Samuel Sullivan·PinnedMember-onlySubmission Guidelines — Frame of ReferenceWe are accepting new writers! — Frame of Reference has been a publication on Medium since 2020, but we have refocused our vision for 2023 and beyond. We aim to be one of Medium’s most trusted and respected sources of history-centered content. …Submission Guidelines2 min readSubmission Guidelines2 min read
Holley Snaith·Feb 25, 2024Member-only“Oh! Look at Me Now”: Frank Sinatra’s Momentous Comeback in the 1970s“Timing was everything, and his was strictly original. He had a gift for it, along with that unique texture to his voice, which could be a powerhouse or soft and sexy when needed. Either way, that voice was God-given.” ~ Barbara Sinatra In January of 1970, Frank Sinatra had just…History9 min readHistory9 min read
Michael McComb·Jan 1, 2024Æthelred and Æthelflæd of Mercia: Medieval England’s most important marriage?In 886, Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (871–899), is thought to have held a grand ceremony in London, receiving oaths of loyalty from his subjects, chief amongst whom was Lord Æthelred of Mercia. For his service and loyalty, he was given the town of London and received the hand…History7 min readHistory7 min read
Ryan Fan·Dec 25, 2023Member-onlyThe Christmas Truce of World War I Was Much More Complicated Than AdvertisedSome soldiers attempted to start a truce but were shot — It’s a famous and miraculous story about one of the worst wars in human history. German and British soldiers both stopped their momentary fighting during Christmas Eve in 1914 and sang Silent Night together. …History6 min readHistory6 min read
Chandrayan Gupta·Dec 23, 2023Member-onlyThe Loneliest Man in the UniverseThe fascinating story of Michael Collins, the third and often forgotten astronaut aboard Apollo 11 — Introduction: Apollo 11 and the Mission that Won America the Space Race After the Second World War came to an explosive end in 1949, the US became embroiled in another, comparatively clandestine conflict, popularly known as the Cold War. From 1949 to 1991 the capitalist US and the communist USSR engaged in a covert battle to establish worldwide hegemony. One of the…Space6 min readSpace6 min read
Frances A. Chiu, Ph.D. | writing coach | editor·Dec 23, 2023Member-onlyWhat can England’s first anarchist tell us about inequality?Revisiting William Godwin’s Enquiry Concerning Political Justice 230 years later — Given the frequent references to the word “inequality,” it is easy to assume that this issue is especially peculiar to our times. However, if we dig back into the annals of history, it is anything but: even if the word itself does not appear as frequently. …Inequality15 min readInequality15 min read
Isa Nan·Dec 19, 2023Member-only7 Interesting Facts About The Vice Presidency Of AmericaWhat exactly does it mean to be number 2? — Whether you’re from the US or any other country, chances are you are familiar with the President of America. Often dubbed the most powerful person on the planet or the leader of the free world, POTUS is certainly a global figure. While most are probably quite well informed of what…History8 min readHistory8 min read
Chelsea Rose·Nov 24, 2023Member-onlyKiller Candy: The 1858 Bradford Sweets PoisoningA tragic lesson from history — We all love candy. They’re sweet, flavorful, and make us happy. But as the adage goes, “Too much of anything is bad for you.” And in the case of the 1858 Bradford Sweets poisoning, it wasn’t just bad; it was deadly. A deadly treat Candy is often considered a harmless treat, but in…History6 min readHistory6 min read
Holley Snaith·Nov 7, 2023Member-onlyThe Head of the Summit: How Sinatra’s Career Evolved in the 1960s“It’s Frank’s world, we just live in it.” ~ Dean Martin It was the dawn of the “Swinging Sixties,” and Frank Sinatra was coming out of the 1950s with an Academy Award and several Gold and Platinum albums. When his 1960 album Nice N’ Easy stayed at the top of…History9 min readHistory9 min read
Katy Clark·Oct 6, 2023Member-onlyHandmaidens of the Devil: The Witches of SalemThere are events of the past that naturally provoke heads to bow and lips to close in a moment of silence, for there are truly no words to express consolation for the sins of history toward those who were casualties of paranoia, mass hysteria, and a broken judicial system. The…Colonial America5 min readColonial America5 min read