Why we quoth ‘The Raven’ evermore
Source: The Washington Post
Editor Ron Charles critiques a new book about Edgar Allan Poe and ponders over the writer’s popularity with audiences and his scorn from academics.
Historic Figures
Jonathan Swift Biography
Source: Biography
Jonathan Swift, the 18th-century Irish writer and satirist, worked in many professions and eventually became a man of some influence.
National Inventors Hall of Fame
Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office
Beginning with its first inductee, Thomas Edison, the National Inventors Hall of Fame has each year honored the hard work and ingenuity of often-unsung innovators. Explore the database to learn more about Elijah McCoy and his fellow inventors.
The Gunpowder Plot
Source: BBC
In 1605, a group of Catholic conspirators frustrated by religious oppression plotted to assassinate King James in the hope of returning a Catholic leader to the throne. The plot was thwarted but is recalled annually on Guy Fawkes Day, an occasion for fireworks and bonfires in England.
Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
Source: PBS
The 1803 Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the young United States. It also opened a vast wilderness to American exploration, starting with the daring quest led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
New Beginnings: Immigrant Women and the American Experience
Source: Google Cultural Institute
Women immigrants have played a dynamic role in transforming America socially, politically, and economically.
Frederick Douglass’ Take on Independence Day
Source: NPR
Listen to a discussion of Frederick Douglass’ famous speech which criticized the celebration of Independence Day celebrations in a time of slavery.
Meet the Incredible Woman Who Seeks to Be the First Female to Row from Japan to San Francisco
Source: My Modern Met
Learn about Sonya Baumstein’s proposed expedition to row 6,000 nautical miles alone from Choshi, Japan to San Francisco.
A Life Lived in a Rapidly Changing World: Samuel L. Clemens, 1835 – 1910
Source: Mark Twain's House
Author Samuel Clemens used the pen name Mark Twain. Find out about why and how his work shaped his literary life.
Arthur Miller Biography
Source: Biography
Read about the life of Arthur Miller, who used his dealings with the House of Un-American Activities Committee as inspiration for The Crucible.