1800s
How the California Gold Rush of 1849 began, and what life was really like for the miners
How did the great Gold Rush of 1849 get started? Find out its history, how it made people rich and poor – and helped make California what it is today.
first-person
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1960s
Charles Manson & the murders that shocked the nation: How Sharon Tate & 6 others were killed in 1969
In August of 1969, actress Sharon Tate and four others were found dead in what police said resembled a ritualistic mass murder. Four months later, Charles Manson and the Manson ‘family’ would be charged with the crime. Here’s how it all happened.
1950s
Vintage Disneyland, from when Walt Disney’s magical new theme park in Southern California first opened in 1955
Before vintage Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney said the huge amusement park would be ‘the most fabulous playground on earth.’ See what it looked like!
1900s
1906 San Francisco earthquake: Rare pictures & first reports made while the fires were still burning the city
From the middle of the destruction after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, these detailed accounts of the damage were published in the city’s newspaper the very next morning.
1920s
So this happened… 12 too-cute vintage engagement stories from the ’20s
“How did he propose?” was asked in a series of nationally-syndicated newspaper columns during the early 1920s. Here’s a selection of some of the best engagement stories – from the sweet and simple to the too-cute-for-words.
1960s
Baseball legend Sandy Koufax told his story back in 1963: “I’m only human”
Los Angeles Dodgers star Sandy Koufax reflected on his life and career back in 1963: ‘Even today, it is hard for me to realize that I won the first and fourth games of the Series, along with 25 games during the regular season.’
1910s
How I was saved from the Titanic: A Titanic survivor’s story (1912)
Charlotte Collyer lived through the tragic disaster the world remembers more than 100 years later. Here, read about what happened in this dramatic and compelling first-person account from a Titanic survivor.
1950s
Pretty, thin, young and single? Check out these sexist stewardess job requirements of the ’50s & ’60s
See what was needed to put you in the running for a coveted stewardess job back in the ’50s and ’60s! Some requirements were grounded in reason, but many were just plain sexism in action.
1960s
Ex-POW John McCain tells the story of his captivity in Vietnam (1973)
The third-generation carrier sailor parachuted into Truc Ban Lake northwest of Hanoi while his stricken jet plunged into a factory compound. I was going at 500 knots, inverted, and my plane was a spinning fireball. At 4,000 feet, I ejected.”
1960s
Kerner Commission: Racism confronted after months of soul-searching (1968)
Racism is very difficult for any of us to admit, even to ourselves. But gradually and inevitably we had to conclude that the basic cause of America’s racial disorders is white racism.
1960s
Kerner Commission: Prejudice – A name for racism (1968)
Prejudice – A name for racism Kerner Commission Report backstory, part 3: Prejudice. It’s in all our hearts. What can we do about it? By Otto Kerner,
1940s
WWII newspaper headlines from the D-Day invasion of France (1944)
The Allies today sent their invading forces against Adolf Hitler’s occupied Europe. The long-awaited invasion was announced by General Dwight Eisenhower with the promise that the high command would accept nothing short of victory.
1910s
Follow-up: Titanic survivor Charlotte Collyer (1912)
Response from Charlotte Collyer, survivor of the Titanic Mrs Charlotte Collyer’s article, “How I Was Saved from the Titanic,” printed seven weeks ago in the
1900s
The fate of Galveston, Texas: The hurricane disaster of 1900
A witness describes how water was blown over in the Galveston hurricane disaster of 1900 – the wind blowing at the rate of eighty miles an hour straight from the gulf, and driving the seawater before it in great waves.
1800s
Battlefield report: Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)
First reports from the Battle of Wounded Knee KILLED LIKE DOGS. Soldiers Butcher Chief Big Foot’s Warriors. HAND TO HAND BATTLE. The Despairing Savages Fight
1940s
Ronald Reagan: How to make yourself important (1942)
How to make yourself important … and strangely enough, love has a lot to do with it, in a way you’d least suspect By Ronald
1930s
Meet Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto (1930)
Because of the discovery made by this young farmer of Kansas, every dictionary in the world will have to be revised. For all time to come, students of astronomy will read that the ninth planet, Pluto, was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh.
1920s
Rube Goldberg in his own words (1922)
“I was as nervous as a poker player down to his last pants’ button, and every one of the hard-boiled old-timers in the art department knew it. “
1960s
Insight into the Kerner Report from Kerner himself (1968)
In this unique series, Otto Kerner offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 1968 National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders report on racism in the US.
1960s
Kerner Commission: Use of ‘overforce’ criticized (1968)
Use of ‘overforce’ criticized Kerner Commission Report backstory, part 2: Kerner urges responsibility in meeting violence By Otto Kerner, Chairman, National Advisory Commission on Civil
1960s
Kerner Report: President’s riot commission learned from the people (1968)
Getting the facts Kerner Commission Report backstory, part 4: President’s riot commission learned from the people By Otto Kerner, Chairman, National Advisory Commission an Civil Disorders
1960s
Kerner Commission: Racism has no simple cure (1968)
Of course, we can and must take many steps on a high-priority basis to stop America’s ominous drift toward two societies, separate and unequal.
1900s
A fond farewell to Susan B Anthony (1906)
Through the greater part of 60 years of strenuously active public life, Susan B Anthony was probably the most maligned woman who ever trod the earth.
1940s
Stories from WWII: A D-Day diary (1944)
On D-Day June 6, 1944, after the jump, my group of approximately 80 men met with Colonel Shanley’s group of about 120 men on the outskirts of the town of Picauville.
1960s
The circus: Stupendous! Colossal! Astonishing! (1965)
Clowns and daredevils! Ponderous pachyderms! Wild beasts! And 34 new acts from behind the Iron Curtain! A peek into the life of a circus clown.
1910s
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: 1917-1963
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States by Laura Bergquist, LOOK Senior Editor From the fizzy early takeoff of the New Frontier to
1910s
Fame has drawbacks, says actress Theda Bara (1916)
Fame has drawbacks — even spoils recreation by Theda Bara, Written especially for The Day Book Is there any fame that hasn’t accompanying drawbacks, I wonder?
1940s
Stories from WWII: Nijmegen, Holland (1944)
Nijmegen, Holland: A Bridge Too Far by Chester E Graham During the Holland operation, I was the liaison officer between the 508th and the 82nd
1900s
True detective stories: The Secret Service (1908)
True detective stories No. 1 – The Barney letters by A L Drummond, Formerly Chief of the U S Secret Service This is the first
1910s
Titanic struck: Many leaped into the sea (1912)
Many leaped in sea Men describe horrors Graphic accounts of the terrible scenes aboard the Titanic after it struck the iceberg and of the hardships
1910s
Titanic survivor: No alarm when iceberg first struck (1912)
No alarm felt when steamer first struck Passengers came on deck to get view of big berg Terrible suffering in the lifeboats Carpathia gave tenderest
1910s
Actress Theda Bara talks real-life vampires (1916)
“Vampire is branded on her heart,” says greatest vampire of the movies by Theda Bara, written especially for The Day Book What a strange procession
1910s
Wireless hero died right after Titanic sank (1912)
Hero of wireless died on life raft after Titanic sank Waiter says Phillips was buried at sea from Carpathia after disaster Officer shot himself Revolvers
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