Why 18th-Century Americans Were Just as Obsessed With Their Genealogy as We Are Today
People living in British America and later the nascent United States recorded their family histories in needlework samplers, notebooks and newspapers
Stolen Historic Documents Surface in Attic—Ten Years After an Employee Used Them as Collateral to Borrow Money
The thief likely took the trove when he worked for the Dutch National Archives in 2015. Recently, someone found them in storage and contacted art detective Arthur Brand
A Rare Copy of the 13th Amendment Signed by Abraham Lincoln Sells for a Record $13.7 Million
Kenneth Griffin, the billionaire art collector and hedge fund founder, purchased the document that abolished slavery, as well as a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation
These Medieval Monks Scribbled Notes in the Margins of Their Books More Than 1,000 Years Ago
A new exhibition in Dublin showcases historic manuscripts written in Irish monasteries. The show also features medieval artifacts, such as a rare book shrine found in a river in the 1980s
Untold Stories of American History
Tattered Pages Discovered in Storage Reveal an Enslaved Man’s Daring Bid for Freedom—and His Second Life at Sea
Historians are investigating the haunting handwritten manuscript, which chronicles Thomas White’s escape from slavery in Maryland and adventures around the world nearly 200 years ago
The National Archives Museum Is Using A.I. to Take Visitors on an Immersive Journey Through American History
Called “The American Story,” the new permanent exhibition will guide museumgoers through two million historic documents and artifacts
The Dead Sea Scrolls Changed Our Understanding of the Bible. Could Some of Them Be Even Older Than We Thought?
A new study combines A.I., radiocarbon dating and handwriting analysis to estimate new dates for some of the ancient scrolls, thought to be some of the earliest surviving fragments of the Old Testament
These Scientists Say They’ve Identified the Oldest Known Star Chart in the World
A new preprint suggests that an ancient Chinese star catalog dates to 355 B.C.E. But other researchers aren’t convinced, arguing that the original coordinates are misaligned by one degree
Harvard Bought This Stained Copy of the Magna Carta for $27.50. It Turned Out to Be an Original
Issued by Edward I in 1300, this version of the historic text is one of only seven known surviving copies. It’s been hiding in plain sight in Harvard Law School’s library since 1946
These Ancient Scrolls Have Been a Tantalizing Mystery for 2,000 Years. Researchers Just Deciphered a Title for the First Time
Mount Vesuvius’ eruption preserved the Herculaneum scrolls beneath a blanket of ash. Two millennia later, X-ray scans show that one of them is a philosophical text called “On Vice”
Martin Scorsese’s New Documentary Will Feature One of Pope Francis’ Final Interviews
The film focuses on a project founded by the pope that encourages small communities around the world to tell their stories through cinema
This Complete Set of Shakespeare’s Four Folios Could Sell for $6 Million
In the 17th century, the Bard’s plays were preserved for posterity in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios. Now, all four volumes are being sold as a set
Abraham Lincoln’s Blood-Stained Gloves, Early Scribblings and Dozens of Other Belongings Are Going Up for Sale
Nearly 150 pieces of Lincolniana from throughout the 16th president’s life will be hitting the auction block in Chicago on May 21
Gutenberg Bible Reunited With Rare 15th-Century Devotional Print Once Tucked Inside Its Pages
Two centuries after they were separated, the print and the Bible are on display together at the Huntington Library in California
You Can Buy a Rare Letter by George Washington Written at a Crucial Turning Point in the Revolutionary War
In the optimistic missive, Washington extols the revolutionary spirit of the American people—even in defeat—and makes a rare reference to the experimental smallpox inoculation that helped prevent outbreaks
Using A.I., Researchers Peer Inside a 2,000-Year-Old Scroll Charred by Mount Vesuvius’ Eruption
For the past two years, citizen scientists and scholars have been working to reveal the previously hidden texts of the Herculaneum scrolls
This 120-Year-Old Police Docket Documented Crimes Like Reckless Horse Riding
Discovered in a thrift store, the historic docket lists incidents that occurred in the town of Casper, Wyoming, in 1904—including “reckless riding [of a horse]” and “keeping a house of prostitution”
This Rare Printing of the Declaration of Independence Could Sell for $4 Million
Made by a printer in New Hampshire, this 1776 broadside edition was created to disseminate America’s founding document to the public
Can You Read This Cursive Handwriting? The National Archives Wants Your Help
Anyone with an internet connection can volunteer to transcribe historical documents and help make the archives’ digital catalog more accessible
The Netherlands Has Published a List of 425,000 Suspected Nazi Collaborators
In the past, the names could only be viewed in person. But due to expiring access restrictions, they’re now available to anyone with an internet connection
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