When Forced Sterilization was Legal in the U.S.
The 1927 case of Buck v. Bell set the stage for forced sterilizations for eugenics, but it turned out to based on complete falsehoods.
The Strange History of Masons in America
Often the subject of conspiracy theories, Masons captured the allegiance of much of the early American elite.
What Does Trump’s Golfing Reveal about His Personality?
It’s been noted that Donald Trump has been playing a lot of golf since becoming president. Can his habit be explained by his "sky-high extroversion?"
National Security and the Rise of American Air Power
Intending to rein in spending, the 1947 National Security Act reorganized the military establishment.
This Short-Lived Political Party Embraced Socks With Sandals
The Men’s Dress Reform Party (MDRP) called for liberation from dark, tightly-knit textiles...and had some ties to the eugenics movement.
How the Nazis Created the Myth of Stalingrad
The battle of Stalingrad was the first major defeat of the Nazis in World War II, and presented the Nazis with a propaganda quandary.
The Sandhogs Who Built the New York Subway
Unlike other laborers, who toiled anonymously on bridges and buildings throughout the city, the sandhogs had an iconic status in New York City.
Cheng I Sao, Female Pirate Extraordinaire
Learn more about Cheng I Sao, a female pirate who dominated the coast of the Kwangtung Province between 1795-1810.
When “Welfare Reform” Meant Expanding Benefits
50 years ago, Republican politicians proposed, and sometimes won, welfare reform programs that were actually more comprehensive.
Amelia Earhart Taught America to Fly
Amelia Earhart taught America to fly. How Earhart and other women pilots of her day helped overcome Americans’ skepticism about flight.