James Tilly Matthews: Bedlam patient and catalyst for "Madhouse" reform
The history of James Tilly Matthews and the reform of Bedlam Asylum.
Dana Rovang
- May 5
- 8 min
The "weird" law against killing camels in Arizona
Dana Rovang It is a true fact that there was once a law in Arizona making killing a camel a crime. But, what if you didn’t know what a...
152
Dana Rovang
- Apr 19
- 7 min
"Save the Day": The American Civil War origins of a superhero phrase
Dana Rovang What would a superhero story be without someone swooping in at the last moment to “Save The Day?” Snatching victory from the...
120
Dana Rovang
- Mar 22
- 7 min
Frances Perkins: Labor Secretary for FDR, and the brains behind the New Deal
While we take for granted the 40-hour work week and generally safe working conditions, not many know about the woman who spearheaded the...
78
Dana Rovang
- Feb 15
- 4 min
Maude Callen: Nurse-Midwife provided medical care to the poorest in her community
In the mid-twentieth-century American South, Black women had limited access to medical services and maternal care. Many gave birth at...
163
Dana Rovang
- Jan 15
- 6 min
Intrepid Arctic Explorer: Matthew A. Henson was the first Black man at the North Pole, Co-Discoverer
Icon of Arctic Explorer, Matthew A. Henson, depicting a person in a winter parka.
125
Julia Chen
- Nov 22, 2021
- 3 min
FRANCISCA ROJAS: GUILTY BY FINGERPRINT
First use of Forensic Fingerprinting in Buenos Aries, Argentina Fingerprinting was first used as a means of perpetrator identification in...
1,352
Herbert Wignall
- Nov 22, 2021
- 3 min
Hiram Bingham IV: US Diplomat who Saved Thousands in WWII
Hiram “Harry” Bingham IV (1903-1988) saved thousands of Jews and other "enemies" of Germany during the early years of WWII by using...
21
Dana Rovang
- Nov 22, 2021
- 2 min
George Méliès: Film Effects Pioneer and Conjuror
In the fall of 1896, early filmmaker and performance magician, Georges Méliès, was making a short movie on a Paris street. He developed a...
36
Dana Rovang
- Nov 22, 2021
- 2 min
Wingfoot Express Airship Disaster, Chicago 1919
Almost two decades before the disaster of the LZ 189 Hindenburg Zeppelin (1937), Chicago witnessed the horrific destruction of the...
15
Dana Rovang
- Nov 22, 2021
- 3 min
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Medal of Honor Recipient
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) was born on a farm in Oswego, New York in November 1832. She attended Syracuse Medical College,...
8
Dana Rovang
- Nov 22, 2021
- 2 min
Bushnell's Turtle
The American Revolutionary War marked a period of great expansion in martime history. One of the most significant developments was the...
14
Dana Rovang
- Nov 22, 2021
- 2 min
Kate Shelley and the Great Train Rescue of 1881
On 6 July 1881, a massive storm in Boone County, Iowa caused a flash flood. The flood washed out the support trestles for the train...
101
Herbert Wignall
- Nov 22, 2021
- 2 min
"Billy" Mitchell; or, How to Sink a Battleship
US Army General William “Billy” Mitchell (1879-1936) was the commander of the Army Air Services in WWI. After the war, Mitchell lobbied...
12
Herbert Wignall
- Nov 22, 2021
- 2 min
Adolphus Greely and the Lady Franklin Expedition
In 1881, First Lieutenant Adolphus Greely was placed in command of the Lady Franklin Expedition aboard the ship Proteus. It was to...
7
Julienne Landsdown
- Nov 19, 2021
- 2 min
SABA SABA
Saba Saba (Seven Seven in Swahili) refers to the date of July 7, and it is a meaningful date in many parts of Africa. In Tanzania, the...
17
Marcie Holmes, PhD
- Jul 17, 2015
- 16 min
US Air Force Training
By Marcie Holmes, PhD MATCHING HUMANS TO MACHINES “There’s no such thing as a natural-born pilot.” - Chuck Yeager Good airplane pilots...
13
Michael Gott
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5 min
FUGO: Japanese Fire Balloons
THE FIRST INTERCONTINENTAL WEAPON PIGGYBACKED ON THE DISCOVERY OF THE JET STREAM The Fu-go “Windship Weapon” project was a World War II...
8
Dana Rovang
- Jul 15, 2015
- 8 min
RENATO LEVI
THE JEWISH DOUBLE-AGENT WAS ONE OF THE ALLIES' BEST KEPT SECRETS IN WWII Renato Levi (aka CHEESE, MR. ROSE, LAMBERT, EMILE, or ROBERTO)...
14
Dana Rovang
- Jul 8, 2015
- 10 min
The Illusionists of El Alamein
DECEIVING ROMMEL'S AFRIKA KORPS “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using...
19