In this post, readers explore an extraordinary figure in a new way.  A 1950 comic book about Jackie Robinson’s early career reveals little of the hardships he faced, but focuses on the talent and integrity of on the baseball’s greats. Written by Archivist Cathy Keen, th

In this post, readers will discover some of the early history of bullet-proof vests and how Americans during the Civil War tried to protect themselves and their loved ones with this relatively new invention.  Written by Civil War scholar Sarah Weicksel, this post i

In this post, readers will explore the writings of an assistant surgeon in the 150th Pennsylvania infantry during the Civil War, M.A. Henderson.  Although Henderson did not see much action and describes little of his medical duties, his diary is a resource for understanding the Ci

In this post, readers will find hope even in the darkest of circumstances.  The story of Paul and May Ishimoto finding love in an Arkansas internment camp is one of perseverance, sacrifice, and artifacts.  Written by Cedric Yeh, Deputy Chair and Associate Curator for the Division of Arm

In this post, readers will learn about an historical moment from a personal point of view.  William Steinway recounts the terrors of the 1863 New York City Draft riots and why he feared for his family during those dangerous days.  Written by Curator Emerita Cynthia Adams Hoover and volu

In this post, readers will draw connections between the food on our tables and the people and organizations that helped put it there.  More than a warm meal, the foods Americans consume have been a source of political tension and national change throughout the 20th century. 

In this post, students will learn how packaging—and the unspoken dialogue between consumers and producers—is one way to understand the connection between supermarkets and food consumption habits in the United States. Package colors, materials, and other design elements of food products a

In this post, students will learn how the Civil War impacted the development of the watch-making industry in the United States by studying one particular watch in the collection. Written by Carlene Stephens, Curator for the Division of Work and Industry, this post is published on the Mu

For a good part of the twentieth century, Harlem’s Apollo Theater was one of the most prestigious, important, and well-known venues for black entertainers. In this post, students will learn about the Schiffman family, who ran the Apollo from 1934 to 1976. In 1946, Frank Schiffman

In this post, students will learn about Frederick Douglass as more than an orator and activist. Though Douglass' persona was poised, dignified, and proper, he was also a fighter and an agitator. Written by Chris Wilson, Director of Daily Programs and the Program in African American Culture, this