This year is a Leap Year, which means we get an extra day on February 29 for a total of 366 days in the year. Want to learn a little more about the origins and traditions of Leap Year? Newspapers.com has got you covered.

If you want to find out about the more about the history of Leap Year, check out the clippings below:

• An article about why we have Leap Years
  
• An article about ancient Egypt’s connection to Leap Year
• A list of Leap Day facts
  
• A 1912 article about proposed alternatives to the Leap Year system
• A 1752 act of Parliament regarding proposed changes to the calendar, including Leap Year

Or if you’re more interested about Leap Year traditions, try reading the following:

• An article about Leap Year legends in different countries

One of the most common Leap Year traditions in the United States and Great Britain in previous centuries was the idea that during a Leap Year, women could propose marriage to men. Over the years, the tradition also grew to include the custom of holding Leap Year dances and balls, which were Sadie Hawkins-type events where the women were in charge and asked the men to dance.

Check out the following clippings from over the centuries about the “Ladies’ Law” Leap Year tradition:

• A 1796 reminder to women about the upcoming Leap Year
• A description of an 1848 Leap Year ball
• A humorous 1852 poem called, “Why Don’t the Girls Propose?”
• An 1864 call for a revival of the Leap Year “law”
• A list of eligible bachelors for women to pursue during the 1880 leap year
• A facetious 1892 article about how to make a Leap Year proposal
• A 1940 article about a Leap Day “manhunt” in an Illinois city

Want to learn more about Leap Year and its traditions? Start a search on Newspapers.com.

This year on January 18, the nation will celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., born on January 15, 1929. Though he was just 39 when he was assassinated in 1968, the civil rights leader made an indelible impact on the civil rights movement and on the country as a whole.

You can read thousands of articles about important events during the public life of Martin Luther King, Jr., on Newspapers.com. Below is a selection to get you started:

• King’s home is bombed in 1956
• King delivers his first national address at the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom in 1957
• King and other civil rights figures meet President Eisenhower in 1958
• King is stabbed by Izola Ware Curry in 1958
• King travels to India to learn about Gandhi in 1959
• King is sent to jail in Birmingham in 1963, where he writes the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
• King gives his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
• King accepts the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964
• King is assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968
• King is buried in Atlanta on April 9, 1968
• King’s birthday is made a federal holiday in 1983
• First federal observance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day in 1986

Do you have any personal stories about Martin Luther King, Jr.? Tell us about them! You can also find many more articles about Martin Luther King, Jr., and the civil rights movement on Newspapers.com.

When Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) was released in the United States on May 25, 1977, it was an immediate sensation. Show after show sold out, with many viewers returning to see the film more than once. It received near-universal praise from film critics as well and went on to break all kinds of records for box-office earnings, attendance, and length of run. It surpassed Jaws as the top-grossing film of all time and retained that title until 1982, when it was overtaken by ET, though it still remains one of the most financially successful films.

People went wild for Star Wars, and its popularity is reflected in the plethora of articles and reviews newspapers published about the film. Below is a just a small sample of the tens of thousands of matches you can find for Star Wars on Newspapers.com:

• Announcement that production of Star Wars is to begin
• Roger Ebert’s Star Wars review
• One of the few negative reviews of Star Wars
• Images of characters from the movie including Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, C3PO and R2D2, and Chewbacca
• Newspaper serialization of the Star Wars novel
• Image of a woman who saw Star Wars 16 times in the theater
• Interview with Star Wars actors
• Article about the popularity of Star Wars merchandise
• Article exploring the influence of the Vietnam War on Star Wars

Did you see the original Star Wars in the theater? Tell us about it! Or get started searching for Star Wars on Newspapers.com.

Game 1 of the 111th World Series kicks off this year on October 27. If you aren’t already in the spirit, here are some clippings pulled from Newspapers.com of some of the most memorable moments in early World Series history.

