History

July 24, 2017

World’s Oldest Multicolor Book, a Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Manual, Now Available Online

We often take the printed word for granted, with technology pushing information further and further into the digital realm. This makes it easy to forget that there was a time when color printing was not only a novelty, but cutting edge technology. The University of Cambridge is helping us remember by placing the oldest color book online through its digital library.

Read Article

July 11, 2017

Over 4,300 Vintage Photos From the Invasion of Normandy Are Available Online

Launched on June 6 with D-Day, the Normandy Invasion lasted throughout the summer of 1944, as Allied troops liberated all of northern France. Now, in order to make information about the Invasion more accessible, the PhotosNormandie Flickr account has over 4,300 archival images from D-Day to August 1944 available in one location. From iconic images like Into the Jaws of Death by Robert F.

Read Article

July 7, 2017

Descendants of the U.S. Founding Fathers Recreate Iconic Painting 241 Years Later

If you’ve ever taken a course on American history, you're probably familiar with artist John Trumbull's iconic painting, Declaration of Independence. The sprawling piece depicts a historic moment as Thomas Jefferson presents the first draft of the document to Congress. The 56 Founding Fathers would later sign the proclamation in 1776, and its cultural significance has only grown since then.

Read Article

May 29, 2017

Amazing Photos Reveal the Work of Britain’s First Tattoo Artist in Victorian Times

In Victorian England, Sutherland Macdonald stands out as the country's first professional tattoo artist. After James Cook‘s trip to the South Pacific, where the crew was exposed to Polynesian inking culture, tattoos began to trickle into society, growing in popularity through the years. For his part, Macdonald was said to have been exposed to tattooing in the 1880s while with the British Army.

Read Article

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.