History

New documentary charts the rise and fall of iconic Memphis record label

7:30pm May 21, 2024

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Jamila Wignot, the filmmaker behind a new documentary series called Stax: Soulsville USA, about the story of the legendary record label.

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Riley Keough, pictured at the Met Gala earlier this month, is fighting a foreclosure sale of Graceland.

Is Elvis' Graceland actually up for sale? His granddaughter, alleging fraud, says no

12:15pm May 21, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

Riley Keough, Elvis' granddaughter and sole heir, says in a lawsuit that the company advertising a foreclosure sale of his Graceland property is using fraudulent documents — and may not exist at all.

Beethoven may have had lead poisoning

5:26pm May 18, 2024

by Ari Daniel

Samples of Beethoven's hair reveal he may have suffered from lead poisoning, which could explain some of the difficult physical maladies the composer suffered in his life.

Arts

How 'The Sympathizer' depicts the Vietnam War

5:26pm May 18, 2024

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with culture writer Daniel Chin about how the new HBO series The Sympathizer differs from other Hollywood depictions of the Vietnam War.

Delegates from New York demonstrate in favor of the anti-war plank at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 28, 1968.

Anti-war protests, a Chicago DNC: Is it 1968 all over again? Some historians say no

5:27pm May 15, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

There are clear similarities between 1968 and 2024, from presidential elections and anti-war protests to new Planet of the Apes movies. But historians tell NPR there are some key differences too.

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Preserving the history of the semi-professional Negro League baseball circuit

7:05pm May 13, 2024

by Marian Navarro | Texas Public Radio

A group in South Texas is on a mission to preserve the history of the semi-pro offshoot of the Negro Leagues, including teams that played long after Jackie Robinson broke MLB's color barrier.

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This film festival spotlights efforts to preserve and discover lost movies

6:31pm May 13, 2024

The Restored and Rediscovered film festival begins Monday at the Jacob Burns Film Festival in New York City. It's meant to put a spotlight on movies that have been since lost.

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Tina Riley moved to Idaho recently in search of a new career working in the clean energy transition.

Oil industry could help the Biden administration tap 'invisible' green energy

5:39pm May 08, 2024

by Kirk Siegler

The White House wants a twenty-fold increase in geothermal energy production to fight climate change and it's counting on the oil and gas industry for help.

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'Atomic veterans' battle with Congress for benefits

5:27pm May 06, 2024

by Claudia Grisales

Military servicemembers who took part in the country's nuclear testing program are on the verge of losing federal benefits.

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Ohio National Guard members towards students at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, on May 4, 1970. They fired into the crowd, killing four students and injuring nine.

She survived the 1970 Kent State shooting. Here's her message to student activists

7:38am May 04, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students, killing four and wounding nine. A former student who now teaches there reflects on that day and offers lessons for protesters now.