We've been invited to "a 1940's wedding party" in a few weeks. If someone told you to dress the part, as a man, what would you do? I'm not too concerned about super historical accuracy, but more just looking a little on-theme vs. every other wedding. And buying a new suit is not in the cards.
posted by smackfu
on Apr 23, 2013 -
17 answers
Graduating with an MS in May, an independent historical research project on my brain, and time. What should I do NOW while I'm still a student?
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posted by deludingmyself
on Mar 20, 2013 -
2 answers
My friend is visiting me in Rhode island today through Sunday night and has her heart set on historical sights in Boston and going to the coast of
Maine (maybe acadia). Given weather, Boston traffic, and driving times, what is the best way to do this?
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posted by geegollygosh
on Mar 8, 2013 -
23 answers
A printout was inadvertently glued to a copy of a historical photo. How do I get it off?
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posted by johnofjack
on Jul 23, 2012 -
4 answers
I'm looking for some new books and/or authors to read, probably fantasy/SF or historical, dramatic but not dark and preferably with female characters.
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posted by jb
on Jul 16, 2012 -
47 answers
Looking for more information on what life was like in the period depicted in Downton Abbey.
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posted by ethansh
on Jun 17, 2012 -
17 answers
Children's book about Quaker riddles? I read it as a kid, I remember a hell of a lot about it -- except of course the title.
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posted by blue_bicycle
on May 18, 2012 -
5 answers
How much did long distance telephone calls cost in the late 1970s and early 1980s? I'm mainly interested in hearing about rates for the USA but data from other countries would be welcome as well.
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posted by jason's_planet
on Mar 31, 2012 -
21 answers
I am looking for a historical-fictional novel of either pre-Roman classical antiquity (Crete, Thebes, Sparta, Athens, etc.), the Celtic people (either before or during Roman conquest), Sumer, or Ancient Egypt. [Details inside!]
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posted by SollosQ
on Dec 20, 2011 -
16 answers
My favorite book is James A. Michener's The Source. What else might I like? I detest romance and I don't like "spy" novels. I don't like Ken Follet. I did like The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. Googling and checking Amazon for Historical Fiction didn't yield anything interesting. Help me out here, guys, I trust your judgement.
posted by puddinghead
on Sep 30, 2011 -
12 answers
I would like to know how tall my dad's uncles and mom were, and ideally go up the family tree to chart the outliers to identify the tall and short adults. Where might I find height data for ancestors who lived in the US?
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posted by zippy
on Aug 20, 2011 -
16 answers
What are some of the most interesting historical war/rebellion stories from ancient times? Specifically interested in great true stories from ancient Greece, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Middle Eastern areas.
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posted by egeanin
on Aug 16, 2011 -
12 answers
What fictional male characters are confirmed bachelors with many female friends and few male friends? I'm especially interested in stories set before 1950.
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posted by Sticherbeast
on Jul 18, 2011 -
6 answers
I've scoured the internet looking for information on this photograph, but no luck thus far. Any ideas?
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posted by koolgiy
on Jan 11, 2011 -
19 answers
Halloween Snowflake Filter: Friends are having a halloween party with the theme "Dine With The Dead". Everyone is going as a dead celebrity/historical figure. Who will I be?
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posted by Sara C.
on Oct 18, 2010 -
38 answers
what are the modern or post-modern approaches to historical analysis?
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posted by TMezz
on Mar 24, 2010 -
6 answers
It's the mid 20th century. You're a 40 or 50-something, poor, married immigrant mother who barely speaks English, has been accused by your husband of infidelity....and has just been committed to a state hospital for the "insane." How mentally ill are you likely to be, by today's standards?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 20, 2010 -
11 answers
Please recommend an excellent historical novel about life in 17th-century North America (preferably New England). I'm re-reading Toni Morrison's
A Mercy right now, and I'm looking for more stuff about the day-to-day life -- chores, food, bartering, the intersection of European colonists with indigenous American populations, etc. I s'pose I'd be okay with a nice non-fiction book, too, but the preference is for fiction.
posted by Greg Nog
on Mar 10, 2010 -
34 answers
Historical Newspaper Archives: I am trying to locate the best online sources for mid 19C newspaper archives for some of the 'second tier' US cities. For instance: the Louisville Democrat and the Louisville Journal from 1851.
