History

Remembering the father of blood banking, a Black doctor who took a stand
At StoryCorps, Charlene Jarvis spoke with her son Ernest about the legacy of her father, Charles Drew, a doctor who developed a way to get life-saving blood plasma to soldiers during World War II.
Iranian railway, ancient Chinese city among new UNESCO World Heritage sites
What do a railway in Iran, a mountainous national park in Thailand and a spa town in the Czech Republic have in common? They're all part of a newly announced group of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Beneath Istanbul, archaeologists explore an ancient city's Byzantine basements
Below the surface of the sprawling, modern metropolis is a different world. Archaeologists are gaining insights into the city's ancient past by examining the basements of ordinary buildings.
How a medieval city dealing with the Black Death invented quarantine
The wealthy merchant city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, had a problem. The Black Death was killing much of Europe, but Dubrovnik didn't want to lock down and lose business.
She struggled to reclaim her Indigenous name. She hopes others have it easier
Earlier this year, Canada announced a new policy that allows Indigenous citizens to restore their names on government-issued ID, including passports, for free. One woman recounted her emotional and frustrating journey to officially reclaim her Indigenous family name.
A reading of the Declaration of Independence
Over the past 32 years, Morning Edition has broadcast a reading of the Declaration of Independence by NPR staff as a way of marking Independence Day. This year, they also offer some historical context.
Confederate soldier shirt that saved a Minnesotan is at Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society has acquired a rare Civil War battlefield relic. The descendants of a Minnesota soldier wounded near Nashville, Tenn., in 1864 have donated a Confederate uniform shirt Henry Mills used to bind his wound, survive the war and return to St. Paul.
Retired NPR reporter Tom Gjelten speaks at the College of St. Scholastica about his book, “A Nation of Nations: A Great American Immigration Story.”