One of the most noteworthy fashion evolutions of the 1940s was the transformation of the women’s swimming attire, presumably in part due to fabric rationing.

Films presented in the Reel History Film series illustrates the power of community and American heroes on the frontlines.

The history of drag performances can be traced back to the late 1800s. These performances can even be traced to World War I and World War II. 

Mary McLeod Bethune was a passionate educator and presidential advisor. In her long career of public service, she became one of the earliest black female activists that helped lay the foundation to the modern civil rights movement.

By the winter of 1945, millions of American military personnel were on the move, but they were not alone. More than 60,000 women wed by American servicemen during World War II hoped to leave their old homes behind and rejoin their husbands for a new life in the United States. However, for these “War Brides” restrictive American immigration policies posed a major challenge.