By Colleen Kim, Historian Originally posted on May 14, 2020 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 …
Anarchy in the USA: Fear and Loathing in the Early 20th Century
By Justin Broubalow, Research Historian On September 6, 1901, Leon Czolgosz—an unemployed factory worker, American-born son of Polish immigrants, and self-proclaimed anarchist—walked up to President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, and shot him. Czolgosz believed …
Is 2020 the Worst Year Ever?
By Colleen Kim, Historian When 2016 came to a close, many on the internet dubbed it “the worst year ever.” The trend continued, and commentators declared the following years to be the worst ever as well, touting each as “the …
Labor’s Holiday: A Look Back on the History of Labor Day
By Jen Giambrone, Historian Happy Labor Day! While the holiday has become an opportunity to enjoy a long weekend, revel in the final days of summer, and prepare for the start of the school year (whatever that looks like this …
Near Beer and Wine Bricks: Loopholes and Innovation During Prohibition
By Jen Giambrone, Historian One hundred years ago, the United States was months into a “noble experiment”—Prohibition. Officially in effect as of January 17, 1920, the nationwide prohibition on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of “intoxicating liquors” conjures up images …
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, …
“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 …
A Dining Experience to Remember: A Brief History of the Automat, Part 2
By Colleen Kim, Historian If you haven’t already, learn about the origins of the Automat in Part 1 of this blog. No Glorified Slot Machine Despite its mechanical novelty, the Automat was “far from being a glorified slot machine,” as …
A Dining Experience to Remember: A Brief History of the Automat, Part 1
By Colleen Kim, Historian As the country begins to reopen and establish a “new normal,” the question of what the restaurant experience will look like in the coming months looms large. Today, we’re exploring the history of a long-forgotten, low-contact …
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 …
A Brief History of Memorial Day
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 …
Cleaning Out the Closet: Are My Old Toys Valuable?
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 …
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