History
Appreciating African American Music This Month
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- Written by James Patterson James Patterson
In April, singer Nat King Cole’s 1961 version of “The Christmas Song” was added to the Library of Congress’s 2022 National Recording Registry. Cole (1919-1965) had one of the smoothest voices of all singers.
The History of Ordinary Things: Antique Textile Art: Crochet
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Bobbin lace was the preferred needlework in the 1700s. It was made by nuns using silk or linen thread on multiple spindles to create complex patterns. In 1806, Napoleon’s blockade on the English Channel stopped the shipments of silk thread from the East.
Sixties Flashback: The Temporary Utopias
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- Written by Randal C. Hill Randal C. Hill
During the ’60s, thousands of young Americans opted for a life in one of about 3,000 “hippie” communes across the country. Who were those mavericks who made such an unorthodox choice?
The History of Ordinary Things: Spring Means Baseball
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
The first official game of baseball was held in 1846 in Hoboken, New Jersey. The evolving rules of the game govern the materials, form, and dimensions of a regulation baseball bat and ball.
The History of Ordinary Things: Victorian Hair Receiver Bowls
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Do you remember the early dresser sets with the comb, brush, mirror, and the matching bowl with a hole in its flat lid? In the Victorian era, this hair receiver bowl was kept on the dressing table to store hair removed from brushes and combs.
How Much Do You Know about Women in History?
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Take this quiz and learn something about the roles of five particular women in U.S. history:
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with These Famous Lovers
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Valentine’s Day celebrates love and happiness, and although real life offers plenty of true stories with happily-ever-after endings, many of us look to literature for inspiring tales of passion’s power.
Famous Presidential Last Words
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- Written by James E. Patterson James E. Patterson
As we celebrate Presidents Day, it is a good time to consider some of their famous last words — many remained philosophical and elegant in their final moments.
The History of Ordinary Things: Red-Red Lipstick
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- Written by Doris Montag Doris Montag
Cleopatra colored her lips with red dye from the crushed shells of the cochineal bug, which is still used today to make carmine, a red food coloring.