| By J. Robert Parks | In the fall of 1947, various Hollywood artists, including actors, writers, directors, and producers, were subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to testify about the supposed communist influence in Hollywood. Ten of those, now known as the Hollywood Ten, refused to cooperate, claiming their First Amendment rights. … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | The Clean Water Act, one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation in the nation’s history, was enacted on October 18, 1972. Along with the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, the Clean Water Act was critical in helping clean up polluted rivers, lakes, and … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | Fifty years ago this year, one of the most significant baseball players of his generation died when his plane crashed on a humanitarian mission on December 31, 1972. Roberto Clemente isn’t as well known as the iconic Jackie Robinson, but Clemente’s importance as both a baseball player and a … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | A half-century ago, on June 27, 1972, the iconic video game company Atari was founded in California. Atari was named for a Japanese word commonly used by players of the ancient Chinese strategy game Go, and the company became one of the most significant early creators and popularizers of … Read more
| By Josephine Campbell | June 23 will mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the clause of the 1972 Education Amendments that made high school and college opportunities, including sports, available to women. While Title IX is known for its impact on athletics, that was not the lawmakers’ intent. Title IX was written in … Read more
| By J. Robert Parks | Gale In Context: U.S. History contains coverage of iconic U.S. landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, which celebrates the centennial of its dedication this month. A monument for President Abraham Lincoln was first proposed in 1867, just two years after he was assassinated, but a lack of … Read more
| By Tara Atterberry | In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau reported more than 9 million Americans of Polish ancestry living in the United States4, concentrated in larger urban areas of the Midwest and Northeast, such as Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and New York … Read more
| By Tara Atterberry | Take a minute and make a list of women patriots of the American Revolution. Go ahead. Take your time. Betsy Ross. Molly Pitcher. . . . If you’re like me—and most other Americans—your list may end here. Not because there’s a lack of notable women from this time … Read more
| By Tara Atterberry | An educated review of North American immigration isn’t complete without discussion of New York Harbor’s Ellis Island, the primary East Coast port of entry into the United States from 1892 to 1924.1 Although immigration into North America had occurred for more than 300 years by the time Ellis Island opened … Read more