Dear Ms. Markle, We have learned that you will soon be cramming (or as they say in the UK, “swotting”) for the British citizenship test, an exam that is typically flunked by one-third to one-half of all applicants. To pass the test, you will have to correctly answer 75 percent of 24 questions, like How…
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A Letter to Ms. Meghan Markle: Advice from America to a New British Royal
May 17, 2018
Dear Ms. Markle, We have learned that you will soon be cramming (or as they say in the UK, “swotting”) for the British citizenship test, an exam that is typically flunked by one-third to one-half of all applicants. To pass the test, you will have to correctly answer 75 percent of 24 questions, like How…
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Meet N-YHS Docent, Deirdre Laporte
March 23, 2016
Deirdre Laporte has been a docent at N-YHS for eight years. She also worked at Bell Labs and AT&T for a full decade. We recently sat down with her to learn more about her roles at the tech giants and how her professional experience enriches her exhibition tours of Silicon City: Computer History Made in…
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How a Blizzard Changed Banking
March 21, 2016
Before the 1970s, all banking was done during business hours. Account holders relied on tellers to deposit and withdraw money, but during the mid-20th century that began to change. In 1960 Luther Simijan unveiled his latest invention the “Bankograph,” which revolutionized banking, allowing cash or check deposits at any time of day or night. Bankographs…
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Final Week: Holiday Express ends February 28
February 23, 2016
We’re now in the final days of our beloved seasonal exhibition, Holiday Express—come learn about toys and trains from a bygone era before the show closes on Sunday, February 28. Though the golden age of the locomotive has long since come to pass, the train set has endured as a popular toy. Toys reflect culture and offer…
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MLK, Jr. Day 2016: Black Power at 50
January 18, 2016
This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate centuries past and present civil rights leaders’ dedication to forging racial equality. Although we often associate the Civil Rights Movement with non-violent actions, not all its leaders championed civil disobedience. Some believed that the only way to end violent, institutionalized racial oppression was through armed resistance. Among…
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When Penn Station Was a Masterpiece
January 13, 2016
Pennsylvania Station is finally getting much-needed renovation, but no amount of construction will bring back the bygone Beaux-Arts architectural magnum opus of the 20th century. Designed by McKim, Mead, & White, the original terminal opened in 1910. It boasted 84 granite Doric columns and its monumental architecture echoed the great spaces of Ancient Rome. The…
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Four Christmas Traditions born in New York
December 23, 2015
With more than four centuries of history, it’s no wonder that so many beloved Christmastime traditions originated in New York. Here are a few highlights, and remember if you’re in the city during the winter season, be sure to see our beloved Yueltide exhibition, Holiday Express, now on view through February 28. ‘Twas the Night…
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Happy Birthday, N-YHS!
November 25, 2015
This week, the New-York Historical Society turned 211! To celebrate our birthday we’re taking a look back on the construction of N-YHS’ permanent home at 170 Central Park West. Before settling along the park, N-YHS lived at seven other locations around the city between 1804 and 1908. Here’s a retro map cataloging its former homes….
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“Just Like Planning a Dinner Party”: When Computers Were Women’s Work
November 6, 2015
This week, we’re examining women’s pioneering role in computer programming. To learn more about tech history made in New York, check out our upcoming exhibit Silicon City, opening Friday, November 13. The show explores early inventions that paved the way for the computer—think electricity, the telegraph—to the Big Apple’s contemporary role as a burgeoning epicenter…
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Bring the Telstar Home!
October 22, 2015
Who was the first computer scientist? Who invented the first P.C.? What’s the Telstar Satellite? Opening November 13 our upcoming exhibition, Silicon City tells the tale of New York’s previously unknown tech history. More than a century before Silicon Valley became synonymous with all-things-tech, New York City was the hub for innovation. Among its pivotal…
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