• 1912, Game 8, Red Sox v. Giants: The Giants’ Fred Snodgrass muffs the ball in the 10th inning
• 1929, Game 4, Athletics v. Cubs: Cubs lose an 8-0 lead after Athletics score 10 runs in the 7th inning
• 1932, Game 3, Yankees v. Cubs: In his final World Series, Babe Ruth appears to call his shot by pointing to centerfield before hitting a homerun there (and here are two papers’ takes on Ruth’s gesture the day after: the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Nevada State Journal)
• 1941, Game 4, Yankees v. Dodgers: Dodger catcher Mickey Owen drops a third strike, allowing the Yankees to score 4 runs and win the game
• 1946, Game 7, Cardinals v. Red Sox: The Red Sox’s Johnny Pesky holds the ball too long allowing Enos Slaughter to make it home and score the winning run
• 1954, Game 1, Giants v. Indians: The Giants’ Willie Mays sprints to make an incredible catch way back in centerfield, preventing two runs in the 8th inning
• 1956, Game 5, Yankees v. Dodgers: The Yankees’ Don Larsen pitches a perfect game
• 1960, Game 7, Pirates v. Yankees: Bill Mazeroski hits a game-ending homerun in the final inning of the last game to win the World Series for the Pirates

Do you have any favorite World Series memories? Tell us about it! Or start a search for World Series stories and images on Newspapers.com.

Did you know that in the 1850s the American government brought camels to the Southwest to be used by the army and that 50 years later, feral camels were still being spotted in the desert?

In the late 1840s, Major Henry Wayne of the Quartermaster Department suggested the use of camels to the War Department, and in the mid-1850s Secretary of War Jefferson Davis convinced Congress to appropriate money to import the camels as pack animals for the army in the ever expanding West.

Major Wayne and Naval Lieutenant David Dixon Porter sailed to North Africa and the Middle East in 1856 and came home with some camel handlers and a few dozen camels, which were kept at Camp Verde, Texas. A year later, Porter returned for more camels, bringing the total to about 70.

The camel experiment in the Southwest was relatively successful, as camels were hardier than horses, mules, or burros, traveling farther, packing heavier weights, needing water less often, and being able to subsist on the native desert plants. However, the camels tended to spook the other pack animals, and most of the Americans assigned to them never learned to like them or handle them properly.

The camels’ downfall came with the Civil War. The Confederates took over Camp Verde, but when the US government regained control, it had lost interest in the camel experiment, so the animals were sold (though some had died or escaped during the war).

But that wasn’t the end of camels in the Southwest. Up through the early 1900s, there were occasional reports of sightings of feral camels roaming the desert.

Did you know that you can find articles about the army’s camels on Newspapers.com? Below is a selection of a few of the different articles you can find:

• Letter from Major Wayne during his trip to buy the camels
• Account of the camels arriving in the US
• Camels in the army are tested out
• Camels are given a positive review
• Secretary of War recommends buying more camels
• Government puts the camels up for sale
• 14 ex-government camels sent to New York
• Summary of the fate of some of the camels
• Death of what was believed to be the last of the feral camels in 1901
• Camel driver for the government dies in 1903
• Article debating whether feral camels still exist in 1905

Have you heard of the Southwest’s camels? If you want to learn more about them, start a search on Newspapers.com!

Have you ever come across an old sales ad and been surprised at how inexpensive products seemed to be back then compared to how much they cost today? Eggs for $0.27/dozen? Seems cheap. But if you adjust those old prices to their equivalents today, you might be surprised at how they compare.

So let’s take some of the prices in a grocery ad from Pennsylvania 100 years ago (1915), adjust the prices for modern inflation,* and compare the adjusted prices to average 2015 prices.**

Pork chops

1915 ad price: $0.25/2-lbs ($0.125/lb)

1915 adjusted price: $2.95/lb

2015 average price: $3.99/lb

Bacon

1915 ad price: $0.20/0.5-lb ($0.40/lb)

1915 adjusted price: $9.45/lb

2015 average price: $5.59/lb

Peanut butter

1915 ad price: $0.25/2-lbs ($0.125/lb)

1915 adjusted price: $2.95/lb

2015 average price: $2.91/lb

Eggs

1915 ad price: $0.27/dozen

1915 adjusted price: $6.38/dozen

2015 average price: $2.11/dozen

Potatoes

1915 ad price: $0.30/30-lbs ($0.01/lb)

1915 adjusted price: $0.24/lb

2015 average price: $0.67/lb

Rice

1915 ad price: $0.25/6-lbs ($0.042/lb)

1915 adjusted price: $0.99/lb

2015 average price: $0.69/lb

Those eggs for $0.27/dozen don’t seem so cheap now, do they? Interested in finding out how much other items cost back in the day? Search or browse on Newspapers.com for more ads.

