The Paris Morgue Provided Ghoulish Entertainment
With its huge windows framing the corpses on display, the morgue bore an uncomfortable resemblance to a department store.
Why Did the Suffragists Wear Medieval Costumes?
Medieval costume was a standard feature of U.S. women’s suffrage parades, often with one participant designated as Joan of Arc.
The X-ray Craze of 1896
For many science-obsessed Victorians, X-rays were not just a fun novelty, but a potential miracle cure.
How Marketing Made L.A.
In the early 20th century, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce started marketing L.A as an earthquake-free alternative to San Francisco.
The First Celebrity Chef
Alexis Soyer frequently cooked for royalty and dignitaries, but also displayed a healthy social conscience.
Satanism and Magic in the Age of the Moulin Rouge
How did some of the most illustrious names of fin de siècle French literature end up in a newspaper battle over witchcraft and evil spirits?
Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning Was Both a Celebrity and a Superfan
As celebrity culture developed in 19th century England, authors were at turns celebrated and celebrators of artists they admired.