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Got a Girl Crush On: Archival photographs of women’s athletics from the University of Chicago
While The Archival Photographic Files of the University of Chicago offer an intriguing, general overview of the college campus in development, we couldn’t help but linger specifically over the section on women’s athletics. More than a just-for-fun slice of “now and then”-style Americana, the images are a reminder that women who defy stereotypes in order to pursue their passions are, more often than not, exactly like you and me: everyday ladies simply doing their thing. And we think that is really, really cool. -
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Got a Girl Crush On: SLEEPING BEAUTY’S PARIS APARTMENT DISCOVERED
A woman left her apartment in Paris completely untouched after World War II but still paid the rent up until she died in 2010 - after she died, the apartment was unlocked. It’s like a time capsule.
(via dontwhistleontheelevator)
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Got a Girl Crush On: Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (1991)
Do you REMEMBER this movie?!
I remember begging my mom to rent and re-rent the VHS copy of this from our local video store (or it might’ve been the library—whichever I’m sure I wore their copy out!). Running away from home! Horses! The Circus! Pugnacity and determination! Overcoming adversity! This was every little girl’s fantasy. Sonora was a certified badass.
Based on the real-life story of Sonora Webster Carver, the first female to ride diving horses at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City (in 1924 she made history when she dove 40 feet on horseback into a tank of water) In 1931 she went blind from detached retinas after one of her horses hit the water off-balance, yet she she still continued to ride the high-diving horses until World War II.
Once released, she listened to the movie but had this to say about it:
The movie made a big deal about having the courage to go on riding after she lost her sight. But, the truth was riding the horse was the most fun you could have and we just loved it so.
P.S. it’s streaming for free here!
(top 2: movie stills; bottom 3: real life Sonora)
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High ResolutionHenrietta Everlasting: 1950s Cells Still Alive, Helping Science
Got a girl crush on: Henrietta Lacks
In 1951, Lacks died of cervical cancer at John Hopkins Hospital. Unbeknownst to her, the cells from her biopsy were made available to biological researchers and had the unique ability to be kept alive and grow. To this day, her cell line, known as HeLA, is still growing and multiplying in laboratories across the world. Countless medical discoveries have been made because of it, including the vaccine for polio, AIDS research and cancer research (click on image above to see). Since her death, scientists have grown 20 tons of her cells—that’s 400x her original weight!
If this sounds interesting to you, you can watch this hour-long BBC documentary online: Modern Times: The Way of All Flesh. The Radiolab episode on Tumors also features a segment on Lacks, HeLA, and the controversy with her family (Thanks to Monica for the reminder!).
Henrietta, you keep on keepin’ on!
(via Wired Magazine)
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High ResolutionGot a girl crush on: WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)
A Continuous Lean has got a great photo piece on (chambray clad) female sailors in WWII. In 1942, the US Navy made an unprecedented move and recruited over 27,000 women to be officers in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) division. These women were assigned the same ranks, ratings, and even the same pay as male personnel.
See also: WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
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High Resolution“WASP (from left) Frances Green, Margaret Kirchner, Ann Waldner and Blanche Osborn leave their B-17, called Pistol Packin’ Mama, during ferry training at Lockbourne Army Air Force base in Ohio. They’re carrying their parachutes.”
Got a girl crush on: WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
Amelia Earhart wasn’t the only fly girl. Check out this story on Female WWII pilots over at NPR.
(via winesburgohio)
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High ResolutionGot a girl crush on: Maira Kalman
No one makes American history more colorful than Maira Kalman. She runs a NYTimes.com blog titled And the Pursuit of Happiness Blog where she posts monthly illustrated essays on American democracy. Her latest piece asks “Whose home is this?” and tells the story of the different cultures that settled in and built America to be the melting pot it is today. Past topics have included:
- “Can Do” - A tale of Benjamin Franklin and the power of invention
- “Time Wastes Too Fast” - A portrait of Thomas Jefferson centered around Kalman’s visit to Monticello
- “May It Please the Court” - An exploration of law, decision-making and women breaking barriers.
Kalman also has a unique collaboration with MAC cosmetics, using their Fall makeup line as a medium for her illustrations. You can check it out here.
Keep on keepin’ on, Maira!
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Got a girl crush on: Amelia Earhart
Happy birthday, Amelia! July 24, 1897 was the day Amelia Mary Earheart flew into this world. Yes, I have a crush on a 112 year old woman.
Long before In Living Color, there weren’t a lot of real-life fly girls. Amelia Earhart was the sixteenth woman to be issued her pilot’s license. That was waaaaay before Jennifer Lopez’s time.
A woman ballyhooed for her superlative achievements in aviation was also indeed quite fly. Before Chloë ever worked with Opening Ceremony, Erin Wasson ever worked with RVCA, and Mary Kate & Ashley ever had Elizabeth & James or The Row, Amelia Earhart was known as a fashion icon herself and also had her own celebrity line of clothing AND luggage. Women admired her short cropped hair, tight pants, and tiny leather jackets that one can only image were repurposed from the little boys departments since such garbs weren’t common in a woman’s armoire at the time.The podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class recently did an episode called “The Amelia Earhart Mystery”. You can listen to that episode here.
(via Len Crockett)
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