* 1915 adjusted prices were calculated using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation Calculator.

**Average 2015 prices were pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) Detailed Report Data for January 2015, pg. 215, Table P4: “Average retail food prices, U.S. city average and four regions.”

This August is the 95th anniversary of American women gaining the right to vote in all state and federal elections when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920.

Women’s suffrage in America was a divisive issue from the very beginning of the organized movement at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Over the ensuing 72 years, while women gradually won the right to vote in some state and local elections, they continued to fight for full suffrage. Eventually, the suffragists of the 19th century gave way to the “suffragettes” of the 20th century, with their more confrontational tactics, influenced by the militant women’s suffrage movement in Britain.

Though what would become the 19th Amendment was first introduced to Congress in 1878, it took 41 years—and multiple rejections—for it to finally pass. After it was approved by Congress in 1919, it was sent to the states for ratification, where it would need to be approved by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. Though women’s suffrage had always faced the biggest obstacles in southern states, Tennessee was the deciding 36th state to ratify the amendment by a slim margin on August 18, 1920.

As expected from such a controversial issue, the newspapers of the time were full of articles debating the suffrage question. On Newspapers.com you can follow both sides of the debate from its beginnings in the mid-19th century up through the day women’s right to vote became protected by the Constitution.

Examples of the articles and other features you can find about women’s suffrage include:

• Letters from early women’s rights leaders to a women’s convention in 1850
• An excerpt from a 1859 editorial deeming women “not fit to vote”
• An excerpt from a 1867 anti-suffrage editorial arguing a woman’s place is at home
• An early (1867) piece by Mark Twain ostensibly against women’s suffrage (though he would later change his stance on the issue)
• An interview with Susan B. Anthony in 1899
• A 1902 history of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s involvement in the women’s suffrage movement
• A 1909 interview with a prominent member of the anti-suffrage movement
• A 1920 article announcing the ratification of the 19th Amendment in Tennessee
• A 1920 pro-suffrage editorial cartoon following the passage of the 19th Amendment
• A 1920 photo of suffrage leader Alice Paul toasting the passage of the 19th Amendment

Did you have any ancestors involved in the women’s suffrage movement? Tell us about it! Or if you want to learn more about the movement, simply start a search on Newspapers.com.

It’s summertime! Have you thought about using Newspapers.com to find ideas, tips, and recipes to get you through the summer? The site has countless articles on summertime topics from across the decades.

Want to beat the heat? Learn some tips for keeping cool from these articles.

• “‘War Measures’ Helpful in Drive Against Torrid Blasts of Old Sol Are Cited by Kansas City Folks” (1922)
• “Ways to Keep Cool” (1890)—Pittsburgh residents give their tips for cooling off
• “Police Matron Starts New Fad: Get Your Butcher to Allow You to Stay in Ice Box if You are Warm—She Did” (1916)

Looking for some summer recipes? Look no further.

• Grilled Summer Fruit Compote (1996)
• Grilled Veggie Sandwich and Basil Butter (1996)
• Summer grapefruit recipes (1967)
• Summer Vegetable Salad, Corn Omelet, Raspberry Pie, Gooseberry Mint Relish, Vegetable Rice Ring, and Tuna Fish Souffle (1936)
• Summer vegetable recipes (1951)

Need some drinks to go with those summertime recipes? Find out how to make a variety below.

• A lemonade recipe from 1896
• Lemonade, Orangeade, Orange Ginger Ale, Grape Lemonade, Mixed Fruit Drink, and Iced Cocoa (1930)
• Portable Lemonade (1962)
• Iced Tea, Sun Tea, Sun Tea Punch, Iced Tea Punch, Delicious/Iced Tea, and Spiced Cranberry/Tea (1995)
• Iced Tea Coolers (1976)
• Summer drink recipes from 1903, including Mint Sangaree, Temperance Punch, Frosted Claret, Orange Frappe, Egg Phosphate, Golden Slipper, Perfait Amour, Frosted Coffee, Old Colonial, Farmer’s Ale, and Sassafras Mead

Planning on spending some time at the pool? Try the water games explained in these articles.

• “Most Land Games Can Be Played in Water: Try These” (1937)
• “Children’s Water Games Help Improve Swimming” (1967)

Putting together a picnic? Discover picnic ideas and tips from these full-page spreads.

