The Working-Class Radicalism of Mississippi’s Head Start
The Child Development Group of Mississippi created jobs and fostered the political inclusion of poor African American and white communities in the South.
The Truth About Isabella Van Wagenen
Sojourner Truth’s entanglement with a dubious cult leader in New York City steadied her steps on the path for women’s rights.
So You Plan to Teach Moby Dick
The study of Melville’s novel is enhanced by contextualizing it with primary and secondary sources related to the American sperm whaling industry.
Today: The Best Day of the Year to be Born
Children who are oldest in their class—those born in early autumn—enjoy both a physical and an academic advantage.
Plant of the Month: Corpse Lily
The largest flower on the planet—a gigantic, pungent parasite—reveals deep genetic mysteries and unique conservation challenges.
The Goddess and the Princess: Why Diana Endures
Twenty-five years have passed since the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, yet pop culture and gossip mags continue to be fascinated by her life and legacy.
Who Was the Little Girl in Las Meninas?
A Spanish princess who became a German queen, Margarita Teresa lived a life structured by Catholicism and cut short by consanguinity.
Caroline Herschel Claims Her Comet
Couching her petition in a mix of modesty and expertise, Herschel became the first woman to have a scientific paper read to the Royal Society of London.
The Voting Rights Act 1965: Annotated
The passing of the Voting Rights Act in August 1965 prohibited the use of Jim Crow laws and discriminatory tests to disenfranchise Black voters.
Gay Panic on Muscle Beach
The skin and strength on display at Santa Monica’s Muscle Beach aggravated American fears of gender transgressions and homosexuality.