World War I
From the History in the Margins Archives: The Great Silence
Whether you know it as Armistice Day, Poppy Day, Remembrance Day or Veterans’ Day, November 11 is a time to honor those who died in war and thank those who served. The day of remembrance has its roots in the end of World War I. The war ended on November 11, 1918. When the word…
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No Man’s Land
If you’ve been hanging out here in the Margin’s for a while, you may have noticed a pattern to histories about women’s contributions in times of war. Groundbreaking women kick their way through a closed door against the military and society’s objections. After they prove their worth, the military opens its arms in invitation, and…
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Dangerous Melodies
Several years ago, I reported on an excellent book about how pianist Van Cliburn’s victory at Russia’s first Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 helped change the course of the Cold War. It was a revelation, but I didn’t realize that the culture battles of the Cold War were only one example of the role that…
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