An Act of Courage
Source: National Archives
Learn about the simple decision made by Rosa Parks in 1955 that helped inspire the Civil Rights movement. Scroll down to view the handwritten police report and other records from this event.
Historic Figures
Anne Frank was captured 70 years ago today. But what if she had escaped the Nazis?
Source: The Washington Post
Although she died in a concentration camp when she was 15, Anne Frank’s thoughts and feelings are alive and influence many writers today. Learn about the contemporary play and the novels that are part of Anne’s legacy.
Shakespeare’s Sources for Macbeth
Source: Shakespeare Online
Where did Shakespeare get his ideas? This essay by Amanda Mabillard analyzes the sources and motivations underlying Shakespeare’s writing of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Women Spies of the Civil War
Source: Smithsonian
Most people think of armies of men fighting each other during the Civil War, but women also served in various ways. Read about six female spies who worked for the Union or Confederacy.
Jefferson Davis Statue Comes Down at University of Texas
Source: NPR
Jefferson Davis never asked for a pardon for leading the government of the Confederacy in its rebellion against the United States. Statues of the Confederate president have become increasingly controversial in recent years, including one that was removed from the campus of the University of Texas in 2015.
James Madison
Source: History
James Madison played many important roles in the founding of the nation. Explore this site to learn more about his contributions.
Jacob Riis: Shedding Light On NYC’s ‘Other Half’
Source: National Public Radio
This segment discusses the work Jacob Riis did, the tactics he used to communicate his message, and the books others have written about him. View the images Riis took and choose a book excerpt to read.
Edgar Allan Poe – Mini Biography
Source: Biography
Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy continues to pervade American culture to this day. His work and ideas not only helped to create an entire genre of literature but also changed the way many Americans thought and spoke about the human psyche. Watch this short biography of one of America’s most influential Dark Romantics.
Israel donates hundreds of Anne Frank books to Tokyo libraries after vandalism
Source: CNN
After over 300 copies of Anne Frank’s diary and related books were vandalized in Japan, Israel and the Japanese Jewish community reached out to replace the books.
Eureka!
Source: Smithsonian
“One sometimes finds what one is not looking for,” said Alexander Fleming, whose chance observation of a contaminated experiment led to the the world’s first antibiotic. This Smithsonian article discusses inventions and discoveries that centered on a flash of insight in a mind prepared to see what it wasn’t looking for.