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November 25, 2012 In all of American history, just one woman has ever been awarded the Medal of Honor: Mary Edwards Walker, a physician during the Civil War. Congress later tried to take back the medal, but she refused to return it.

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October 20, 2012 He's legend now, but the man was as odd as his myth. Long-haired, barefoot and nature-loving, John Chapman traveled the Midwest in the early 1800s planting trees and creating orchards for future settlers.

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September 15, 2012 In mid-September 1862, the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac clashed on the banks of Antietam Creek, just outside Sharpsburg, Md., in a battle that became the nation's bloodiest day. Two photographers documented the carnage in an unprecedented series of "death studies."

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August 11, 2012 Slice, hook, eagle, birdie, bogey, putt. Golf's top pros are in the final rounds of the 2012 PGA Championship this weekend in South Carolina, so let's take a look at the fascinating history of one fundamental piece of equipment.

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July 28, 2012 The International Olympic Committee came up with some rather unusual sporting events for the 1900 Paris Games — including one that would probably be considered shocking today.

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June 16, 2012 Deep Throat whispered "follow the money" to reporter Bob Woodward during the investigation of Watergate, the third-rate burglary that brought down the Nixon administration. Or did he? An NPR librarian launched her own investigation.

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May 6, 2012 From Gauls to Goths to soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire, many outsiders have tried to destroy the Eternal City, with varying degrees of success. Rome has been defended repeatedly, by courageous fighters and once by a flock of geese. May 6 is the anniversary of the last and most devastating sacking of Rome.

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December 24, 2011 Billions of brilliant lights sparkle on houses and trees around the nation as people celebrate the Christmas season. Those lights have also given American presidents reason to joyfully flip the switch on the national tree for nearly 90 years.

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October 9, 2011 It's time to celebrate millimeters, kilograms, liters and hectares! it's National Metric Week, and the U.S. stands almost alone in its lack of affection for the Système international d'unités. Serious repercussions have resulted; just ask NASA about their Mars Orbiter.

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August 28, 2011 Times are hard. The economy's a mess. Citizens are frustrated with the government. Politicians make speeches, but nothing seems to change. People object to having the nation's debt on their shoulders, and they take to the streets to show their anger. The Tea Party in 2011? No, Shays' Rebellion in 1786.

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June 19, 2011 UNIVAC, short for Universal Automatic Computer, was put into service 60 years ago this week. NPR librarian Kee Malesky says librarians have a special relationship with electronic brains — thanks to a romantic comedy starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

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May 7, 2011 "The most exciting two minutes in sports" has its own dress code: If you want to enter the Jockey Club, the Finish Line suites or the Turf Club, it's no jeans, shorts or tennis shoes allowed. We're not so picky here, though, so chug that mint julep and grab a slice of Derby pie, because NPR librarian Kee Malesky is taking us to the races!

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April 9, 2011 April 14 marks the date 150 years ago that the first person was killed in the Civil War. But there's more to the story, and NPR's heralded research librarian Kee Malesky has a special connection to it.

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March 26, 2011 It was a gift of friendship more than 100 years ago that eventually led to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. NPR librarian Kee Malesky tells us how the first of D.C.'s most famous trees suffered a disastrous fate.

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