Hadley Meares
Hadley Meares is a historical journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in outlets including Aeon, LA Weekly, LA Magazine, Curbed LA, LAist, and Atlas Obscura. She is also a historical tour guide in Los Angeles. You can find her recent work and upcoming appearances at hadleymeares.com.
MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR
Blondie Recorded ‘Autoamerican’ to Help ‘Resolve Racial Tensions’ by Crossing Musical Genres
With their songs "The Tide is High" and "Rapture," Blondie strayed from their punk rock roots and introduced reggae and rap music to the mainstream.
How Jaclyn Smith Created Her Multi-Million Dollar Fashion Company
The 'Charlie’s Angels' star was at a crossroads and an early partnership with Kmart guided her toward a new industry and career.
Inside Harriet Tubman's Life of Service After the Underground Railroad
Tubman continued to help the enslaved, becoming a leader of the Union and then serving the community until her death.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: The True Story of the Famous Outlaws
Members of the Wild Bunch, the robbers' life and death inspired the 1969 movie starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
Antony and Cleopatra's Legendary Love Story
The epic romance between the Egyptian Queen and Roman statesman inspired the tragic Shakespearian play.
Lewis and Clark: How the Explorers' Corps of Discovery Transformed North America
The 28 month-long trip was the first American expedition to cross west of the Mississippi River.
Orville and Wilbur Wright: The Brothers Who Changed Aviation
The siblings from Ohio successfully launched the first airplane into the skies in 1903.
Why Princess Margaret Was the Worst Party Guest
Often bossy and difficult, Queen Elizabeth's younger sister loved to have a good time – at the expense of others.
BIOGRAPHY NEWSLETTERS
Sign up for the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives.

Helen Keller and Mark Twain Had an Unlikely Friendship That Spanned More Than a Decade
While they were over 40 years apart in age, the writer and activist sought comfort, humor and companionship in each other.
Did William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I Ever Meet?
While the monarch was a big fan of the playwright, for centuries people have questioned if the pair ever came face to face.
Why is William Shakespeare’s Life Considered a Mystery?
Secretive in both life and death, the playwright has remained an elusive figure.
Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I Never Actually Met
Despite tales of the royal cousins' tense encounter, their meet-up is nothing more than a lie.