The pretty ankle contest" appear in the early 1900s as special shows within women’s beauty competitions. Contestants would have to stand behind a curtain to conceal their bodies, so that all that could be seen was below the knee - legs clad in thick sto…
The idea of creating a monumental sculpture in the Black Hills was first suggested in 1923 by South Dakota state historian Doane Robinson, who had envisioned creating likenesses of famous Native American and American Old West personalities on a needlelike …
The early 1920s were the gilded age for the Ku Klux Klan, as many successful and powerful people were either openly Klansmen or sympathetic to the cause. The organization boasted a membership of 3 million nationwide, including prominent community leader…
Decades after her death, Eva Braun, the long-time mistress of Adolf Hitler, remains a mysterious and notorious figure. This is the photographic life story of a woman who met Hitler as a teenager and, in the last days of the war, became the Führer’s wife—on…
The history of women's workwear tells a unique story about the events of the twentieth century and the changing role of women. The amount of control that women have had over their clothes depended largely on what type of job she had. In domestic service…
Men’s hair in the seventies was a joy to behold. There was a little bit of variation throughout the decade, from long to short, blow-dried and bouffant to spiked and bleached, with “overgrown” being the look that most people associate with the decade. Hairs…
In 1920, a group of revolutionary socialists attended a meeting at the Cannon Street Hotel in London. The men and women were members of various political groups including the British Socialist Party (BSP), the Socialist Labour Party (SLP), Prohibition and …
In the 1860s and 1870s, photographer Timothy O'Sullivan created some of the best-known images in American History. After covering the U.S. Civil War, O'Sullivan was the official photographer on the United States Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Pa…
This is Afghanistan of 1950s and 1960s. Lots of people would think that they will see pictures of a wild, underdeveloped and medieval country with life conditions worse than now. Think again. Fractured by internal conflict and foreign intervention for c…
The photo was taken by the Irish photographer Colman Doyle. The original caption: "A woman IRA volunteer on active service in West Belfast with an AR18 assault rifle”. The IRA regularly conducted “show of arms” displays, showing off their modern and numero…
These haunting before-and-after photographs reveal the devastating impact of lobotomy, a controversial procedure championed by a notorious physician, Walter Freeman. The practice, once heralded as a breakthrough in treating mental disorders, involved severi…
As modern technology rapidly advances, jobs that once seemed like the stuff of science fiction are now becoming everyday realities. However, as new opportunities emerge, many roles that were once essential have faded into history. This list explores …
Fueled by the vibrant pop music scene, men's hairstyles in the 1980s exploded in volume and variety. Gone were the tame cuts of previous decades. The 1980s embraced a rock-and-roll spirit, with styles ranging from the edgy punk rock to the luxurious, fl…
In today's world, we're well aware of the dangers of radium and the lethal risks of radiation. But there was a time when radium was hailed as a wonder substance, believed to have health benefits. In the early 20th century, radium paint was used on numerous …
In the 19th century, the accessibility of medicine was like opening Pandora's box—it brought both blessings and bizarre, sometimes perilous, quackery. Some "cures" were harmless hoaxes, but many others were downright dangerous, often containing addictiv…
Gina Lollobrigida, renowned as one of the highest-profile European actresses of the 1950s and 1960s, emerged as an international sex symbol during an era of cinematic grandeur. With the endearing title of "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World," she graced …
A photographic portrait of a couple serves as a public affirmation of their love and partnership. It conveys a clear message to the world: "We love each other. We care deeply for one another. We take pride in who we are together." In the late 19th and early…
In today's advertising landscape, there is no denying that certain contemporary advertisements have been criticized for objectifying women. However, when we cast our gaze back to the advertising of the mid-20th century, we're confronted with a startling rea…
Spanning from 1888 to 1993, the Sears catalog featured an extensive array of products, ranging from sewing machines, apparel, and sporting equipment to automobiles, residences, and even livestock. Serving as an invaluable historical archive, the Sears c…
The 1980s were an era of radical fashion transformations, and amid the neon colors and flamboyant styles, legwarmers emerged as an iconic trend that left an indelible mark on the fashion world. These knitted tubes, originally designed for dancers to keep th…