• Macon Chronicle-Herald (Macon, Missouri), 1 Jul 1953, Page 14
• The Star-Democrat (Easton, Maryland), 17 Jul 1953, Page 24

Going to the beach? Get some inspiration for your sandcastles from these articles’ photos.

• “The World’s Most Beautiful Sandcastles” (1977)
• “Sandcastle Building Class Is Offered” (1977)

Last but not least, want to see pictures of puppies cooling off in summer? We’ve even got that too.

• “Aaaaah! Cool at Last!” (1952)

Get started with your summertime searches on Newspapers.com here.

When the United States entered World War I in the spring of 1917, President Wilson asked Herbert Hoover to head the US Food Administration, which would regulate American food from the ground up to ensure there was enough for both American and Allied troops as well as for the citizens of Allied nations experiencing food shortages. Although in reality Hoover predominantly accomplished this through extensive government involvement in the market, his best-known and most publicized method was a public campaign to involve everyday Americans in voluntary food conservation, which quickly became known as “Hooverizing.”

The food conservation effort, with its slogan “Food will win the war,” encouraged Americans to embrace self-denial for a greater good. However, the Food Administration frequently emphasized that it wasn’t suggesting Americans do without, simply voluntarily decrease their consumption of foods needed for the war effort (particularly meat, wheat, sugar, and fats) by substituting other foods instead. Americans were also encouraged to “lick the platter clean” (reduce food waste) and to buy less food by growing “war gardens” and raising chickens in their backyards.

Hoover’s efforts during the war proved successful, and America was able to decrease domestic food consumption by 15 percent and provide $1.4 billion of food aid to Europe over the course of a year.

Interested in learning more about Hooverizing? Newspapers.com has thousands of articles, editorials, advice columns, poems, cartoons, ads, and propaganda pieces related to the WWI food conservation effort. Not to mention many recipes to help Americans comply with the Food Administration’s guidelines on conserving food (particularly wheat).

Take a look at some of these Hooverizing recipes you can find on Newspapers.com (and maybe even try out a couple):

• Wheat-Corn Yeast Bread
• Rye and Bran Raisin Rolls, Cornmeal Rolls, Oatmeal Gems, Potato Biscuits, Corn and Rice Muffins, and Raisin Bread
• Oatmeal Muffins and Buckwheat Muffins
• Potato Peanut Loaf, White Potato Custard Pie, Left-Over Potatoes, Stewed Potatoes, Scallop of Potatoes and Cheese, Potato Pudding, and Potato Puffs
• Mock Mince Meat

Find more items about Hooverizing by starting a search on Newspapers.com!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and here on Newspapers.com you can get in the spirit by reading all kinds of articles about the holiday of love. Some of the things you’ll learn about Valentine’s Day might even surprise you!

For instance, did you know that in the 19th century, sending paper valentines through the mail got to be so popular that during some years, post offices had to hire more workers just to get all the cards sorted and delivered? You can read all about it in an article from 1811 or one from 1846.

If you’re interested in learning how Valentine’s Day cards have evolved over the years, you’re in luck. Learn about the years when postcard, celluloid, or telegram valentines were popular. Or get started reading about Valentine’s Day card trends in 1881, 1892, and 1947. You can also find out how valentines were mass produced in 1889.

If you like to send out valentines yourself, you might be interested in learning about Loveland, Colorado, which since 1947 has had a “re-mailing” program for valentines. Send them your valentine, and they’ll send it out to your recipient after stamping it with a verse and cachet as well as a “Loveland” postal cancellation. Read all about the program through the years in articles from 1949, 1952, 1990, and 2001.

Or if you’re into baking, the papers on Newspapers.com have all sorts of Valentine’s-themed recipes. Don’t some Heart O’Mine Cookies sound delicious? These flaky, heart-shaped cookies from a 1977 recipe are filled with strawberry preserves. Or if you like arts and crafts (or know a kid who does), you can even find valentines that you can cut out and color.

If humorous anecdotes are more your thing, try reading this story from 1787 about a 14-year-old girl who married a much older man on Valentine’s Day. You probably won’t be astonished that their marriage was rocky, but it may come as a surprise just why the young lady took her husband to court.

Do you enjoy Valentine’s Day? Find out more about the various aspects of the holiday using this search on Newspapers.com.