Five Ways Pope Francis, Religious Leader Who Pushed to Modernize the Catholic Church, Was a Man of Firsts
The pontiff, who died on Easter Monday at age 88, strived to make the church more inclusive. But critics believed his reforms either went too far or not far enough
The Lasting Legacy of Jimmy Carter, Dead at 100
Smithsonian curators remember and honor the 39th president’s uncompromising idealism
America’s Oldest Living Person, Elizabeth Francis, Dies at 115. She Was a Supercentenarian and ‘Houstonian Icon’
Since her birth in 1909, Francis lived through two world wars, segregation, the fall of the Soviet Union, multiple pandemics and the invention of the cellphone
Darth Vader Didn’t Come Alive Until James Earl Jones Gave Him a Voice
The prolific American actor, who died on September 9, recorded his dialogue for the first “Star Wars” film in less than three hours
The Remarkable Legacy of Artist and Feminist Audrey Flack, Dead at 93
Even in the final years of her life, the renowned photorealist created searing works of art that further established her among the giants of her field
William Anders, NASA Astronaut Who Captured Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Photograph, Dies at 90
The Apollo 8 lunar module pilot also served in the U.S. Air Force and worked extensively on nuclear energy projects
Bette Nash, Longest-Serving Flight Attendant in the World, Dies at 88
Nash became a flight attendant in 1957 and never stopped working
Pioneering Artist Faith Ringgold Stitched Together Stories of Black Life
The Harlem-born painter, who died this week at age 93, elevated the everyday lives of Black Americans and fought for representation in major museums
Texas Man Who Lived 70 Years in an Iron Lung Dies at 78: ‘I Never Gave Up’
Paralyzed by polio in 1952, Paul Alexander led a full life despite being confined to a large steel ventilator
Norman Lear Brought Big Issues to the Small Screen
At his peak, the television icon, who died at 101, reached more than 120 million Americans with shows like “All in the Family”
How Sandra Day O’Connor Brought Compromise to the Supreme Court
The first woman justice to serve on the nation’s highest court died on Friday at age 93
From the Governor’s Mansion to the White House and Beyond, Rosalynn Carter Was a Tireless Advocate for the Vulnerable
Smithsonian experts reflect on the life and legacy of the former first lady, who died Sunday at age 96