History

After singing for soldiers, Felicidad delos Reyes (right) was selected to "receive a gift" at the garrison behind her school. She was locked in a room; later five soldiers jumped on her, held her down and beat her into submission as they took turns raping

Health & Safety

PHOTOS: Why These World War II Sex Slaves Are Still Demanding Justice

7:40pm December 04, 2020

by Julie McCarthy

The Japanese army forced some 200,000 women into sexual slavery during World War II. They were known as "comfort women." This special report tells the stories of the survivors in the Philippines.

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Marines of the 5th and 7th regiments who hurled back a surprise onslaught by three Chinese communist divisions wait to withdraw from the Chosin Reservoir area circa December 1950.

World News

'God ... Let Us Survive': Remembering Korean War's Chosin Battle And Evacuation

11:15am December 04, 2020

by Anthony Kuhn

Seventy years on, war participants are drawing starkly differing conclusions from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The decisive conflict's lasting legacy is still visible on the Korean Peninsula.

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1st Commercially Printed Card Up For Sale

9:07am December 04, 2020

A card from 1843 is up for auction. It's famous for being the first commercially printed Christmas card, but also for a scandal. The card depicts people, including children, drinking red wine.

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From Cholera To Seat Belts: History Of Americans Reacting To Public Health Messages

4:19pm December 01, 2020

NPR recalls times throughout U.S. history when Americans either rejected or embraced public health messaging and discusses how public health officials could improve messaging in the pandemic.

Author Tracks The Life And Liberal Legacy Of Sen. Ted Kennedy

1:37pm November 30, 2020

by Dave Davies

A liberal voice in the U.S. Senate for decades, Kennedy led a life marked by tragedy and scandal. Historian Neal Gabler talks about the first volume of his two-part biography, Catching the Wind.

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In 1959, about 4.5% of all American men were Freemasons, but in recent years membership has fallen off roughly 75%. Above, the Scottish Rite temple in Washington, D.C.

National

Freemasons Say They're Needed Now More Than Ever. So Why Are Their Ranks Dwindling?

1:06pm November 28, 2020

by Christianna Silva

Freemasons once counted Founding Fathers, ex-presidents and titans of industry among their members. But for many, the allure is gone from the once shadowy fraternity, and membership has fallen off.

Irish poet William Butler Yeats circa 1920.

Arts

Opinion: Reading William Butler Yeats 100 Years Later

8:00am November 28, 2020

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on what a 100 year-old poem by William Butler Yeats means today.

The stage at the U.S. Capitol ahead of President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013.

Politics & Government

Wait, Wait, Don't Inaugurate: Why The U.S. Takes So Long To Change Presidents

6:40am November 27, 2020

by Ron Elving

How is it that the Brits can have a newly elected prime minister meeting with the queen to form a new government within a day or two, but Americans need 10 or 11 weeks to install a new crew?

Included in the missing notebooks is Charles Darwin's famous "tree of life" sketch, according to Cambridge University Library.

Missing Ink: Darwin Notebooks, Long Unseen, Now Believed Stolen

2:38pm November 24, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

Cambridge University Library said Tuesday that two of the naturalist's notebooks have been missing for nearly two decades. Now, the library has told local police that they "have likely been stolen."

Researchers Hope To Recreate Historic Scents From History

6:15am November 23, 2020

What did history smell like? A new project wants to help you find out. The project is bringing together historians, chemists and perfumers.

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