The “Death Diary” of Renowned Herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt in 1957

In 1957, renowned herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt documented his own death in a meticulous scientific account that newspapers later dubbed his “death diary.” After being bitten by a juvenile boomslang (Dispholidus typus), he refused medical treatment, choosing instead to record the clinical progression of the venom's effects until he lost consciousness.

On September 25, 1957, while identifying a 30-inch snake at the Chicago Natural History Museum (now the Field Museum), the snake bit Schmidt on the fleshy part of his left thumb. Schmidt wrongly believed a juvenile, rear-fanged snake could not deliver a lethal dose to a human. When colleagues urged him to seek help, he reportedly replied that medical intervention would “interfere with the symptoms” he was observing.

“I took it from Dr. Robert Inger without thinking of any precaution, and it promptly bit me on the fleshy lateral aspect of the first joint of the left thumb,” Schmidt wrote in his journal. 

Over the next day, he documented a terrifying sequence of symptoms: nausea, chills, gum bleeding, fever, and urination of blood. He maintained his routine, eating meals and taking the train home while recording every detail with meticulous precision. Even his breakfast the following morning was logged, complete with a note about continued bleeding from his mouth and nose, which he understated as “not excessive”—a chilling understatement, as it would be the last word he ever wrote.

September 25, afternoon: He noted the bite, described the snake, and recorded early mild symptoms before taking the train home.

September 26, 6:30 AM: He ate cereal, poached eggs on toast, applesauce, and coffee for breakfast, and noted continuous bleeding from the mouth and nose, though “not excessively.” “Excessively” was the last word Schmidt wrote.

After lunch, he vomited, called his wife, and soon became unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive him, Schmidt was pronounced dead at 3 PM. Schmidt was advised to seek medical help just hours before he died, but refused, saying “No, that would upset the symptoms.”

Boomslang venom causes disseminated intravascular coagulation, a condition in which so many small clots form in the blood that the victim loses the ability to clot further and bleeds to death. Schmidt’s autopsy revealed extensive internal bleeding. When he was brought into the hospital, he was bleeding from his eyes, lungs, kidneys, heart, and brain.

Boomslang antivenom is monovalent, it only works for boomslangs, and it certainly was not available in Chicago in the 1950s. However, in 2017, venom researchers tested a modern antivenom similar to what would have been available to Schmidt at the time and found it did a decent job neutralizing several deadly proteins in the boomslang venom. They noted that reducing the activity of a venom by even 25 percent can mean the difference between life and death.

Schmidt’s death raised awareness of the potential toxicity of rear-fanged colubrid snakes to the scientific community, resulting in a number of important studies in the 1960s and 1970s. His meticulous final diary remains one of the most extraordinary first-person scientific documents ever recorded — a scientist, true to his calling, observing nature even as it killed him.

Milunka Savić, a Serbian War Heroine Who Became the Most Decorated Female Combatant in the History of Warfare

In 1912, Milunka Savić made a decision that would define her life and etch her name into history. When her brother was too ill to serve in the Balkan Wars, she cut her hair, donned men’s clothing, and joined the Serbian army under the name Milun Savić.

Milunka fought undetected for nearly a year, proving herself to be an elite soldier and a gifted grenadier. Her secret was only revealed during the Second Balkan War (1913) at the Battle of Bregalnica, where she was wounded in the chest by a Bulgarian shell. While treating her injuries, army doctors discovered “Milun” was actually a woman.

When her true identity was revealed, her commanding officer was in a bind. She was one of his best soldiers, but military law didn’t exactly have a “decorated female infantry” clause. He offered her a transfer to a nursing division. Milunka refused, insisting she belonged on the front lines. The officer told her he would think it over and give her an answer the next day. Milunka reportedly stood at attention and replied: “I will wait.” After standing in the cold for only an hour, the officer relented and sent her back to the infantry.

During the Great War, Savić’s reputation reached international proportions. She was a key member of the elite “Iron Regiment.” Her skill with hand grenades was particularly feared; she was known for her "accuracy of a sniper" when clearing enemy trenches.

In 194, she earned her first Order of the Star of Karađorđe with Swords (Serbia’s highest award) after capturing 20 Austrian soldiers single-handedly. In 1916, she captured 23 Bulgarian soldiers alone. For this, she received a second Star of Karađorđe. She is the only woman to ever receive the French Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with a gold palm. She was also awarded the British Order of St Michael and St George, the Russian Order of St. George, and the French Legion of Honour (twice).

Despite her fame, Milunka’s later years were defined by quiet selflessness. After the war, she turned down an offer to move to France (where she would have received a comfortable pension) to stay in Belgrade. She worked as a cleaning lady, a bank teller, and a factory worker. However, she used her modest means to adopt and raise over 30 orphaned children in addition to her own daughter. She was largely forgotten by the public until the 1960s, when a resurgence of interest in WWI veterans brought her story back to the forefront.

Milunka Savić died in 1973 at the age of 84. Today, she is remembered as a national hero in Serbia, a woman who went to war for her brother and ended up becoming a legend of the 20th century.

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Myrna Dell: A Vision of Mid-Century Glamour

Myrna Dell (1924–2011) was a captivating presence during the Golden Age of Hollywood, cherished for her striking beauty and versatile talent. Starting her career as a glamorous showgirl with the Earl Carroll Revues, she quickly transitioned to the silver screen, appearing in dozens of films throughout the 1940s and ’50s.

While she was often cast as the alluring “femme fatale” in classic film noir and Westerns, Dell possessed a natural charisma that allowed her to shine in every scene, no matter the genre. Beyond her breathtaking looks, she was known for her professionalism and her ability to bring a sense of poise and elegance to the screen.

