And the 1924 Miss America crown goes to… Ruth Malcomson! 

The Miss America competition wasn’t always the televised event known around the world for the flood of tears, shocking reactions, and flowers. Almost 100 years ago, Miss America was just a small-run pageant held in none other than Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The 1924 competition looks very different from what the competition looks like today. And definitely was not at the same level of Hollywood glamor and intensity we see in “Miss Congeniality.” Nonetheless, it was a very popular competition that still draws in a lot of attention from the public, as well as girls all across the country.

So what was this famous pageant like 100 years ago? Here are 10 facts you didn’t know about the 1924 Miss America pageant and its winner, Ruth Malcomson!

1. The Miss America competition in 1924 was the fourth year the competition was running. 

The first pageant, called then the “Atlantic City Pageant,” was held in 1921. Originally, the pageant was a way to encourage visitors to stay in the Atlantic City resort past Labor Day. The very first Miss America winner was Margaret Gorman, Miss Washington, DC, and she received a statue of a golden mermaid.

2. It was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey

More specially, the 1924 Miss America was held at the Million Dollar Pier.

3. The winner was 18-year old Ruth Malcomson

Ruth was previously crowned Miss Philadelphia.

4. Ruth Malcomson competed against over 80 other contestants. 

This was the largest number of contestants in the history of Miss America. 

5. Ruth beat Mary Campbell from Columbus, Ohio. 

Mary was crowned Miss America in 1922 and 1923. She is only two-time winner and was on her way to being a three-time winner, but Ruth had been crowned instead.

6. At the time that Ruth had won, the title she was given was called the “Golden Mermaid.”

You may be wondering: What does a mermaid have to do with a beauty pageant? Well, since the Miss America pageant was frequently held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on the Pier near the Atlantic Ocean; the pageant was referred to as the “The Atlantic City Pageant.” 

7. Despite being a winner, Ruth Malcomson was not a fan of the competition. 

Ruth actually publicly criticized the pageant in 1925. She stated that: “The pageant now has become nothing but a commercial proposition to exploit the beauties who make their living from their good looks. What chance has an ordinary girl, untrained, to win a contest in which girls who have been trained to make the most of their beauty are competing?”

8. During an interview with the Liberty Magazine, Ruth clapped back at women’s rights groups.

Some women’s rights groups berated and mocked Ruth for being a contestant in the Miss America competition. She also pointed out the fact that these women attacked and tried to tear her down specifically rather than attacking the organization. 

9. This Is How Miss America’s Ruth Malcomson Stayed in Shape in 1924

Want to be as beautiful and elegant as Miss America 1924? Start taking notes because Ruth shared her list of the 10 things she does to stay in top Miss America shape:

1. Rise early
2. Eat a hearty breakfast
3. Exercise
4. No alcohol
5. Smoking is detrimental
6. Get outdoors
7. Eat a light lunch
8. Eat a satisfying dinner
9. Early to bed
10. Sleep

See the evolution of Miss America from the first pageant in 1921 to 2015!

The post What Was Miss America Like 100 Years Ago? first appeared on History In Memes.

The Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton has hosted some incredible scientists and researchers. Luckily, one photographer was able to capture some of the greatest scientific minds all in one photo!

Back in 1954, four of some of the most well-known physicists took a stroll together at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton. The famous physicists included Albert Einstein, Hideki Yukawa, John Wheeler, and Homi Bhabha, all distinguished in their fields of expertise.

Here’s a rundown on the who’s who in this photo (going left to right). Let’s dive in!

What was Albert Einstein known for?

Born in Germany on March 14, 1879, Albert Einstein developed the special and general theories of relativity. However, most people remember him for his equation: E = mc^2 ,which explains that “energy equals mass times light when it’s squared.” In other words, he showed how energy and mass are interchangeable.

In addition, Einstein is known for more than his most famous equation. Three of his other significant discoveries include brownian motion, mass and energy equivalence and the law of photoelectric effect. 

Einstein’s discovery of the law of photoelectric effect even won him the Nobel Peace Prize for Physics in 1921. But his work with space, the speed of light, gravity and his equation made him one of the most well-known physicists in the world. Einstein’s work lives on in schools and in the science field. Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey. 

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

– Albert Einstein

What was Hideki Yukawa known for?

Hideki Yukawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, on January 23, 1907. His research began with the theory of strong and weak nuclear forces. This led Yukawa to discovering the existence of a new kind of particle called the meson. The meson theory explains how the protons and electrons interacted with one another in the nucleus. In other words, this means it’s the glue that holds the nuclear particles together. 

It was named the meson due to its mass being between the masses of a proton and an electron.  Yukawa’s work with elementary particles won him the Nobel Peace Prize for Physics in 1949. Hideki’s meson theory and work with particles was very influential in how physicists understood and viewed particles. In 1947, he started his work on a broader elementary particle theory. Yukawa later died on September 8, 1981 in Japan. 

“Reality is complicated. There is no justification for all of the hasty conclusions.”

What was John Wheeler known for?

John Wheeler was born July 9, 1911 in Jacksonville, Florida. Wheeler was the first American physicist involved in the theoretical development of the atomic bomb. Wheeler even helped out with the Manhattan Project. He helped develop the hydrogen bomb in New Mexico, explained nuclear fission in terms of quantum physics and worked with nuclear weapons before pivoting to space research. 

Wheeler’s research included the unified field theory, as well as space-time continuum, and gravitation theories. This research with space and gravity led him to coin the term, “black hole” as well as “wormhole.”

Furthermore, Wheeler collaborated frequently with Albert Einstein; however, he never won a Nobel Peace Prize. Wheeler died on April 13, 2008 in Hightstown, New Jersey.

“We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.”

– John Wheeler

What was Homi Bhabha known for?

Hombi Bhabha was born October 30, 1909 in Bomby, India. He was a nuclear physicist who was a primary architect in India’s nuclear energy program. His work was mainly focused on quantum theory and cosmic radiation. Bhabha made a breakthrough theory on the cascade theory, which explains how electron showers and cosmic rays in outer space interact with different energies and altitudes.

Bhabha also became the first chairperson of the Atomic Energy Commission in India. Under his leadership, scientists helped make an atomic bomb. He continued his work in the nuclear and energy field and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for Physics. Unfortunately, he never won and tragically died in a plane crash on January 24, 1966, in Mont Blanc, France.

“My success will not depend on what A or B thinks of me. My success will be what I make of my work.”

– Hombi Bhabha

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The post 4 Famous Minds Come Together In This Amazing Photo first appeared on History In Memes.