Who said it? Over at the Journal of the American Revolution, historian J.L. Bell (of Boston 1775 fame) answers this question for us. Here is a taste of his piece: Don’t fire till you see the whites of their eyes!” is...
historical myths
The Author’s Corner with Richard Hughes
Richard Hughes serves as the Scholar-in-Residence in the College of Bible and Ministry at Lipscomb University. This interview is based on the second edition of his book Myths America Lives By: White Supremacy and the Stories that Give Us Meaning (University...
Five Myths About Christmas
Here are five myths from Rick Shenkman, editor and founder of History News Network: Retailers have ruined Christmas by commercializing it. Christmas cards are a venerable tradition Clement Moore wrote the poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” Christmas trees are traditional...
When Abraham Lincoln “Visited” 40 Plantations
Check out Rice University doctoral student William R. Black‘s fascinating piece at The Atlantic: “Abraham Lincoln’s Secret Visits to Slaves.” A taste: Shortly before the election of 1860, a man came upon a plantation near Marlin, Texas, some 20 miles southeast of Waco. Though...
The Author’s Corner with David Krueger
David M. Krueger is an independent scholar of American religious history based in Philadelphia. This interview is based on his new book Myths of the Rune Stone: Viking Martyrs and the Birthplace of America. (University of Minnesota Press, 2015). JF:...
How Could Washington Be a Married Man (And Never Tell A Lie)?
From the Library of Congress collection: http://media.loc.gov/player/flowplayer.commercial.swf?0.9832027803640813<!– Recording Title How could Washington be a married man (and never tell a lie), 1916 Composer Al Piantadosi Conductor Josef Pasternack Lyricist Ballard MacDonald , Joe Goodwin Tenor vocal M. J. O’Connell Genre(s) Humorous songs...
Maryland County Commissioner Prays Bogus George Washington Prayer
George did not chop down the cherry either A federal judge recently ruled that the Carroll County, Maryland Board of Commissioners would not be allowed, at least temporarily, to start their meetings with a sectarian prayer. The order, however, did...
Spurious George Washington Quotes
George Washington’s Mount Vernon has created a list of quotations misattributed to George Washington. These quotes come from correspondence sent to Mount Vernon. Here are a few: “I cannot tell a lie, Pa” “It is impossible to rightly govern a...
Tracy McKenzie “Flips the Bird” on Rush Limbaugh
Over at The Anxious Bench, David Swartz of Asbury University reviews Tracy McKenzie’s The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History. In the process, he shows how McKenzie’s book offers a more...
Myths in History
J.L. Bell at Boston 1775 reviews Gil Klein’s recent article in Colonial Williamsburg magazine. Klein suggests, with historian John Thorn, that myths are the “people’s history” and are thus a good thing, but Bell is not so sure. Here is...
New Blog: “MythicAmerica”
Ira Chernus, a Religious Studies professor at the University of Colorado, will be bringing a new blog to the History News Network. It is called “MythicAmerica” and it will focus on the mythic expressions that have pervaded, and still pervade […]
Is Robert E. Lee’s Profile Carved Into the Back of Abe’s Head at the Lincoln Memorial?
Mollie Reilly discusses some of the more popular Washington D.C. historical rumors. And some of them may be true! Here are my favorites: No, Lee’s head is not carved in the back of the Lincoln Memorial. Yes, the Washington Redskins...