A Short History of the Public Restroom
How come it's so hard to go in sweet privacy when you're out and about?
Machiavelli, Prince of…Democracy?
The other side of the Renaissance man, known today for promoting autocratic power.
The Evolution of the Mad Scientist
The crazed caricature of genius was largely inspired by now-debunked late-Victorian ideas about how species change.
The History of the Power Suit for Women
As women entered the white-collar world, experts told them to dress like men, without being too threatening.
Why Vote? Lessons from Indian Villages
The voters one scholar studied didn't necessarily think they would benefit materially from being on the winning side. But turnout was over 90 percent.
How the New Deal Documented Southern Food Cultures
Photographers and writers hired by the US government presented the foodways of the South to a wide audience.
Prison Abolition from Behind Prison Walls
The Anarchist Black Dragon was produced inside of the Walla Walla State Penitentiary. One of their journalists was murdered. Could the paper survive?
How Crime Stories Foiled Reform in Victorian Britain
Harsh punishments were declining in the nineteenth century. Then came sensationalist news coverage of a reputed crime wave.
The King of Mail-Order Muscles
Flab, begone! Earle Edwin Liederman wanted men to learn his vaudeville-strongman secrets—for a not-so-low price.
Why National Pride Could Make or Break Climate Action
Nationalism and environmentalism have a history of pairing in dark ways. What does this mean for international climate negotiations?