brief, informative overview of the American Civil War.

Surviving copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio to go on show

Many of Shakespeare’s works might be lost to us forever had they not been preserved in a collection of published manuscripts known as the First Folio.

1776 Musical brings vibrant nontraditional casting of founding fathers to stage at DCPA

Read about how 1776, a musical about the founding fathers, takes on a modern and thought-provoking twist through its most diverse cast to date.

‘Queen of Salsa’ has her own US quarter

Celia Cruz, a Cuban American Salsa legend, continues to make her mark on American History.

Barbara Johns: The US’ forgotten civil rights hero

In 1951, 16-year-old Barbara Johns found herself in the middle of the fight to end segregation in American schools, an effort she compared to “reaching for the moon.”

Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Lake’

Many people know Edgar Allen Poe for his short stories, but did you know he was a poet, as well? Many of his poems play with the same themes as his stories, including one he dedicated to an unknown person and that scholars believe was written about a real-life haunted lake…

A century after Harriet Tubman died, scholars try to separate fact from fiction

Harriet Tubman has long been a legend in the fight to abolish slavery in the United States. Recently, scholars have begun to take a closer look at what we think we know about the woman behind the legend.

Jack London Biography

In this biography, learn how Jack London’s adventurous life inspired his novels and stories.

The Declaration of Independence Was Also a List of Grievances

Learn about how the grievances of King George III were used to justify the American Revolution and win French support throughout the war.

9 Virtual Tours of Shakespearean Spots

William Shakespeare is widely considered to be the greatest writer in the English language and now, thanks to modern technology, you can explore some of the most iconic places from the playwright’s life, and the locations said to have inspired him, from the comfort of your own home.

The (Still) Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

Poe’s death is an unsolved mystery. This article present nine theories for the demise of this famous American writer.

Abigail Adams Biography

Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, served as an unofficial advisor to the second president of the United States. She also fought for the right of married women to own personal property.

Muckraking Journalist Jacob Riis and Gilded Age New York City

This lecture by Professor Daniel Czitrom from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts gives an overview of Jacob Riis. Watch the clips at the following marks for a look at some of Riis’s work and to get a sense of his purpose and relevance today: 20:38–25:10, 36:35–38:40, 45:02–47:35, and 50:56–52:16.

Professor Says He Has Solved a Mystery Over a Slave’s Novel

Gregg Hecimovich, a professor of English in South Carolina, may have successfully identified the woman who wrote The Bondwoman’s Narrative. The novel is thought to be the first written by an African-American woman. Until now, no one knew the author’s true identity.

5 Founding Fathers Whose Finances Shaped the American Revolution

These Founding Fathers not only dedicated their lives and careers to the American Revolution, but also a fair amount of money. Check out this History article to find out more.