Making History Blog
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Mr. Potato Head Funny-Face Kit
This Mr. Potato Head kit belonged to George Lerner, who invented the popular toy. Lerner had trouble interesting toy companies in his invention in the late 1940s as war rationing…
Tools of Oppression: Cotton Cards
Mary Ann Carlton (1839-1921), a former slave, used cotton cards to contribute to the sharecropping of her family. In the late 18th century, American citizens knew that the road to…
What’s for Dinner?
“What’s for dinner?” is the eternal lament of housewives and working people. What do you make that pleases every palate, provides needed nutrition, and, ideally, gives you leftovers to get…
Sign of Greatness
With summer winding down and kids heading back to school, one of the great traditions of this region – Friday night high school football – is about to kick off…
An American in China: Sgt. Bus Means
August 14, 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II with “Victory over Japan,” or V-J Day. In 1945, Americans rejoiced along with Allies in Europe…
An Amusement Park in Miniature
Frank Salisbury and his miniature amusement park. The thrills of the amusement park have delighted Americans for generations. Many amusement parks were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s…
John F. Leahy, FBI During WWII
FBI Agent John F. Leahy’s equipment on display in the We Can Do It! WWII exhibition. Courtesy of Kathryn A. Leahy in memory of John F. Leahy. Tapping into Pittsburgh’s…
Mildred Martin Allen and the Hill District’s Satellites Softball Team
Daughter Beatrice (Allen) Harper donated her mother’s collection of softball and volleyball artifacts, including a striking 1970 “Satelities” uniform displayed in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Photo by Liz Simpson.…
Bertha Lamme, Engineer
Women’s History Month: Bertha Lamme Trailblazer with a Slide Rule Bertha Lamme, at work at Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, 1895. Image courtesy of Dorothy Boyer. As recently as 1980,…