Becky Little Archives

The 1840 U.S. Census Was Overly Interested in Americans’ Mental Health

Census workers were expected to count ‘insane’ and ‘idiotic’ Americans for half a century.

‘Elephant Man’s’ Grave Discovered in Same Cemetery as Jack the Ripper’s Victims

For over a century, the famously deformed 27‑year‑old’s final resting place was a mystery. One of his biographers believes she’s finally found his burial plot.

In 1968, This Kentucky Derby Winner Lost its Crown for a Drug Most Horses Take Now

Was Dancer’s Image disqualified because his owner supported the civil rights movement?

The Royal Mistress: Often the Most Powerful Person in a King’s Court

A monarch’s mistress wasn’t just a sexual companion. Often, she influenced politics in his court—and it was no secret.

Reporting UFO Sightings to the US Navy Just Got Easier

The Navy is formalizing its process for reporting “unexplained aerial phenomena.”

Woodstock 1969: How a Music Festival That Should’ve Been a Disaster Became Iconic Instead

Fifty years later, people are still trying to match the bizarre accident that was Woodstock ‘69.

How a British Secretary Who Spied for the Soviets Evaded Detection for 40 Years

Melita Norwood was a great‑grandmother when her espionage was finally revealed.

How the Immigrants Who Came to Ellis Island in 1907 Compare to Arrivals Today

Immigrants in 2017 were more likely to speak English and be skilled workers than those in 1907, a new study finds.

Claiming ‘Sanctuary’ in a Medieval Church Could Save Your Life—But Lead to Exile

For over 1,000 years, European fugitives found asylum in churches.

Ancient Pee Suggests Agricultural Revolution Whizzed By

A new study provides a wee bit of insight into the shift from hunting to herding.

Villa for Stone Age ‘One Percent’ Found Near Stonehenge

The house is located inside Avebury, Stonehenge’s larger (though less famous) neighbor henge.

Casimir Pulaski, General in the American Revolution, May Have Been Intersex

The skeleton in General Pulaski’s grave appears female, but DNA suggests it’s his.