How A Gambling Duchess Changed British Politics
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, won and lost fortunes, giving into a compulsion that pitted her against some of society’s most notorious ne’er-do-wells.
How Scary is Too Scary?
Halloween poses questions for parents, like how scary is too scary for their kids? The answer depends on when we ask the question.
The Businesswomen of Early Twentieth Century America
Women's roles in the business world partly depended on their status as consumers in the early twentieth century.
Spiritualism, Science, and the Mysterious Madame Blavatsky
Madame Helena Blavatsky was the 19th century's most famous and notorious occultist. She was also the godmother of the New Age movement.
Suggested Readings: Laughter, Weird Evolution, and Non-Citizen Voting
Extra Credit: Our pick of stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship.
Who Was Antony Van Leeuwenhoek?
Antony Van Leeuwenhoek is considered the first microbiologist. Some of his original letters can be read here.
When Corporations Co-opt Crafts
Procter & Gamble made its industrially produced soap the basis for a revival of an ancient craft, leading to a huge fad for soap carving.
The Venerable Tradition of the Presidential Sex Scandal
Americans have been obsessed with the sexual character and moral rectitude, or lack thereof, of politicians from the beginning.
How the Women of Los Angeles Protected Their Rights to Drive
In the 1920s, women's love of driving in auto-obsessed Los Angeles created traffic jams and a battle over women’s rightful place.
The Real Story Behind “Johnny Appleseed”
Johnny Appleseed was based on a real person, John Chapman, who was eccentric enough without the legends.