In 1964, a former Nazi published a book-length letter to a Jewish schoolmate, detailing how she became a Nazi and apologizing for the wrongs she had perpetrated in the service of Hitler.
Tag Archives: History
Biblical bee-keepers picked the best bees
One of the earliest ways humans harnessed the power of nature was through keeping livestock—including bees. Find out how long-ago beekeepers made the most of what nature had to offer.
The Flight 93 National Memorial Park
Flowers and other tributes are still being left at Flight 93 National Memorial Park in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the decision to create this park to commemorate the flight and to honor the passengers.
Egypt’s Oldest Known Art Identified, Is 15,000 Years Old
Thousands of years ago, rock paintings and etchings were the way to make your voice heard. This article proves the message is still being heard today.
Two Perspectives: Description of the people in hiding
Read this interesting account of the eight people in hiding in the Secret Annex from the perspective of Miep Gies and compare it to Anne Frank’s account.
In the 1800s, a freed slave built bridges across the South
Horace King, a freed slave in early 1900’s was known for his sophisticated bridge-building technique. With the man who freed him, John Goodwin, he built covered bridges across what became the Confederate States of America.
Play Ball!: Colonial Games and America’s National Pastime
Historians research the origins of baseball, which may reach further in the past than is commonly recognized.
Invention of the Telegraph
Read about the successes and setbacks Samuel F. B. Morse encountered while inventing the telegraph.
2016 Is a Leap Year. Why Do We Have Them?
Every four years (with an exception at the turn of most centuries), a quirk of the calendar gives us an extra day. Learn why 2016 is one of those years.
Alexander Gardner: The mysteries of the Civil War’s photographic giant
Chances are, if you’ve seen a Civil War-era photograph, it was credited to photographer Mathew Brady. However, that photo was most likely actually taken by Alexander Gardner, who went on to document the American West.
Josephine Baker—A French and American Hero
Rising from poverty in St. Louis to become an entertainment superstar in her adopted home of Paris, Josephine Baker could easily have enjoyed a life of leisurely wealth. Instead, she aided the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of World War II and later spoke out for American civil rights.
Pol Pot’s Shadow
In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge, led by the dictator Pol Pot, took over the southeast Asian nation of Cambodia. The regime uprooted and destroyed countless lives, killing nearly two million of its own people. Cambodians today have yet to come to terms with the horrors of that time.
Why Are Shirt Buttons on Different Sides for Men and Women?
Read about some interesting theories related to fashion for men and women. Did nobility dictate the differences in fashion?
How the Civil War Changed Modern Medicine
In 1861 scientists hadn’t actually discovered that germs cause diseases, and doctors didn’t know they should wash their hands! But over the course of the Civil War, this changed and there were many advancements in medical care.
Dred Scott decision
Read about the 1857 Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sandford and why people cite it today.
Conflict resolution: Wars without end
Learn how researchers are using data and systems analysis to attempt to resolve intractable conflicts.
Baseball in America, Part II: Gilded Bats and Balls
In this article, sports writer Carl D. Carlucci analyzes how baseball reflected the wealth of a few and the poverty of many during the Gilded Age.
Vietnam War Protests
Read about how the movement to protest the Vietnam War grew throughout the 1960s.
A Deep-Rooted History of Activism Stirs in College Football
Threatening to boycott games has been a historic method for athletes to attempt to influence change. Listen to this radio piece to learn more.
The British View the War of 1812 Quite Differently Than Americans Do
Historian and author Amanda Foreman analyzes the British perspective of the War of 1812.