History

July 6, 2020

Civil Rights Pioneer Leona Tate Is Turning School She Helped Desegregate Into Center for Equality

One November morning in 1960, four first-grade girls broke ground when they set foot in their new schools. Flanked by U.S. Marshals and mobbed by angry protestors, six-year-olds Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, Tessie Prevost, and Ruby Bridges walked toward two all-white institutions, kickstarting the desegregation process in New Orleans—making history one step at a time.

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June 25, 2020

Ancient Scythian Shoe Preserved for 2,300 Years Discovered in the Altai Mountains

The allure of ancient artifacts has intrigued historians and art historians alike, but rarely do archaeologists come across age-old remnants that have survived thousands of years in near-mint condition. In 1948, a women’s boot, featuring intricately bedazzled patterns, was discovered in Siberia’s Altai mountains alongside other important finds—including jewelry, food, and weapons.

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June 22, 2020

Rare Book Collector Reveals Tibetan Book Printed Before the Gutenberg Bible

The Gutenberg Printing Press truly revolutionized western society with its introduction of mass produced printed materials for a relatively cheap price, which helped encourage literacy among the lower classes. However, the practice of printing books had actually been occurring long before 1450 in the Far East. A rare book collector on Twitter recently debuted a Sino-Tibetan “concertina-folded book” that is estimated to have been printed in Beijing around 1410.

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June 13, 2020

5 “Splendiferous” Facts About the Beloved British Author Roald Dahl

It’s hard to imagine a writer more inventive than Roald Dahl. With his exceptionally original ideas, whimsical style of storytelling, and quirky collection of made-up words, Dahl is among the world’s most treasured children’s authors, well known for works like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach. While, as a child, you likely gobbled up a book or two (or 20)

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.