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 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, a Museum staff member answers a question posed by Museum visitors: Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?” A commemoration with a long history, this blog explores the roots and intentions of this spring holiday.  Written by Project Assistant Ryan Lintelman,

In this post, readers are encouraged to reflect on the historical and psychological meaning of one of the Civil War’s most stirring and most significant battles: Gettysburg.  Through photographs and remembrances, readers will revisit this scene and the sacrifices made there.  Writ

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 are encouraged to think about how differently news travels now than it did when the United States first became a country.  Most Americans did not learn of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress until weeks after July 4, 1776.  W

In this post, students will learn about Alice Paul, a suffragist who was jailed while working to get the vote for women. During her graduate studies in England, Paul became exposed to the confrontational tactics of the English "suffragettes," and when she returned to the United States she adapted

In this post, students will learn about Almera Anderson Romney, a California teacher, and her efforts to correct the inequity of the substandard condition of most aspects of the school. As a teacher and principal, she introduced innovative educational strategies, recruited a top-notch a

In this post, students will learn about Audie Murphy by answering the question, "What was it about Audie Murphy that impelled him to become a hero?" Murphy was the most highly decorated World War II soldier, and upon his return to civilian life, he was an instant celebrity. He parlayed his n

In this post, students will learn about Celia Cruz's life, music, and impact on Caribbean and Latino immigrants in America. In a career that spanned six decades and took her from Cuba to the United States, Cruz became known around the world for her piercing and powerful voice and larger-than