June 2022

Pauline Maier on The History of the Fourth

On the Fourth of July, Americans gather to celebrate our nation's history with fireworks, barbeques, and family. But many may be surprised to learn that July 4th is not the technical date of American independence—that would be July 2nd, when the Second Continental Congress formally voted in 1776 to separate from Britain. Instead, July 4th is the day that Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing to the country—and to the world—America's newfound freedom.

So how did Americans come to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration—a document that one of its own authors, John Adams, once described as “dress and ornament rather than Body, Soul, or Substance"—rather than their formal day of independence?

American Rebels at Sea

Editor’s Note: One of today’s finest writers about ships and the sea, Eric Jay Dolin previously contributed “Did Hurricanes Save America?” to American Heritage, which focused on the impact of deadly weather on the American Revolution. His latest book, Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution, is a fascinating look at the role played by privateers in winning independence. We asked Mr. Dolin to give us an overview of the important and neglected contribution of privateers to our history.

“To Those Brave Men!”

Recent research indicates that the men of the Titanic were unusual. In most disasters, it's largely "every man for himself." In the 2021 Costa Corcordia disaster, the captain abandoned the ship leaving 300 on board. — *The men on the* Titanic *were unusual.* *Most people look out for themselves first during disasters, research shows. During the 2012 sinking of the Italian liner* Costa Corcordia, for example, the captain abandoned the ship, leaving 300 people still on board. EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

The Man Who Brought Opera to America

Editor's Note: Howard Jay Smith is also the author of Meeting Mozart: From the Secret Diaries of Lorenzo Da Ponte, a novel inspired by that missing section of Da Ponte’s memoirs.

The Black Woman Who Managed Morgan's Millions

da costa — *Born Belle Marion Greener, Bella da Costa Greene told everyone she was Portuguese, even though she was the daughter of prominent black socialites from Washington, D.C. Library of Congress*

On a brisk December day in 1905, a young librarian stepped into the Manhattan office of America’s most powerful man. The two sized each other up. To her, the huge, hulking tycoon seemed whipsmart and curious about everything. To him, the petite woman seemed poised and precise. Conversation soon revealed a common love of old treasures — rare books, manuscripts, tapestries. So J.P. Morgan hired the librarian, never suspecting.