Myrna Dell remains a timeless symbol of mid-century glamour, a star whose radiance continues to captivate fans of classic cinema today. Step back in time and lose yourself in the timeless allure of Myrna Dell through this collection of vintage portraits.

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Women With Cigarettes: Icons of Mid-Century Cool

In the mid-20th century, the image of a woman with a cigarette was often portrayed as the pinnacle of cinematic glamour and social rebellion. During this era, particularly the 1940s and ’50s, cigarettes were transformed into a sophisticated accessory, frequently seen in the hands of Hollywood starlets and chic urbanites alike.

Beyond the haze of smoke, these images captured a significant cultural shift, a symbol of independence and the “femme fatale” mystique. Whether held with gloved hands in a grand ballroom or shared during a quiet moment in a jazz club, the cigarette served as a prop that emphasized poise and a bold, modern attitude.

These vintage photos offer a fascinating, albeit complex, glimpse into the evolving identity of women and the stylized aesthetics of a bygone era.

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Cast Photos of Teenage Rob Lowe for His First TV Series “A New Kind of Family” in 1979

Long before he was a member of the “Brat Pack” or working in the West Wing, a 15-year-old Rob Lowe made his television debut in the short-lived ABC sitcom A New Kind of Family (1979–1980). He played Tony Flanagan, the teenage son of Kit Flanagan (played by Eileen Brennan). The show’s premise centered on two single mothers, one widowed and one divorced, who accidentally lease the same house and decide to raise their families together to save money.

According to Lowe, A New Kind of Family was dead last in the Nielsen ratings, number 62 out of all 62 shows on TV at the time. Halfway through the season, it was pulled from the schedule and retooled in an effort to boost ratings, with cast changes made, but despite those efforts, the show was cancelled in January 1980.

The show featured a surprisingly star-studded young cast. Alongside Lowe, the cast included Lauri Hendler as his sister Hillary, David Hollander as his brother Andy, and later Telma Hopkins and a young Janet Jackson as new characters added during the retool.

Though the show quickly flopped, it served as a launching pad. Rob Lowe went on to become a major star just a few years later with The Outsiders (1983) and St. Elmo’s Fire (1985).

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40 Amazing Photos of Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley on the Set of “Elvis” (1979)

Kurt Russell’s portrayal of Elvis Presley in the 1979 TV movie Elvis was a significant turning point in his career, marking his first collaboration with director John Carpenter. The film aired on ABC and was so successful it was later released as a theatrical feature outside the U.S.

To inhabit the King, Russell didn’t just rely on the iconic jumpsuits; he underwent a rigorous process to capture Presley’s essence only two years after the singer’s death. Russell spent months studying Elvis’s speaking patterns and stage movements, though his singing was dubbed by country artist Ronnie McDowell. Legendary costume designer Miller Drake painstakingly recreated Elvis’s stage wear, while Russell gained weight and used prosthetics to mirror the different eras of Elvis’s life.

The Carpenter-Russell duo birthed one of cinema’s most productive partnerships. Carpenter, coming off the success of Halloween, brought a moody, cinematic feel to the standard TV biopic. Russell’s father, Bing Russell, actually played Vernon Presley (Elvis’s father) in the 1979 production, adding a layer of real-world family dynamic to the performance. In a strange twist of fate, Russell’s film debut as a child was in the 1963 film It Happened at the World’s Fair, where he famously kicked the real Elvis Presley in the shin. Despite its near three-hour runtime, the film was shot in just 30 days.

Elvis was a massive ratings success, even beating Gone with the Wind and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in the Nielsens on its premiere night. It earned Russell an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor. The film is widely considered one of the best Elvis portrayals ever put to screen, and it helped transform Kurt Russell’s image from a Disney child actor into a serious dramatic performer. It laid the groundwork for his iconic collaborations with John Carpenter, including Escape from New York (1981) and The Thing (1982).

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Jean-Louis Guégan: Capturing the Golden Age of French Couture

Jean Louis Guégan was a prominent French fashion photographer who defined the visual style of the 1960s and ’70s. Best known for his extensive work with L’Officiel de la Couture, he captured the era’s most iconic designs, from Yves Saint Laurent’s pop-art raincoats to Pierre Cardin’s avant-garde "Space Age" aesthetic.

Throughout his career, Guégan collaborated with legendary houses like Chanel and Emanuel Ungaro, while also photographing major stars such as Sophia Loren. His photography remains a vital record of the evolution of French haute couture.

Slow down for a moment and enjoy the delicate beauty of Jean-Louis Guégan’s world in these glamorous photos below.

Model in two-piece wool dress with blouson top over straight skirt by Pierre Cardin, photo by Jean Louis Guégan, 1964

Model in silk evening gown, the bodice embroidered in sequins with mink trimmed sleeves by Yves Saint Laurent, coiffure by Alexandre, jewelry by Boucheron, photo by Jean Louis Guégan, 1964

Model wearing a Hindu-inspired necklace of pearls, emeralds, rubies and diamonds by Cartier, gold lighter and cigarette holder also by Cartier, photo by Jean Louis Guégan, 1964

Tamara Nyman in double-breasted Opal EMBA mink jacket by Maurice Kotler, jewelry by Boucheron, photo by Jean Louis Guégan, 1964

Christa Fiedler (l) and model in chiffon cocktail dresses with collars and cuffs banded in sequins and pailettes by Pierre Cardin, photo by Jean Louis Guégan, 1965

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