In 1926 a Kansas teen reportedly died from dancing the Charleston. What if doctors and city leaders had used that death to clamp down on jazz and youth culture?
1920’s
Anna Julia Cooper and the Sorbonne PhD of 1925
In 1925, Anna Julia Cooper earned a doctorate from the Sorbonne. Here’s how a woman born enslaved became a major Black feminist scholar and educator.
5 Things Behind the 5‑Day Workweek Debate in 1925
In 1925, New Yorkers were asked if a five-day workweek was coming. Here are 5 forces that turned a wild idea into the modern weekend.
What If 1920s America Accepted Unwed Mothers?
In 1925, parents often expelled daughters who had children out of wedlock. What if American society had chosen acceptance instead? Three grounded scenarios.
Halloween 1925: 5 Things You’d Notice Right Away
From homemade masks to Klan costumes and silent films, here are 5 things that defined Halloween 1925 and how they shaped the holiday we know now.
Who Should Push the Pram? 1925 vs Today
In 1925 a New York photographer asked, “Who should push the baby carriage, husband or wife?” What that question revealed about gender, class, and parenting then vs now.
When the Wichita Monrovians Beat the Klan at Baseball
In 1925, an all‑Black team, the Wichita Monrovians, beat a Ku Klux Klan team 10–8 in Kansas. Here’s what really happened, who these teams were, and why it mattered.
‘Wife Beater Sentenced’: 5 Things That Headline Hides
In April 1925, a ‘Wife Beater Sentenced’ headline hid a bigger story about domestic violence, law, and gender. Here are 5 things that were really going on.
5 Things a 1925 Brooklyn Kid’s Dream Job Reveals
In 1925, a Brooklyn photographer asked kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. Their answers reveal class, gender, race, and the future of work.
Ethel Hays and the Cartoon Style Wars of the 1920s
In 1925, cartoonist Ethel Hays mocked outdated art styles in “Styles Don’t Fit The Age As They Used To.” Here’s what the cartoon meant and why it still matters.