Many cultural traditions intersect with the environment. What happens when the environment changes or even disappears? Things like climate change and ecosystem disruption greatly impact how those traditions can be […]
Women on Wheels: How Women Found Freedom through Bicycling
Is it surprising that in the 1890s conservatives panicked at visions of women riding alone, with other women, or with unsuitable men, and campaigned to stop them? Some claimed that […]
Writing with Scissors: American Scrapbooks
Men and women 150 years ago grappled with information overload by making scrapbooks – the ancestors of Google and blogging. From Abraham Lincoln to Susan B. Anthony, African American janitors […]
The Queer Housewives and Husbands of New Jersey
We often assume that before marriage equality, we had only “traditional” marriage. But changes to marriage progressed more strangely than we might expect, especially in New Jersey. This program will […]
“The Movement is a Sort of Mosaic”: A History of the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Reflecting on the women’s suffrage movement, Alice Paul remarked: “the movement is a sort of mosaic. Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great […]
What is your water story?
The great state of New Jersey is shaped by water, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Raritan River, Lake Hopatcong to the Delaware Bay. Our lives, just like our geography, […]
Why Wench Betty’s Story Matters: The Murder of a NJ Slave in 1784
Wench Betty was murdered in 1784. The subsequent court proceedings for her murder were held that year too. How does exploring her murder today provide insight into the lives of […]
What is the Meaning of Free Speech?
Benjamin Franklin once said “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.” The United […]
Immigration: American Promise, American Menace
A look at immigration from a historical perspective may further a deeper understanding of why it’s such a complex issue. From the birth of the nation to present day, immigration […]
Who Really Elects the President: The Workings of the Electoral College
Have you ever wondered about how the Electoral College actually works? How many votes does each state receive? How someone comes to be an elector? In the early days of […]
