Robert Askins, 1938 DC Cyanide Killer: A Four-Decade Arc
On December 28, 1938, in a small alley off 6th Street NW, a 31-year-old woman named Ruth McDonald accepted a drink from a young chemistry student and was dead within the hour.
Howard University
Glen Echo Park: From Chautauqua to Carousel Sit-In
It started as a one-summer Chautauqua on the Potomac, built by twin brothers who had cashed in on an egg beater patent. By 1933 it was a streetcar amusement park with a Spanish ballroom and a Dentzel carousel. By 1960 that carousel was the flashpoint of a Howard University sit-in.
What Could Have Been: Howard University’s Proposed Extension of Vermont Ave. in 1919
Take a look at what could have been! Howard University proposed extending Vermont Ave. from Florida Ave. to Georgia Ave. back in 1919. See the maps, read the letter of rejection, and check out the intersection today on Google Maps.
LeDroit Park: The Misspelled Name, the Fence War, and DC’s Premier Black Neighborhood
LeDroit Park began in 1873 as a fenced whites-only suburb dropped on Howard University’s doorstep. By 1888 the fence was on the ground. By 1920 Mary Church Terrell, Anna J. Cooper, and Paul Laurence Dunbar all kept addresses there.
A Look Back at Howard University and St. John’s College Football Teams in 1904 and 1906
Take a look back at Howard University and St. John’s College football teams from 1904 and 1906. Check out the cool photos and learn about how the school has changed over time.
The Best Commencement Speeches Given in Washington, DC
Check out the best commencement speeches ever given in Washington, DC from President John F. Kennedy to Ken Burns, Tony Snow and others. See the full lists from NPR and Vox.com.
Howard University Advertisement from 1919
A 1919 newspaper advertisement from Howard University in Washington, DC.
Griffith Stadium: The History and Demolition of Washington’s Lost Ballpark
Griffith Stadium stood where Howard University Hospital is today. Full history: from the 1911 fire to Walter Johnson to the 1965 wrecking ball.
Experience a Historical Moment: Howard University Women’s Athletic Day in 1949
Relive a historical moment with this cool photo from Howard University’s Women’s Athletic Day in 1949. See the photos and learn more about this special day!