Iowans are quite familiar with nightmarish storms, with massive floods, with nature's spontaneously vengeful spirit. Many are also quite familiar with the brave girl who managed to put up a fight against those seemingly unstoppable forces. But for those whose born-and-bred Iowa kin didn't regale the legendary tale of a teenager who risked life and... Continue Reading →
In the 1950's, being a woman meant being married was the greatest achievement one could accomplish in the eyes of society. The woman's place, like an unwelcome throwback to the "cult of domesticity" ideology that plagued the 19th century, was the home. The role of domestic work was especially reserved for women of color, who... Continue Reading →
Though rare, famous tales of notorious female pirates have become more widely shared as time went on. Names like Anne Bonny and Mary Read are at least recognizable, if not commonly known. There's nothing wrong with sharing these stories. After centuries of people reveling in the dastardly deeds of the Calico Jacks and Blackbeards of... Continue Reading →
Imagine that you're fifteen years old. Despite being in the throes of teenage angst and approaching the cusp of early adulthood, you’re not a particularly troublesome person, not overly rebellious or convinced that you know more than anyone else. You’re fifteen, and you’re learning the ins and outs of the world that childhood kept hidden... Continue Reading →
If you look at a picture of Clara Luper, taken in the 1950s at the height of her popularity, you might find it hard to believe why she was such a force of nature. This sweet-faced, bespectacled, well-dressed African-American woman with a beaming smile couldn't possibly be the same woman who intimidated business owners, policemen,... Continue Reading →
What's up, witches? On Fear Factor, panelists discuss different scary stories from history and rate the spookiness of each story on a 1-10 “fear factor” scale. In this episode, my friend Tyler Christensen joined me to learn about what it took to be deemed a witch back in the day through the stories of three... Continue Reading →
For those of us that grew up in the Spy Kids era, becoming a super cool secret agent was the ultimate fantasy. Of course, as one who's afraid of confrontation, I gave up on that fantasy pretty quickly. But some women in history really did manage to become that super spy that all dreams are made of,... Continue Reading →
"Behind every great man is an even greater woman." I'm sure you've heard that phrase before. It may not always be true, but perhaps its updated, feminist sister quote is: "Behind every great man is not a woman. She is beside him. She is with him, not behind him." The point is, women deserve credit... Continue Reading →
America's history is, without a doubt, tainted. Chances were, if you weren't a white man on the wealthy side, you were susceptible to judgement, hatred, cruelty, and other goodies. And as much as America would like to burn its bridges with its awful past, the fact and the matter is that America was shaped –... Continue Reading →
Times have been tough for us women. Even today, we're fighting as hard as we always have for things that should have been ours a long time ago (our own bodies, for example). But, since this is a history blog, the activist movements of the present aren't really my focus – they are, however, my inspiration.... Continue Reading →
Herstory Untold 