Elizabeth Bishop
Exploring the text and subtext of Elizabeth Bishop’s poems, inspired by a new biography called Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for Breakfast.
The History of Outlawing Abortion in America
Abortion was first criminalized in the U.S. in the mid-19th century. A key argument was that too many white women were ending their pregnancies.
How World’s Fairs Helped Train Southern Suffragists
There’s no cultural touchstone quite like an exhibition or fair—think the Great Exhibition of 1851, which introduced the ...
Does the U.S. Need a Department of Education?
The U.S. Department of Education has been controversial since President Jimmy Carter started it in 1979. Now many are wondering if it needs to exist.
How to Bathe Like a 18th-Century Queen
18th-century bathing was controversial. Some argued bathing was healthy, while others argued it could damage one's health.
How Tech Companies Got In the White House
What role will technology companies—and tech CEOS—play in Donald Trump's White House?
Suggested Readings: A Turkey Funeral, a Really Weird Flower, and the Meaning of Life
Well-researched stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday ...
Immigration and National Security on George Washington’s Day
Presuming that immigration was a boon to national security, U.S. borders remained mostly open for the first century of the nation’s existence.
Examining Trump’s Military Budget
The United States' calling card is its strong military. What role does military spending play in the federal budget? And is more always better?
What Do Ex-Presidents Do? Ask John Quincy Adams.
Many are speculating about what former president Barack Obama will do in his retirement. Perhaps he will stay as politically involved as John Quincy Adams.