How did FBI and police spy on student activists in the 1960s South, and how does that compare to campus surveillance today? Methods, motives, and legacy explained.
1960s
A Family Photo Before Vietnam: What Came Next
A single 1967 family photo of a young American bound for Vietnam opens a story of the draft, the war’s human cost, and how one death echoed for generations.
Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash & a Racist Panic
How Johnny Cash’s Italian-Irish first wife, Vivian Liberto, became the target of white supremacists in the 1960s South over a single courthouse photo.
What If We’d Been Right About Smoking in the 1960s?
A 1966 photo of a dad smoking over Italian sauce opens a bigger question: what if Americans had truly believed the dangers of smoking in the 1960s?
Interracial Love in 1960s New York
An interracial couple walking hand in hand in 1960s Midtown Manhattan looked ordinary. It was not. Here’s what it meant in law, daily life, and American history.
Finding a Friend on Campus in 1964: A What‑If History
How did students find each other on huge 1960s campuses without phones? Three grounded what-if scenarios show how campus life and technology might have changed.
What If 1960s Proms Had Stayed Homemade?
A Nana in a 1963 homemade prom dress opens a bigger what-if: how would America look if home sewing and DIY fashion had stayed central instead of fast fashion?
5 Things a 1965 Kindergarten Photo Really Shows
A 1965 kindergarten photo holds clues about Cold War fears, gender roles, parenting, and fashion. Here are 5 things that picture is really telling you.
Dick Van Dyke at 100: How a Nice Guy Changed Comedy
Born December 13, 1925, Dick Van Dyke went from Missouri kid to TV and film icon. How did he change comedy, musicals, and what “family entertainment” means?
What If 1960s Egypt Had Taken a Different Path?
Using a 1960s Egyptian family snapshot as a starting point, this counterfactual history asks how Egypt might have changed with different choices on Nasser, war, and economics.