Tag Archives: History

‘Nurse, Spy, Cook:’ How Harriet Tubman Found Freedom Through Food

Harriet Tubman funded her trips in part by cooking, and during the journeys she acted as provider to the slaves she helped escape.

Why a 1920s legal move is responsible for the gender-segregated bathrooms we have today

Public Radio International gives some background to the United States’ separation of men’s and women’s bathrooms.

Surviving Genocide in Rwanda

Immaculee Ilibagiza is a Rwandan woman who survived genocide in 1994 by hiding with seven other women in her neighbor’s small bathroom for three months. Read to learn more about her terrifying experience and the hardships she endured.

Hurricane Katrina: Facts, Damage, and Aftermath

Learn about the powerful impact of Hurricane Katrina, from how it formed to how it changed our approach to disaster preparation.

How British scientist Hertha Marks Ayrton discovered the secret of ripples

Mathematician, engineer, physicist, and inventor Ayrton received recognition for her first invention at a British exhibition, and many more inventions followed. Read about her work on ripples and the electric arc and her award for making her ideas heard.

Building the Transcontinental Railroad

View the photo gallery and read the captions for an overview of the settlers and workers affected by the transcontinental railroad. Explore the links on the left for more information on the topic.

Two steps forward, one step back: how World War II changed how we do human research

The use of vulnerable humans in medical experiments during World War II led to the creation of a code of ethics and standards that continues to be loosely enforced.

Gibson: Madison was no party animal

In this opinion piece, Bob Gibson, the executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, argues that James Madison serves as a unifying figure in a divisive political climate.

German Propaganda Archive

View this collection of Nazi propaganda posters compiled by Randall Bytwerk, a professor at Calvin College, whose goal is to shed light on how Germans were persuaded to accept Hitler’s dictatorship.

National Parks: Ken Burns on why they were America’s best idea

The National Park Service celebrates its centennial in 2016. An award-winning documentary filmmaker explains why our national parks matter more now than ever.

Have Egyptologists found Nefertiti’s long-lost tomb?

It’s all in knowing where and how to look: The long search for the tomb of a legendary Egyptian queen may be nearing its end.

The Forgotten Female Action Stars of the 1910s

Action-adventure heroes aren’t only men. Early films starred many women in action roles, even performing daring feats in ankle-length skirts! Learn about the tales told in their films.

A History Of Loyalty Programs, And How They Have Changed

When did the first loyalty programs come about? You might be surprised by the answer. Learn about the early beginnings of loyalty programs and how the system has evolved from copper tokens to mobile apps.

Oseola McCarty

In 1995, Oseola McCarty donated $150,000, the majority of her life savings, to The University of Southern Mississippi. The donation made a huge impact on the lives of the African-American students from southern Mississippi who received scholarships to study at the University.

Robber barons and silicon sultans

This article compares the entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley to the Robber Barons of the Gilded Age.

The Civilian Experience in the Civil War

This essay describes the hardships faced by civilians during the Civil War.

The Epidemic That Revolutionized Medicine And American Politics

In 1721, an outbreak of smallpox in Boston led to the introduction of inoculation, which created political division.

10 Questions for Charles C. Mann

Charles C. Mann, author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, answers questions about a second edition of the book and its follow-up, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created.