The Cross-Country Drive: Cheap In 1931, Cheaper In 2011
If we could translate 1931 prices into 2011 dollars, we might find the cost of travel has dropped over 80 years — even with today's... More
About: Jeff Nilsson
Jeff Nilsson is the director of Post archives and a website editor. He is a specialist in American History, with graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, University of New Mexico, and Eastern Michigan University. He writes our website's weekly Retrospective feature, and is directing the program of digitally converting the magazine's 190 years of issues.
Posts by Jeff Nilsson:
Hoosier Hysteria in 1942
In this humorous 1942 article, a high school referee shares his absurd life on the basketball courts.... More
The Art and The Crime of Illusion
Harry Houdini believed in keeping the secrets of entertainers, and exposing the secrets of frauds.... More
The King James Bible: A Best-Seller Turns 400
Hoping to unify the Protestants in England, King James I commissioned a work whose influence moved beyond the church, the country, and the times he... More
Elizabeth Taylor and The Cleopatra Spectacle
It was one of those productions in which the story ABOUT the movie proved more popular than the story IN the movie.... More
Remembering Elizabeth Taylor
We recall some of Elizabeth Taylor's many appearances in the Post between 1949 and 1987.... More
Earthquakes and the Human Will: Trying to Imagine the Incredible
If you thought the pictures of the earthquake in Japan were unbelievable, wait until you see the numbers. ... More
Grover Cleveland Wants More American Fishermen
Profane, idle liars? No! thundered the ex-president. America's fishermen are the virtuous backbone of their country.... More
Living Memory and The Last Doughboy
America lost a significant portion of its living memory on February 24, when Frank Buckles died. Mr. Buckles, who had recently celebrated his 110th birthday,... More
Late, Great American Bookstores: Leary’s Books
It is the best of times, it is the worst of times — depending on whether you love reading or you love books. ... More
Woolworth: A Five and Dime Story
On February 22, 1879, Frank Woolworth opened his first store, and nickled and dimed his way to wealth.... More
Destroying and Saving The White House
The past doesn't take care of itself. Sometimes it requires radical renovation to avoid being lost. ... More
Hard Truths: How The Polygraph Saw Americans
When Leonarde Keeler began studying honesty in Americans, he was surprised to learn who lied, who didn't, and what kept people honest. ... More
Grace Under Pressure: Jackie Robinson
First told in the Post, Robinson's story is still breaking barriers with the release of 42.... More
The Eventual Triumph of Duke Ellington
Fortunately, more people listened to his music than to his critics.... More
The Deathless Legacy Of Sargent Shriver
He launched one of America's greatest achievements — sending over half a million American volunteers to help raise the standard of living in 139 countries.... More
Campaigning With The Kingfish
Huey Long shows how it's done by tickling voters' sense of resentment, fear, envy, righteousness, and humor.... More
