A moustachioed young man and a girl in long braids dance the 'original polka' on page one of 'Jullien's Celebrated Polkas', dedicated to Mr E Coulon.

The Rebellious, Scandalous Origins of Polka

The dance is often associated with the traditions of immigrant communities in America. But it emerged in Europe during a time of radicalism.
Chautauqua

The Forgotten Movement That Changed American Women’s Lives

Chatauquas changed the lives of Midwestern women between 1878 and 1900, setting the stage for new gender roles in the twentieth century.
da Vinci's Mona Lisa

Introducing “And, Also, Too”: A Column Dedicated to the Theory and Practice of Art

The image of the artist as eccentric genius or shaman is ubiquitous in popular culture for good reason. ...
Grasslands

How Mining Impacted the Midwestern Grasslands

Is it possible to recover from the effects of coal mining? We investigate.