Learn how we're using the past to inform the present and prepare for the future.
By James D. McDonald, Research Historian The sheer volume of information generated during the COVID-19 pandemic is stunning. A jumble of facts, fictions, half-truths, rumors, and conspiracy theories parade before us each day on news outlets, cable television, talk radio, …
By Emily Sullivan, Historian This Memorial Day, we’re taking time to reflect on the history of this national holiday. Unlike other countries, whose national days of remembrance for military causalities commemorate a specific battle or the formal end of a …
By Scott Vierick, Historian From 1861 to 1865, Union and Confederate armies battled for control of the town of Harpers Ferry in present-day West Virginia. Although best known as the site of John Brown’s attempted war against slavery, the town’s …
By Mimi Eisen, Historian In 1931, veterinarians reported a new respiratory infection with a particularly high mortality rate—40 to 90 percent—in domesticated chickens in North Dakota. Diseases caused by similar pathogens would be documented in mice and pigs in the …
By Colleen Kim, Historian Over the past weeks, takeout has been the only way most Americans can enjoy restaurant food and support businesses hit hard by shutdowns. But even before the coronavirus outbreak, food delivery apps were growing rapidly as …
The COVID-19 public health emergency has underscored the importance of digital research. While many federal, state, and local archives and record collections remain closed, our historians have continued to work with legal clients to ensure that their time-sensitive investigations continue …
By Emily Sullivan, Historian Have you been trying to tackle spring cleaning while staying home? Maybe you’ve uncovered some forgotten treasures in the attic and basement and are wondering “Hey, are my old Star Wars toys worth anything?” The answer …
By Scott Vierick, Historian In 1776, General George Washington and the Continental Army faced a threat even greater than the British Army: a continent-wide smallpox epidemic. From 1775 to 1782, a major outbreak of the disease ravaged North America, causing …
By Katie McCarthy, American University Public History Fellow Today is the 40th anniversary of the founding of the National Council of Public History (NCPH). HAI is just a year younger—we will turn 40 in 2021. In honor of this milestone, …
The History and Use of the Defense Production Act: Part 2 Part 1 of this blog explores the historical context of the passage of the Defense Production Act. Read it here. President Harry S. Truman signed the Defense Production Act …
To fully understand the current relevance and application of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, it helps to remember the two extraordinary wartime crises faced by Americans in the space of 10 …
By Hilary Bergen, Historian & Certified Interpretive Planner In the midst of a public health crisis, museums and cultural institutions are more important than ever. Museums are much more than four walls and a roof. They are trusted sources of …
