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Category: Newspapers

Clipping of a newpaper caricature of four individuals jumping over a calendar with visible text leap year.

Leap Day in the Press

Posted by: Amber Paranick

Read about the history and traditions of Leap Day in the pages of Chronicling America, our historic collection of digitized newspapers.

How Tragedy Led to Love for John Tyler and Julia Gardiner

Posted by: Heather Thomas

On the afternoon of February 28, 1844, President John Tyler and roughly 400 guests were enjoying a cruise down the Potomac River on the new US Navy warship USS Princeton, when the mammoth, 13-ton naval gun on board, known as the “Peacemaker,” exploded. The disaster came close to costing the president his life, but instead it led to his marriage.

The Gilded Age: Technology & Invention

Posted by: Heather Thomas

Spanning roughly 1870-1900, the Gilded Age was a time of rapid industrialization in the United States. The country was transforming from an agrarian society of farmers and small producers to an industrial economy based in large urban cities. At the same time, there was a burst of innovation in the fields of engineering, science, and technology, which brought about some of the modern era's most innovative inventions. Here is a look at some of those inventions through historical newspapers.

Black, white and grayscale illustration of three women standing and two children sitting preparing food. The woman on the left side is mixing batter in a bowl. The woman in the middle is taking a steaming pie out of the oven. The woman on the right side has her back turned and is preparing food at a counter. The text on the bottom of the image says preparedness for the coming feast days.

Historic Holiday Desserts from Around the World

Posted by: Malea Walker

From the feared fruitcake to the mysterious figgy pudding, the winter holidays are a wonderful time to get creative in the kitchen. It may surprise you to learn that many familiar holiday recipes have traveled several centuries and continents from their origins to end up on our tables. Please enjoy these festive recipes from the past and find more to savor in historic newspapers on Chronicling America.