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Archive: March 2021 (5 Posts)

Women Who Dressed as Men and Made History

Posted by: Heather Thomas

Pharaoh, pirate, soldier, spy. Most have heard of Joan of Arc, but throughout history and across cultures, there have been a great number of women who have dressed in male attire in order to fulfill the roles that had traditionally been reserved for men. Many disguised their identities, sometimes taking their secret to the grave, while others were brazen, and even celebrated by their contemporaries. While their stories have largely been lost to time, there are some that made their mark on history.

A child carrying a bundle of newspapers in one hand, the other arm held high with a copy of the Anchorage Daily Times, the headline reading

From State Hospitals to Pet Cemeteries to Feminist Communes, Chronicling America Restores Lost History.

Posted by: Amber Paranick

Julianne Mangin is an independent researcher, writer, family historian, and blogger. She is a retired librarian who worked as a website developer at the Library of Congress from 1998 to 2011. This post highlights the ways Julianne has used online resources like Chronicling America* for her research. Amber Paranick (AP): How did you first learn …

New to Chronicling America: The St. Croix Avis, US Virgin Islands (1865-1882)!

Posted by: Heather Thomas

This month Chronicling America added newspapers from its 50th contributor – the University of the Virgin Islands!  This first newspaper from the U.S. Virgin Islands, the St. Croix Avis, provides a deep dive into a particularly tumultuous time in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  In 1867, the islands were on the cusp of being sold to the United States when a hurricane, earthquake, and tsunami struck within a month.  Covering the events of 1867 was the St. Croix Avis.