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posted by refractal
on Feb 17, 2010 -
4 answers
Looking for an easy, cheap (ideally free) way to look up historical stock prices for discontinued stocks. Yahoo Finance, et. al aren't cutting it.
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posted by philosophistry
on Jan 24, 2010 -
6 answers
Is there a Medieval Linguist in the house? I need a very short conversation between Cistercian nuns in Saxony translated into Medieval Latin. Any help so I don't sound like a complete idiot warmly welcomed.
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posted by The Whelk
on Oct 23, 2009 -
7 answers
I sometimes see decorative piles of stones in front of --primarily rural-- homes.
I like the effect very much. I wonder if there is an historical meaning or symbolism to these stone piles or if it is merely an enhancement.
posted by psc1860
on Jul 25, 2009 -
12 answers
Travel Filter: Planning trip from NC to Appomattox and Shenandoah Valley VA for Memorial Day weekend. Looking for off the beaten path, cultural or natural destinations and any other "must see" recommendations on food, lodging or attractions
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posted by DetonatedManiac
on May 16, 2009 -
7 answers
Emergency Research Materials Needed: Due to not being an adult about things I now have to write a quick story set during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. And I have to finish it by Sunday. Yes, I've already read Wikipedia.
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posted by The Whelk
on Apr 28, 2009 -
12 answers
Help me find a historical faux-news program that I remember from my childhood.
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posted by slavlin
on Apr 12, 2009 -
6 answers
A piece of art given me some years ago might be of historical interest. How do I get in touch with someone who might want to take a picture of it, or catalogue it, or whatever?
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posted by jet_silver
on Jan 26, 2009 -
5 answers
Where can I find lots of historical media? I'm looking for any kind of photos or film, newsreels, anything.
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posted by Hargrimm
on Jan 6, 2009 -
10 answers
Is there a resource anywhere that will give me either (a) historical data for the last year or two on the price of oil (b) similar data for airline tickets or (c) ideally, both?
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posted by ricochet biscuit
on Nov 9, 2008 -
3 answers
OldFinancialInformationFilter: Figuring out cost basis for John Hancock Income Securities Trust (JHS) under its previous CUSIP.
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posted by i love cheese
on Oct 4, 2008 -
1 answer
Where do I start with ancient classic literature, especially accessible versions of mythological or vaguely historical tales? Preferably from Anglo-Saxon or Norse traditions, but I'm open to anything really good.
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posted by rocks009
on Oct 3, 2008 -
26 answers
I am looking for photos of the Cambridge, MA area taken between 1950 and 1999. I am especially interested in the commercial areas along the current Red Line route (Porter/Harvard/Central/Kendall), and the industrial areas southeast of Central Square. If you happen to know of any repositories of offline photos, that would be cool too. Thanks!
posted by rxrfrx
on Sep 9, 2008 -
10 answers
Is there a way to search Google for what a URL Web page looked like on a certain date?
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posted by cainiarb
on Aug 23, 2008 -
4 answers
Strange as it might sound, I am compiling a list of rooms. I am eager to draw upon the travels, explorations, and creative minds of metafilter to help flesh out the list.
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posted by foxy_hedgehog
on Aug 18, 2008 -
27 answers
My copy of "Our Mutual Friend" by Charles Dickens shows the chapter name on the head every left page, and a summary phrase of the spread's content on the head of every right page. Is there a name for that style? I'd love to know any history of it, why it's not done now, and how I could set it up in a word processor for use in my own docs. Thanks!
posted by largecorp
on Jun 16, 2008 -
5 answers
I'm interested in reading more fun books, written in 1945 or earlier, which clearly set themselves in the time and place that they were written. Examples include Anne of Green Gables, Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers, Pride & Prejudice, and China to Me.
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posted by Margalo Epps
on May 24, 2008 -
39 answers
pursuant to
this excellent post, what other repositories of historic/interesting/important periodicals exist online?
posted by Chrischris
on May 8, 2008 -
10 answers
What hand tools would be needed to remove a chunk of iron from an iron meteorite you've discovered in the field?
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posted by Naberius
on Mar 24, 2008 -
11 answers
Are there any websites that compile historical MSRPs for cars? Like if I wanted to know how much a dude had to pay for a new Camaro in 1979.
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posted by punkfloyd
on Jan 4, 2008 -
3 answers
Is there such a book as "The London Times Historical Atlas"? Google and Amazon are clueless.
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posted by grumblebee
on Dec 22, 2007 -
6 answers
