Today we study Shakespeare in school and often see his plays in formal settings, but is that how they were meant to be experienced? Learn more about what going to see a play was really like when Shakespeare’s theater company put them on stage for the first time.
Tag Archives: 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.”
Aberystwyth: Holocaust refugee meets woman who fled Syrian war
Read about how the experiences of a Holocaust refugee and a Syrian Civil War refugee are bridged by a university exhibit in Wales.
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.
When the United States Spoke French
During the Revolutionary War, France supplied the Americans with money, soldiers, and ammunition. Read about the strong ties that remained when the war ended.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Rising from the inhumanity of World War II, the United Nations was established. In 1948, it set forth this declaration of what rights all people the world over should have.
The History of the American Flag
Learn fun facts about the symbol that represents all Americans, regardless of background or politics.
Andrée Geulen, rescuer of Jewish children in Belgium, dies at 100
Read about how a teacher’s extraordinary love and courage left behind a legacy that continues to inspire and touch new generations.
What Inspired ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’?
Some legends are ancient, but others have risen more recently. Read the history and inspiration of one of America’s first–and most enduring–ghost stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
Often, the best way to deal with a fear is to confront it directly. That is why so many cultures have holidays dealing with the idea of our mortality. Learn more about the Mexican Day of the Dead festival–el Día de los Muertos–that takes place every November 1st and 2nd.
Will The 2020s Be Like The Roaring 20s?
Is history repeating itself? Read about the uncanny similarities and drastic differences between the Roaring Twenties and now.
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.
A Holocaust Remembrance Day event was canceled due to low registration. So hundreds showed up on Zoom to hear survivor’s story
The inspiring legacy of Holocaust survivor Arnold Frinland is shared to a worldwide audience via social media.
The Irish Myth of the Giant’s Causeway
Every culture has used myths and legends to explain the natural world around them. Watch this short video on the story early Irish residents used to explain a particularly strange rock formation on the northern coast of the island.
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.
U.S. Immigration Before 1965
Read about the waves of immigration in the United States and why people chose this country to start new lives in.
Holocaust survivors reunite with the woman who cared for them after the war
Andra and Tatiana Bucci, who were 4 and 6 years old when they were taken to a concentration camp, traveled to the U.S. as adults to reunite with their former caregiver, a kind woman they called “Manna.” Read this article about the reunion.
The Purges in the USSR
The systematic elimination of people viewed as political enemies is nothing new. Learn about Stalin’s ruthless purges during the 1930s.