The “Dating Apps” of Victorian England
They didn't have smartphones back then, but they still had personal ads.
How the Marshall Plan Sold Europe to Americans
Department-store bazaars let consumers see how glamorous and sophisticated imported goods could be. Ooh, la la!
A Short History of the Public Restroom
How come it's so hard to go in sweet privacy when you're out and about?
When Melvil Dewey Pursued Andrew Carnegie’s Millions
A clash of library enthusiasts ended with a sexual harassment scandal.
How Do Insects Survive Winter?
Some species have adapted to get themselves close to freezing without dying.
America’s Domestic Gurus Are Bad Girls
Why do the pages of shelter magazines for women seem so pristine? The answer is not what you think, according to one scholar.
Machiavelli, Prince of…Democracy?
The other side of the Renaissance man, known today for promoting autocratic power.
The Ghosts of Slavery in Charles Chesnutt’s Fiction
What begins as a magical escape from the horrors of plantation life soon turns into a spine-chilling testament to slavery’s dehumanizing effects.