american history

Meet J. Marion Sims, The ‘Father Of Modern Gynecology’ Who Experimented On Slaves

In the 1840s, Dr. James Marion Sims perfected his surgical skills by operating on enslaved black women without anesthesia.

By Genevieve Carlton • Jun 6, 2020

Meet J. Marion Sims, The ‘Father Of Modern Gynecology’ Who Experimented On Slaves

In the 1840s, Dr. James Marion Sims perfected his surgical skills by operating on enslaved black women without anesthesia.

By Genevieve Carlton • June 6, 2020

The Story Of The Pearl Incident, The Largest Attempted Slave Escape In American History

Even though 77 hopeful fugitives were caught just two days after trying to escape aboard The Pearl, their daring attempt would inspire abolitionists nationwide.

By Morgan Dunn • Jun 2, 2020

The Story Of The Pearl Incident, The Largest Attempted Slave Escape In American History

Even though 77 hopeful fugitives were caught just two days after trying to escape aboard The Pearl, their daring attempt would inspire abolitionists nationwide.

By Morgan Dunn • June 2, 2020

Meet Gaston Means, The Swindler Who Loved Ripping Off Bootleggers During Prohibition

Gaston Means used his connections to President Warren Harding to convince bootleggers that he could protect them from the law for a price — and pocketed up to $60,000 a day.

By Morgan Dunn • May 26, 2020

Meet Gaston Means, The Swindler Who Loved Ripping Off Bootleggers During Prohibition

Gaston Means used his connections to President Warren Harding to convince bootleggers that he could protect them from the law for a price — and pocketed up to $60,000 a day.

By Morgan Dunn • May 26, 2020

Inside The ‘Better Babies’ Contests That Judged American Infants Like Livestock

"Better Babies" contests scored children on a 1,000-point scale that was generated based on the racist principles of eugenics.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 22, 2020

Inside The ‘Better Babies’ Contests That Judged American Infants Like Livestock

"Better Babies" contests scored children on a 1,000-point scale that was generated based on the racist principles of eugenics.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 22, 2020

How Al Capone Rose From Brooklyn Street Thug To “Public Enemy No. 1” In 44 Pictures

From his signature cigar to his blood-soaked mob hits, these photos of Al Capone show the legendary Chicago gangster as he really was.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 20, 2020

How Al Capone Rose From Brooklyn Street Thug To “Public Enemy No. 1” In 44 Pictures

From his signature cigar to his blood-soaked mob hits, these photos of Al Capone show the legendary Chicago gangster as he really was.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 20, 2020

How America Responded To The San Francisco Plague Of 1900 With Corruption And Racism

When the bubonic plague killed a resident of San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900, the city and state tried to hide it — and then ostracized Asian immigrants.

By Natasha Ishak • May 14, 2020

How America Responded To The San Francisco Plague Of 1900 With Corruption And Racism

When the bubonic plague killed a resident of San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900, the city and state tried to hide it — and then ostracized Asian immigrants.

By Natasha Ishak • May 14, 2020

Researchers Finally Find The USS Nevada, Which Survived Pearl Harbor, D-Day, And An Atomic Bomb

The USS Nevada was found three miles below the surface of the Pacific where it partook in World War II. This is the first time anyone's seen it since.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 13, 2020

News

Researchers Finally Find The USS Nevada, Which Survived Pearl Harbor, D-Day, And An Atomic Bomb

The USS Nevada was found three miles below the surface of the Pacific where it partook in World War II. This is the first time anyone's seen it since.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 13, 2020

Meet Jill Ruckelshaus, The Progressive Republican Who Opposed Her Party To Fight For Women’s Rights

As a founding member of the National Women's Political Caucus, the fearless Jill Ruckelshaus joined Gloria Steinem and other feminists to fight for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

By Natasha Ishak • May 12, 2020

Meet Jill Ruckelshaus, The Progressive Republican Who Opposed Her Party To Fight For Women’s Rights

As a founding member of the National Women's Political Caucus, the fearless Jill Ruckelshaus joined Gloria Steinem and other feminists to fight for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

By Natasha Ishak • May 12, 2020

The True Story Of Gloria Steinem, From The CIA To ‘The World’s Most Famous Feminist’

Before Gloria Steinem was the face of second-wave feminism, she was an anti-communist operative for the CIA and went undercover with Playboy to expose their misogynistic practices.

By Natasha Ishak • May 8, 2020

The True Story Of Gloria Steinem, From The CIA To ‘The World’s Most Famous Feminist’

Before Gloria Steinem was the face of second-wave feminism, she was an anti-communist operative for the CIA and went undercover with Playboy to expose their misogynistic practices.

By Natasha Ishak • May 8, 2020

Why The Men Who Killed Michael Jordan’s Father May Have Walked Free

Though the state quickly convicted two suspects in James Jordan's 1993 death, lingering evidence has many asking how Michael Jordan's dad really died.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 7, 2020

Why The Men Who Killed Michael Jordan’s Father May Have Walked Free

Though the state quickly convicted two suspects in James Jordan's 1993 death, lingering evidence has many asking how Michael Jordan's dad really died.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 7, 2020