Maternity, #Meternity, and the Military
Maternity leave as we know it today may have its origins in turn-of-the-century French militarism.
The Flight of Inky the Octopus
Inky the Octopus made one of the natural world's most daring escapes when he somehow breached his tank to get to the Pacific. But how did he do it?
The Mother of Mother’s Day
Mother's Day began as one woman's quest to have a public observance of the anniversary of her own mother's passing.
What Red Light Ladies Reveal About the American West
Prostitution and sex work are useful metric for historians seeking insight into the American West.
On Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
Thinking of celebrating Cinco de Mayo at your school this year? Learn from history about some of the potentially insensitive pitfalls.
A Critical Look at Gilded Age Philanthropy
The 125th anniversary of the opening of Carnegie Hall on May 5th provides an opportunity to examine Andrew Carnegie's legacy and philanthropy.
Complexity in Simplicity: The Three Technologies Behind Ceramics
More than two thousand years ago, the Mayans of eastern Guatemala used ceramic teapots to pour themselves hot ...
Charles Dickens and the Linguistic Art of the Minor Character
Charles Dickens' characters are famous for their elaborate, often hilarious names. Even for bit parts, Dickens' naming conventions were linguistically rich.
Jane Jacobs and the American City
Jane Jacobs, who would have been 100 today and is the focus of the Google Doodle , was a big part of why cities like New York City and Toronto look and feel
Let’s Talk About Dying Well
Physicians and family members still have trouble talking candidly about dying and what it means to die well.