"Places of..." Series

World War II transformed Evansville. Located just north of the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana, Evansville’s inland location was perfect for large-scale defense production. The city’s factories received military contracts and converted to wartime production, drawing federal funding and workers into the city. New job opportunities also opened for women and African Americans. This article explores some of the many places and stories associated with WWII history in Evansville

The city of Springfield, Massachusetts has a history of contributing to America’s military efforts, including World War II. It produced several models of rifles during World War II. The Armory employed 13,500 people during the war, 43% of whom were women. Springfield residents also worked in factories, producing other war-time necessities; and in hospitals, training to be nurses and doctors abroad. Springfield is an American World War II Heritage City.

Nursing pioneer Mabel Keaton Staupers fought for equal rights for African American nurses. During World War II, she wrote letters, worked with other organizations, and testified before Congress to improve working conditions for Black nurses in the millitary. Staupers and other leaders succeeded in increasing opportunities for Black nurses during World War II and for integrating nursing organizations after the war.

This article explores some of the places associated with Malcolm X. Learn about the places where he lived, worked, and preached.

This article explores some of the places associated with Zitkála-Šá, a Yankton Dakota Sioux writer, musician, and advocate for Native American self-determination.

In 1619, the first Africans were forcibly brought to the British colonies in North America as part of the African Diaspora. This is the term used to describe the forced dispersion of African people and their descendants from the 1500s to the 1800s. The StoryMap highlights the places associated with the movement of African and African American women across the United States.

African American women played a critical role in the Space Race and rose to new heights as mathematicians, computer programmers, team project leads, and engineers at NASA. This article features properties in the National Register of Historic Places that are related to their stories.

The Underground Railroad was a covert and sometimes informal network of routes, safehouses, and resources spread across the country that was used by enslaved African Americans to gain their freedom. Learn more about the places associated with these networks to freedom.

This article explores places associated with Nannie Helen Burroughs, an educator an activist. Born in the late 19th century, Burroughs was active in the women's suffrage movement and the early Black civil rights movement.

This article explores some of the places associated with abolitionist Abby Kelley’s life, from her childhood education at an experimental Quaker school to her adulthood home where she helped freedom seekers on their journey out of slavery.