History

July 3, 2026

Mural Honors Ona Judge’s Escape From George Washington’s Household and Fight for Freedom

A newly unveiled mural on the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, waterfront honors Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who escaped from George Washington’s household and built a free life in the city more than 230 years ago. Created by artist Manuel Ramirez and commissioned by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the 13-by-15-foot work depicts Judge arriving in Portsmouth in 1796, the moment she stepped into a future she chose for herself.

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June 21, 2026

Travel Back to China in 1917 When You Watch This Enhanced and Colorized Film Footage

When we think of the year 1917, World War I is most often what comes to mind. It was then that the United States officially joined the global conflict, and the Russian Empire also collapsed. Elsewhere, many countries were waking up to new realities. In China, the population was getting accustomed to the recently created Republic of China after the Xinhai Revolution put an end to over 2,000 years of dynastic rule.

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May 17, 2026

Inside Yale University’s Fascinating Collection of “Magic Books” Making Sense of the Medieval World

Hidden inside one of America’s most iconic academic libraries sits a collection that feels more like folklore than fact. At Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, thousands of rare texts rest behind a towering marble facade. Among them lies one of the most fascinating collections of early scientific imagination ever assembled: a major archive of medieval and Renaissance alchemical manuscripts. In fact, scholars often refer to it as Yale’s “alchemy collection.

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March 11, 2026

Photographic Survey From 19th-Century India Snags Nearly $57K at Auction

Last month, London-based Forum Auctions sold an eight-volume survey of 19th century India for £42,000 (about $56,800), exceeding pre-sale estimates by more than £34,000 (about $45,662). The remarkable hammer price reveals an increased appetite not just for early photography, but for documentary projects that contend with complicated moments in history. In this particular case, that moment in time is the British colonization of the Indian subcontinent.

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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.