Remembering Climate Pioneer Dr. Wallace Broecker
He brought us the term "global warming," furthering our understanding of the ways in which people affect the planet's climate.
Women Made Butter a Behemoth
In the 19th century, butter production became a valuable way for women to profit off their farms-- and it soon became a major agricultural product.
“Mad Meg,” the Poet-Duchess of 17th Century England
Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, shocked the establishment by publishing poems and plays under her own name.
How Opium Use Became a Moral Issue
In the 19th century, England's working classes frequently used opium. But there weren't laws against the drug until the middle classes started using it.
The Socialist Origins of International Women’s Day
Why is International Women's Day on March 8th? The answer is much more complicated than you might think.
Witches’ Marks Protected Spaces from Evil
Throughout history, people tried to protect spaces from evil with apotropaic marks, ritual concealments, and other charms.
Why Did “Thieves’ Cant” Carry an Unshakeable Allure?
If thieves’ cant—a language known only to criminals—was the Devil’s cabinet, bourgeois society couldn’t help but peep inside.
What Violent Acts Get Defined as Terrorism
Why was the Weather Underground group labelled as a terrorist organization, while the KKK was not? A brief look at the history of domestic terrorism.
The Wonderland Awaits: Researching The Good Echo
Author Shena McAuliffe describes how she used JSTOR to research her debut novel, The Good Echo.
The Top-Secret Feminist History of Tea Rooms
Nearly all American tea rooms were owned by women. They often opened up rooms in their homes or set up tables in their gardens.