By Jenna Hill, Research Historian Just weeks ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turned 30 years old. Signed on July 26, 1990, the ADA was a groundbreaking piece of legislation that today impacts 61 million Americans. The Act prohibits …
Straddling the Color Line: The Leland Giants and the Negro Leagues at 100
By Justin Broubalow, Research Historian Major League Baseball has finally returned after the COVID-19-induced shutdown that began in March. Aside from the impact of the global pandemic, this season is particularly noteworthy because MLB, along with players past and present, …
‘Hurrah, and vote for suffrage!’: The Fight to Ratify the 19th Amendment
By Jen Giambrone, Historian One hundred years ago today, the Tennessee General Assembly voted to ratify the 19th Amendment, becoming the 36th state to do so and the last required to make the amendment the law of the land. By …
“In the Eye of a Hurricane”: Taking a Stand at the 1968 Olympics
By Mimi Eisen, Historian If not for the coronavirus pandemic, we would currently be in the midst of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, watching awestruck as Simone Biles flew and twisted in midair and no doubt enjoying the …
All Bound Up Together: Voices from Reconstruction
By Mimi Eisen, Historian For the past few years, there have been rumblings of a third Reconstruction – the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ‘60s is now widely considered the second. And yet, the namesake of these eras …
Pride and Prejudice: A History of LGBTQ+ Civil Disobedience and Protest
By Emily Sullivan, Historian June is Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and the freedom of LGBTQ+ individuals to be themselves. While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of most Pride events, we can still take time …
Fighting for Freedom: African American Troops in the Civil War, Part 2
By Scott Vierick, Historian This is Part 2 of our USCT blog—read Part 1, which explores the origins of the USCT, here. USCT regiments fought in battles throughout the Eastern and Western Theatres of the war. Around 40,000 Black soldiers …
Fighting for Freedom: African American Troops in the Civil War, Part 1
By Scott Vierick, Historian In April 1865, African American and white United States soldiers marched through the streets of the former Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. After four years of brutal fighting, the city had finally fallen, forcing the Confederate …
Frederick Douglass, Family, and the Fight for the Soul of the Nation
By Scott Vierick, Historian This Father’s Day, we’re honoring Frederick Douglass. Although he became a prominent national figure, the threat of slavery, racism, and white supremacy loomed large for Douglass and his family. Together, he and his wife, Anna Murray …
Hidden Figures: Unearthing Black History in Museums and Archives
Originally published September 2017 By Michelle Johnson, Former HAI Historian, PhD Candidate at Yale University Museums and archives preserve and tell significant stories. They also serve their visitors, connecting people to their histories and providing an opportunity to hear otherwise …