Last Men of the Revolution
Source: Archiving Early America
During the Civil War, when photography was a new medium, a minister and amateur historian raced to capture images of the last surviving veterans of the American Revolution.
Historic Figures
John Muir’s legacy questioned
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The work of environmentalist John Muir helped create the national parks system and preserve the natural beauty throughout the country. Now some question whether his view of nature is relevant to today’s challenges.
7 Epic Fails Brought to You by the Genuis Mind of Thomas Edison
Source: Smithsonian
Part of Thomas Edison’s ability to succeed came from his willingness to try things that failed. Check out the photo gallery for a slideshow of the failed inventions the article describes.
Pop Culture’s Undying Edgar Allan Poe Obsession
Source: The Atlantic
There’s no question that Edgar Allan Poe has made a lasting impression on American popular culture. This article uses the release of a movie about a dangerous obsession with Poe to take a look back at the author’s pop culture legacy.
The Influence of Machiavelli on Shakespeare
Source: Britain in Print
The Renaissance Italian writer Niccolò Machiavelli explored ideas about power in his still-controversial book The Prince. His work not only influenced political leaders, though; it also influenced the work of William Shakespeare a century later.
Emily Dickinson’s mystifying in-sight
Source: Hektoen International: A Journal of Medical Humanities
Imagery of vision and eyes permeates Emily Dickinson’s poetry. In this article, humanities professor and physician Larry Zaroff (with Tony Chan) provides a medical rationale for one of Dickinson’s most powerful metaphors.
About the Brothers Grimm and Fairytales
Source: The Kennedy Center
Once upon a time, fairy tales weren’t for children. They weren’t even written down. Read this history to learn how much fairy tales—even the ones with which we’re most familiar—have changed over time. Be sure to follow the links to older versions of the tales, and find out for yourself!
Civil Disobedience
Source: Walden.org
Both Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. drew inspiration from the writings of Henry David Thoreau. Read the 19th-century work that lit the fires of both Indian independence and American civil rights.
Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise
Source: PBS
Once upon a time, a seven-year-old girl named Linda Brown walked six blocks to a bus stop and then rode a bus to school, although another school was only seven blocks from her home. Check out this site to learn what happened when she tried to change schools—and succeeded.
Oskar Schindler: Unlikely Hero
Source: Legacy.com
A Nazi industrialist may not fit the usual idea of a hero, but Oskar Schindler used his wealth, charm, and connections to save the lives of over 1000 Jews during World War II.