Lifestyle
The History of Ordinary Things: ‘Keepsies’ and Your Marbles
- Details
- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Playing with small, round balls may have started with cave people. Clay balls have been found in the tombs of Egypt, in Native American burial grounds, and in the ancient Aztec pyramids.
The History of Ordinary Things: Traditions of Decorated Eggs
- Details
- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Today the decorated egg is a well-recognized Easter symbol. Many of us have spent Easter week boiling eggs to paint in colors from pastel to army green (the result of mixing all the colors together).
The History of Ordinary Things: Ever Wonder about the Cigarette Filter?
- Details
- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Evidence of smoking was first documented in 1556 in a report of an English sailor “emitting smoke from his nostrils.” French diplomat and scholar Jean Nicot (origin of the word nicotine) introduced tobacco to France in 1560.
It Was 50 Years Ago Today: ‘Rocky Mountain High’
- Details
- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
John Denver and his wife, Annie, moved to Aspen, Colorado, in December 1970, hoping to purchase a home in the couple’s favorite part of their favorite state. What they discovered was that everything cost much more than they could afford.
The History of Ordinary Things: Fun Facts on Valentines
- Details
- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
“Valentine” was a common, gender-neutral name during the third to sixth centuries. It is of Latin origin and means “strong and healthy.”
COVER STORY: Black History Month Celebrates Those Who Blazed the Trail
- Details
- Written by Kimberly Blaker Kimberly Blaker
For nearly 250 years, America held Black men, women, and children as slaves. They were considered “property” and worked as servants and on plantations, not by choice, and for little compensation, often suffering severe abuse.
The History of Ordinary Things: Nutty as a Fruitcake
- Details
- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
The phrase “nutty as a fruitcake” was first used in 1935 in reference to Southern bakers who loaded their fruitcakes with nuts. But what is the history of this heavy, fruit-laden cake?
The History of Ordinary Things: Remembering Paper Dolls
- Details
- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
The oldest known paper-doll card was printed around 1650 with two female figures and numerous dresses, headgear, hairstyles, and accessories.
6 Little-Known Stories about Pearl Harbor
- Details
- Written by Lauren Berg Lauren Berg
More than 80 years later, the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor remains significant as one of only a few times the United States has been attacked by a foreign adversary on its own soil.