John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Barack Obama.

Looks Matter, Even in Politics

Research suggests that a candidate's looks play an integral part in whether they are electable or not.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia testifies before the House Judiciary Committee's Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee on Capitol Hill May 20, 2010 in Washington, DC.

How Supreme Court Nominations Became Political Battles

The battle to secure Supreme Court justices has a long and contentious history. 
Burning of Barges during Homestead Strike

Should Archivists Document Collective Memory?

Collective memory can be a useful addition to the documentation of history. 
Canisters of paint

Before Flint: How Americans Chose Lead Poisoning

The United States, unlike other Western nations, did not take a firm stance on lead-based products until much later--despite knowing the health risks. 
Minaret of Jam

Afghanistan’s Ancient and Beautiful Minaret of Jam

The Minaret of Jam, located in Afghanistan's Ghur province, provided a vantage point for the call to prayer. It remained hidden and forgotten until 1886.
Photograph of Septima Clark, ca. 1960, Avery Photo Collection, 10-9, Courtesy of the Avery Research Center.

How Septima Poinsette Clark Spoke Up for Civil Rights

The daughter of a slave, Septima Clark graduated from college, became a teacher, and became a fierce advocate for social and cultural change.  
Illustration of Chaucer

The Love Birds of Valentine’s Day

A little history behind the love birds that inspired Chaucer to invent Valentine's Day, the well-known celebration of love. 
Grandchildren of slaves.

A Formerly Enslaved Woman Successfully Won a Case for Reparations in 1783

In one of the earliest examples of reparations, an ex-slave named Belinda petitioned the government and was granted an annuity.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves to supporters after speaking at a campaign event in Dallas, Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Understanding the Evangelical Vote

A look at what evangelical voters want and expect from major Presidential candidates. 
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign stop at the Rochester Opera House, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Rochester, N.H. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

If Inequality Is the Question, Is Social Democracy the Answer?

How do social democratic ideas work in other countries? And would those same policies reduce the wealth gap in the U.S.?