Historical Archives http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4564213&ft=1&f=4564213 Fifty years ago, millions of Americans sat by their radios and listened to <EM>This I Believe</EM>. For five minutes each day, they heard from statesmen and secretaries, teachers and cab drivers, all of whom spoke about their most deeply held beliefs. Below are just a few of the original essays from the 1950s. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Historical Archives http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4564213&ft=1&f=4564213 Reflections On Race: Essays From The Archives Dan Gediman, executive producer of NPR's <em>This I Believe,</em> explores the archives of the original series hosted by Edward R. Murrow in the 1950s. He says the essays shed light on the realities of segregation at the dawn of the civil rights movement. Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100874308&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100874308&ft=1&f=4564213 Dan Gediman, executive producer of NPR's This I Believe, explores the archives of the original series hosted by Edward R. Murrow in the 1950s. He says the essays shed light on the realities of segregation at the dawn of the civil rights movement.

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]]> Our Awareness Controls Human Destiny In an essay from 1951 for the original <em>This I Believe</em> series, Margaret Mead says she can't separate the beliefs she has as a person from the beliefs she has as an anthropologist. She says that humans have a responsibility for the entire planet. Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100339404&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100339404&ft=1&f=4564213 In an essay from 1951 for the original This I Believe series, Margaret Mead says she can't separate the beliefs she has as a person from the beliefs she has as an anthropologist. She says that humans have a responsibility for the entire planet.

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]]> A Hope For Bettering Humanity In an essay from 1953 for the original <em>This I Believe</em> series, Sir Charles Galton Darwin, the grandson of naturalist Charles Darwin, drew on his study of science to say he believed the future of humanity depended on the practice of eugenics. Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:45:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100073413&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100073413&ft=1&f=4564213 In an essay from 1953 for the original This I Believe series, Sir Charles Galton Darwin, the grandson of naturalist Charles Darwin, drew on his study of science to say he believed the future of humanity depended on the practice of eugenics.

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]]> Finding Security In Fundamental Freedoms In 1953 at the height of McCarthyism, Sen. Margaret Chase Smith recorded a statement for Edward R. Murrow's <em>This I Believe</em> program. Her essay expressed her belief in freedom of speech and warned against demagogues who threatened American security. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95788516&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95788516&ft=1&f=4564213 In 1953 at the height of McCarthyism, Sen. Margaret Chase Smith recorded a statement for Edward R. Murrow's This I Believe program. Her essay expressed her belief in freedom of speech and warned against demagogues who threatened American security.

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]]> The Faith of Our Fathers From 1951, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas encourages a return to the faith of his father's generation. He believes spiritual values, not material ones, can guide America through troubling times. Wed, 11 Jan 2006 17:42:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5070736&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5070736&ft=1&f=4564213 From 1951, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas encourages a return to the faith of his father's generation. He believes spiritual values, not material ones, can guide America through troubling times.

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]]> An Athlete of God From 1953, legendary choreographer Martha Graham believes that living -- like dancing -- requires practice to achieve a sense of one's being and a satisfaction of spirit. Wed, 04 Jan 2006 11:09:50 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5065006&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5065006&ft=1&f=4564213 From 1953, legendary choreographer Martha Graham believes that living -- like dancing -- requires practice to achieve a sense of one's being and a satisfaction of spirit.

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]]> An Ideal of Service to Our Fellow Man From 1954, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein finds beauty in life's mysteries, and says the fate of mankind depends on individuals choosing public service over private gain. Sat, 28 May 2005 13:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4670423&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4670423&ft=1&f=4564213 From 1954, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein finds beauty in life's mysteries, and says the fate of mankind depends on individuals choosing public service over private gain.

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]]> Looking at Life Through Another's Eyes From circa 1951: Sociologist and educator Charles S. Johnson tells how faith, morality and empathy helped lift his family from slavery and influence his own work for social justice in the United States. Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4645751&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4645751&ft=1&f=4564213 From circa 1951: Sociologist and educator Charles S. Johnson tells how faith, morality and empathy helped lift his family from slavery and influence his own work for social justice in the United States.

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]]> Offering a Helping Hand to One's Fellow Sufferers From the 1950s series, Marty Mann describes how her battles with alcoholism and depression forced her to open herself up to those around her, and led her to help other people who suffered with addiction. Thu, 19 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4645728&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4645728&ft=1&f=4564213 From the 1950s series, Marty Mann describes how her battles with alcoholism and depression forced her to open herself up to those around her, and led her to help other people who suffered with addiction.

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]]> Free Minds and Hearts at Work In 1947, Jackie Robinson pioneered the integration of American professional athletics by becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball. From an essay recorded in 1952, he discusses his fight against prejudice. Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4536142&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4536142&ft=1&f=4564213 In 1947, Jackie Robinson pioneered the integration of American professional athletics by becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball. From an essay recorded in 1952, he discusses his fight against prejudice.

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]]> A Public Man Must Live in the Present From 1955, President Harry Truman explains the beliefs that shaped his two decades of public service and encourages Americans to correct the remaining imperfections in our democracy. Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4555422&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4555422&ft=1&f=4564213 From 1955, President Harry Truman explains the beliefs that shaped his two decades of public service and encourages Americans to correct the remaining imperfections in our democracy.

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]]> A Morning Prayer in a Little Church From 1952, actress Helen Hayes explains that in spite of her theatrical success, it took the death of her daughter to teach her the interdependence of humanity and the need for more compassion. Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4539608&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4539608&ft=1&f=4564213 From 1952, actress Helen Hayes explains that in spite of her theatrical success, it took the death of her daughter to teach her the interdependence of humanity and the need for more compassion.

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]]> The Light of a Brighter Day Helen Keller learned to communicate through the eyes and ears of others after a fever left her deaf and blind as an infant. The author, activist and lecturer discusses her vision of faith, from an essay broadcast in 1951. Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4536329&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4536329&ft=1&f=4564213 Helen Keller learned to communicate through the eyes and ears of others after a fever left her deaf and blind as an infant. The author, activist and lecturer discusses her vision of faith, from an essay broadcast in 1951.

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]]> A Game of Cards From 1951, writer and editor Norman Cousins says man is both good and evil, selfish and altruistic. He appeals to our intelligence and conscience to improve humanity and create a safer world. Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4544547&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4544547&ft=1&f=4564213 From 1951, writer and editor Norman Cousins says man is both good and evil, selfish and altruistic. He appeals to our intelligence and conscience to improve humanity and create a safer world.

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]]> Work Is the Sweetening of Life From an essay broadcast in 1953, Katherine Bottigheimer of Louisville, Kentucky, tells how an elderly cousin influenced her to commit her adult life to hard work and public service. Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4568101&ft=1&f=4564213 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4568101&ft=1&f=4564213 From an essay broadcast in 1953, Katherine Bottigheimer of Louisville, Kentucky, tells how an elderly cousin influenced her to commit her adult life to hard work and public service.

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