Mrs. Rose O'Brine works in the bookstore at the John Birch Society in Belmont, Mass., April 14, 1976. (AP Photo/J. Walter Green)

John Birch Had Nothing to Do with the John Birch Society

The real John Birch, the first American casualty of the Cold War, would not have been pleased with his name becoming the beacon of the extreme Right.
Chief of Staff Lutze visits the new Italian settlements in Libya. The Chief of Staff and His Excellency Russo inspect ranks of Askaris (native soldiers) in Nalut.

Libya’s Italian Connection

The intimate historical connection between Italy and Libya. 
Port Gibson, Mississippi, August 1940.

Racism and American Exceptionalism

America's domestic policies have been motivated by racist policies that began even before the anti-welfare arguments of the Reagan era. 
Doctor Death

Why Did the Plague Continue to Reemerge After the Middle Ages?

New research suggests alarming details about the plague, which repeatedly devastated populations across Europe, Asia, and Africa over the centuries. 
Eddie Aikau

Eddie Aikau: The Rad Life of a Hawaiian Surfing Legend

Eddie Aikau was a surfing legend during a time when Hawaiian legends were being resurrected. As a lifeguard, he attempted more than 500 daring rescues.
Marshall "Major" Taylor

The Moral Threat of Bicycles in the 1890s

The bicycle craze of the 19th century, in which both men and women participated, was seen as a moral affront by church leaders. 
Painted eyes on a speckled background

The Perpetual Paranoid Style in American Politics

The "paranoid style" isn't so much periodical as it is perpetual. 
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.