Historian Joyce Appleby Remembered
Historian Joyce Appleby, a major contributor to our understanding of early American history, passed away last month. We remember her.
The Fight for People’s Park
Fifty years ago, tens of thousands of people converged on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park for the “Human ...
How Benedict Arnold Helped Win the Revolution
Some historians think Benedict Arnold's treason may well have aided the American cause in the Revolutionary War.
Edmund Burke and the Birth of Traditional Conservatism
Edmund Burke (1729-1797) is one of the philosophical fountainheads of modern conservatism. But he didn't start out that way.
Magic and Meaning on the Frozen Thames
London's winters used to colder—and a bit more magical, thanks to chilly conditions on the Thames River. "Frost fairs" were popular public celebrations.
How Thomas Paine Marketed the Revolution
Thomas Paine's Common Sense presented the case for American independence in a way that spoke to the average person.
Cosmopolitanism (and Racism) at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
Seattle’s Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition celebrated intercultural connections, but also reduced non-white cultures to quaint attractions.
How the Netherlands Used Literature to Defy the Nazis
A new theory sheds light not only on the fate of the Franks, but on the extent of Dutch resistance to the Nazis.
How Great Was the Great Society?
Lyndon B. Johnson called upon the wealthiest nation in the world to do something for those left behind.
The Real Pocahontas
Pocahontas, Matoaka, and Lady Rebecca Rolfe were all the same young woman, who died in 1617, a long way from home.