AskHistorians

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In the 2003 film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan", Wendy Darling states that she wants to grow up to become a novelist. How were female novelists viewed in the Edwardian era (1901-1919)?	1
In mainstream media, films, and TV shows, the use of a "family crest" is popular. However, the correct term in heraldry is actually "coat of arms", with the "crest" being just one part of the coat of arms. How, when, and why did the idea of a "family crest" become so ubiquitous in pop culture?	1
Let's say I'm a current U.S. high school student who is transported back in time to high school back in the 1983/84. What would be the some of the first things I would notice to indicate that I was in a different time period, and how well would I be able to adapt to my new environment?	1
One of the protégés of Thomas Edison, James "Jim" Newton (1905 – 1999), claimed that Edison expressed early support for solar power and renewable energy in March 1931 in his book, "Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison" (1989). Is this claim true?	1
How did "James" become such a common name for pirates in history, literature, TV, and film? Is there any link between King James I/VI of England, the Stuart dynasty, or the Jacobites to pirate mythology, or is the name common simply because "James" happens to be a popular name?	1
In "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse", Jasper Hale - born Jasper Whitlock in Houston, Texas, in 1844 - is stated to have "joined the Confederate Army before he turned 17", and became "the youngest Confederate major in Texas" by the time he turned 19 in 1863. How historically accurate is this backstory?	1
How historically accurate is the TV show "Bonfire of Destiny", also known in French as "Le Bazar de la Charité" (2019), in its depiction of the 1897 Bazar de la Charité fire in Paris, which claimed 126 lives, and the political aftermath of the fire in France?	1
The phrase "being a guinea pig" means to be a test subject. Per some sources, this is due to guinea pigs being used in scientific experiments as early as the 18th century (1700s). However, multiple animal species were also used in experiments. Why did "guinea pig" become the preferred term?	1
Modern day-passenger ships are required to have layout maps of the ship displayed on-board for safety reasons, including evacuation routes. Did the RMS Titanic have any publicly available maps of the ship on-board for passengers? If not, when were these maps first implemented?	1
In the United States (US), a 'diary' refers to a journal, or a private record of events, thoughts, and feelings. However, in the United Kingdom (UK), a 'diary' refers to a day planner or datebook for keeping track of events. How, when, and why did this divergence in definition arise?	1

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