Historians/History

The Myth of the Rational Actor

by Susan J. Matt

Why we need a social history of selfishness.

The Missing Chapter in the History of America’s Sixties Radicals

by Aaron Leonard

Fresh research shows that the FBI had a secret war on Maoists.

90 Years Later: Is It Time to Revise Our Understanding of the Underrated and Misunderstood Locarno Conference?

by Dr. Yoav J. Tenembaum

As a result of the Locarno Conference, Germany was admitted in 1926 into the League of Nations. Isn’t that worth remembering?

Why History Matters


by Charles Spencer

History comes alive when we connect with characters.

Why Is a French Library Refusing to Carry a History of Stalin’s Russia?

by Michael Dwyer

The book, by Geoffrey Roberts, was published by Yale University Press. Is this a case of censorship?

This Is What’s Missing from Black History Month

by Mike McQuillan

The trivialization of black history – reducing the movement to MLK and Rosa Parks – denies young people their rightful awareness of Jim Crow racism’s systemic nature.

“So Help Me God” and the Presidential Oath

by David B. Parker

Yet another legacy of the Cold War

When It Matters that Hollywood Get History Right

by Robert Brent Toplin

Even when Hollywood’s got a good story to tell, the facts matter.

The Secret of Abraham Lincoln’s Success as a Writer?

by Rosemarie Ostler

He had a reputation as a country bumpkin, but he knew his grammar inside out.

The Key to the Success of Homo Sapiens

by Yuval Noah Harari

In a one-on-one brawl, a Neanderthal would probably have beaten a Sapiens. But in a conflict of hundreds, Neanderthals wouldn’t stand a chance. Why? Sapiens possess the ability to create fictions.

Burying Vietnam, Launching Perpetual War

by Christian Appy

How Thanking the Veteran Meant Ignoring What Happened

The Surprising Story of the First Blood Transfusion

by Rod Tanchanco

Blood transfusions didn’t become common until the 20th century.

Why the Nazis Were Desperate for Gold

by George M. Taber

It was the greatest robbery in world history. During World War II, the German Nazi government robbed more than 600 tons of European gold.

The Case of the Missing Statue

by Sally G. McMillen

Lucy Stone was one of the great 19th century suffragettes. Where is her statue?

This Is How Katrina Was Experienced by First Responders

by Mark Cave

Oral histories with responders gives us a new perspective on the disaster.

What We Can Learn from Innovators

by Walter Isaacsonis

How did the most imaginative innovators of our time turn disruptive ideas into realities?

The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad: An Interview with Eric Foner

by Robin Lindley

Renowned American historian Eric Foner demystifies and clarifies the story of the Underground Railroad in his new book "Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad."

What Happens to Historians' Papers After They Die?

by Erik Moshe

Many donate their papers -- a tradition going back centuries.

The Complex History of Pain: An Interview with Joanna Bourke

by Robin Lindley

In her groundbreaking new book "The Story of Pain: From Prayer to Painkillers," renowned British historian Joanna Bourke explores how the understanding of the human sensation of pain has evolved over the past three centuries in the English-speaking world.

The Surprising Reason We Have a Memory

by Michio Kaku

It's not to remember the past, but to know the future.