History
The History of Ordinary Things: Fun Facts on Valentines
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- 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
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- 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: Remembering Paper Dolls
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- 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.
The History of Ordinary Things: Nutty as a Fruitcake
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- 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?
6 Little-Known Stories about Pearl Harbor
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- 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.
The History of Ordinary Things: Military Sewing Kits – Honoring Our Veterans
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
First used in print in 1749, the term “housewife” has been used to denote a sewing kit commonly used by the military. The pocket sewing kit was also known as a “hussif” or “hussy” (also spelled “huswife”).
Writer Recalls Sept. 11 Attacks from D.C.
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- Written by James Patterson James Patterson
Sept. 11, 2001, began like many busy mornings for me. I was in my Washington office and ready to leave for an appointment with a colleague near Georgetown University. Later, I had a meeting on Capitol Hill and, after that, I planned to take Amtrak to Penn Station in New York.
The History of Ordinary Things: Husking Tools and the Homestead Act of 1862
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
The 1862 Homestead Act, signed by Lincoln prior to the Civil War, was an important piece of legislation about federal land.
The History of Ordinary Things: The Shocking History of Facial Powder
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Across history, men and women whitened their skin with facial powder to show their respectability and social class. It was also intended to hide facial blemishes, such as smallpox pocks or aged skin. Only much later was powder used to “enhance natural beauty.”