Baby Lottery of Paris: A Strange Raffle in History In 1911, something unusual happened in Paris. A raffle called the Loterie de Bébés, or Baby Lottery, took place, where the prizes were not money or goods—but actual babies! This unusual
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Olive Oatman & the Blue Tattoo
Olive Oatman & the Blue Tattoo Olive Oatman’s life is one of the most extraordinary tales from the American West. As a young pioneer, she was taken captive by Native Americans and later returned to her original society, bearing unique
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From Enslavement to Royal Court: The Incredible Story of Sara Forbes Bonetta
From Enslavement to Royal Court: The Incredible Story of Sara Forbes Bonetta Some stories from history are so extraordinary that they feel almost impossible to believe. One such story is that of Sara Forbes Bonetta. She was once an enslaved
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Born in jail to her incarcerated mother, teen is now Harvard-bound
Born in jail to her incarcerated mother, teen is now Harvard-bound Aurora Sky Castner was born into a world of challenges, starting her life in a jail cell. But despite her tough beginning, she has defied the odds and is
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Aktion T4: The Nazi Euthanasia Program
Aktion T4: The Nazi Euthanasia Program Systematic Killing of Disabled and Mentally Ill Individuals The Nazi regime’s Aktion T4 program was a secret operation that resulted in the deaths of around 300,000 people. These victims included individuals with disabilities or
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Human Zoos: A Dark Chapter in History
Human Zoos: A Dark Chapter in History Once upon a time, real people were displayed in exhibitions as if they were objects. These “human zoos” were popular in Europe, showcasing individuals from foreign lands, especially African countries, as curiosities. An
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The True Story of John Clem, the 12-Year-Old Boy Who Became a Civil War Officer
The True Story of John Clem, the 12-Year-Old Boy Who Became a Civil War Officer In May 1861, when President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to join the Union Army, a nine-year-old boy named John Clem decided to enlist. This
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Newton Knight and the Legend of the Free State of Jones
Newton Knight and the Legend of the Free State of Jones Newton Knight was born in 1837 near the Leaf River in Jones County, Mississippi. Back then, the area was filled with tall pine trees, wild animals like wolves and
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A Real-Life ‘Unbreakable’ Journey: Turkish Man Locks His Head in a Cage to Quit Smoking
A Real-Life ‘Unbreakable’ Journey: Turkish Man Locks His Head in a Cage to Quit Smoking Quitting smoking is no easy task, but one man from Turkey took an approach so unique that it left the world astonished. Ibrahim Yücel, a
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William T. Shorey: The Only African American Ship Captain on the West Coast
William T. Shorey: The Only African American Ship Captain on the West Coast William T. Shorey (July 13, 1859 – April 15, 1919) was a remarkable African American who became a ship captain at a time when racial barriers were
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