history Archives

Senate Backs Major Public Lands, Conservation Bill

The hodgepodge bill offered something for nearly everyone, with projects stretching across the country.

Was the Revolving Door Invented by a Man Who Disliked Holding Open Doors for Women?

The claim that Theophilus Van Kannel was motivated by a hatred for chivalry stems from...

Is This a Photograph of Susan B. Anthony Being Beaten on the Street?

A "get out the vote" meme highlights a photograph that was crucial to garnering public...

Did Armed Delaware Students Scare Off a School Shooter in 1973?

A pro-gun rights meme gets some facts right, but it misrepresents the truth behind an...

Did Paul Krugman Say the Internet’s Effect on the World Economy Would Be ‘No Greater Than the Fax Machine’s’?

In a 1998 article about the pitfalls of making predictions about technological progress, the Nobel...

Is ‘Bluetooth’ Technology Named After a Viking King?

The name of the wireless technology standard apparently originated during a Toronto pub crawl one...

Did Edith Piaf Make Fake Passports to Help Prisoners Escape from Nazi Camps?

An elusive old story about the iconic singer has received a new lease on life...

Did Abraham Lincoln Express Opposition to Racial Equality?

An authentic quote from Lincoln has attracted renewed attention, along with some commentary that oversimplifies...

Did Tiffany Chokers Originate as Slave Collars?

Tiffany & Co. never made or sold slave collars, and a viral image of a...

The Origins of Policing in the United States

Memes claim that modern law enforcement evolved out of slave patrols.

Is This a Photograph of a Playground from 1900?

A grainy historical image shows children climbing on and playing on a frighteningly dangerous (by...

Is This a Real Albert Einstein Rejection Letter?

Even the best of us see our efforts rejected for not being good enough sometimes,...