Haunting Mugshots: Criminal Faces of the 1900s

The early 20th century was a pivotal moment in the history of criminal justice, marked by the widespread adoption of “scientific” methods of identification and documentation. At the heart of this revolution was the mugshot. Far from being mere photographs, these stark, standardized portraits were the culmination of a movement to professionalize policing and createContinue reading “Haunting Mugshots: Criminal Faces of the 1900s”

FREE ARTICLE: Yesterday Today – July 24, 2025

Dolores Dorn was an American stage and film actress, who was the co-star of The Bounty Hunter (1954), Uncle Vanya (1957), Underworld U.S.A. (1961), and several other films and was active from 1954 to 1980. She passed away on October 5, 2019, at the age of 85. #ChristmasinJuly https://amzn.to/46WrsaV A Ford Model T U.S. PostalContinue reading “FREE ARTICLE: Yesterday Today – July 24, 2025”

26 Famous Gangsters From The 1920s & 1930s

The terms “gangster” and “mobster” are mostly used in the United States to refer to members of criminal organizations associated with Prohibition. In 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution banned the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol for consumption. Many gangs sold alcohol illegally for profit, and used acute violence to stakeContinue reading “26 Famous Gangsters From The 1920s & 1930s”

Wild West Wednesdays, Part 2 (a day late) – The Death of Outlaw Johnny Ringo

Rare Photographs of Bonnie and Clyde Show Them at the End of Their Lives

They pilfered banks and mom-and-pop stores, killed police officers — and captivated the nation. But Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, reared in the West Dallas slums, may have been their biggest fans. Sure, Depression-era America was enamored with the love-struck outlaws, but Hollywood hype, intense media interest and time have ways of distorting reality. TheirContinue reading “Rare Photographs of Bonnie and Clyde Show Them at the End of Their Lives”

Portraits of Wild Bill Hickok, the Most Famous of All Western Gunfighters

James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876), better known as “Wild Bill” Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, scout, lawman, gambler, showman, and actor, and for his involvement in many famous gunfights. He earned a great deal ofContinue reading “Portraits of Wild Bill Hickok, the Most Famous of All Western Gunfighters”

Scalped in 1867 by Cheyenne in Nebraska, Here’s the Story Behind William Thompson’s Scalp

Scalping is often depicted in old-timey cowboy-and-Indian movies with lots of quavering music and dramatic pauses. But then you see the real scalp under a bell jar and it isn’t so melodramatic anymore. William Thompson’s scalp, archived at the Main Library in Omaha, Nebraska, looks more like some sort of rodent than an impactful partContinue reading “Scalped in 1867 by Cheyenne in Nebraska, Here’s the Story Behind William Thompson’s Scalp”

Vintage Historical Photos of the Wild West

The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, includes the geography, history, folklore, and culture in the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial settlements in the early 17th century and ended with the admission of the last few western territories as statesContinue reading “Vintage Historical Photos of the Wild West”