As Black History month comes to an end, here are fifteen Instagram accounts to follow to get you started on learning more about history from all corners, communities and cultures of the world. Of course, by no means is this a comprehensive list of resources, but it’s a great place to begin your journey becoming a proper history buff!
- @whencyclopedia
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Run by World History Encyclopedia — a non-profit educational organization — this Instagram publishes world history from a diverse array of geographic regions and time periods.
- @ingeniahistory
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An offshoot of the Ingenia History blog, this Instagram foregrounds the innovations and breakthroughs of the ancient world that are still relevant today, covering the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, China, India and Mesoamerica.
- @lgbt_history
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Started by the Washington, D.C.-based couple Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown, this is the go-to Instagram account for comprehensive and well-researched tidbits of LGBTQ+ history, centered on famous personalities and events through the years. If you’re intrigued by this account, it might also be worthwhile to check out Riemer and Brown’s book, We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation — a photographic history of the Queer Liberation Movement in the United States.
- @blackhistory
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This account really lives up to its bio in demostrating that “there is more to [Black] history than Egypt and slavery.” Its stellar curation of historical images covers the contributions of Black people in a range of fields from politics and social activism to the arts, as well as highlights pivotal events in Black history.
- @brownhistory
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Run by Canadian electrical engineer Ahsun Zafar, this account is centered on “South Asian history retold by the Vanquished” and is popular amongst South Asians both diasporic and not. Acting as a digital archive of first-hand narratives submitted by followers, @brownhistory provides a deeply intimate yet highly contextualized look into the personal consequences of events in South Asian history such as colonization, Partition and international immigration reforms. If the Instagram account interests you, you might want to subscribe to their newsletter for more longform content!
- @warhistory
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This account provides detailed insights into the history of war from various time periods and regions across history. Curated by users @dhistoryguy, @the_ww2_gallery, @war_to_end_all_wars and @finlandatwar in partnership with @auschwitz.study.group, each post provides detailed context for the image or war being discussed.
- @workingclasshistory
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This (slightly-niche) account provides detailed overviews of the history of the proletariat. With posts about strikes, protests and uprisings from all over the world, this account highlights how the efforts of working class people have truly shaped the world and workplace as we know it today.
- @historyfromeveryday
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If you’re interested in a more photographic retelling of history, this account is for you. With pictures from a multitude of historical periods, it captures prosaic moments from daily life and controversial events, as well as iconic moments in world history.
- @oldvintagenewyork
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Bringing it back home to our beloved New York City, this account is a virtual time-machine back to different eras of local history. Its colorized photos and videos really give you a taste of what made New York the vibrant and bustling city we know it as today.
- @thiswashollywood
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Run by ex-actress turned author and true Hollywood aficionado Carla Valderrama, this account provides a unique picture of old Hollywood by simultaneously chronicling the star-studded glamor and forgotten stories of the time. If the beautifully selected range of images and videos on Instagram intrigue you, you might want to check out Valderrama’s very-well reviewed book of the same name!
- @fitfashionhistory
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For all fashion fanatics, this account is an absolute must-follow. The Fashion History Timeline is a self-proclaimed hub for fashion history with hundreds of essays on artworks, garments and films, providing overviews, term definitions and links to primary and secondary sources.
- @justsportshistory
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This account uses historical images to highlight iconic figures and events from different countries in a range of sports including football, soccer, basketball and athletics.
- @museumbums
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Dedicated to “callipygian statues in museums,” this Instagram offers a quirky way to explore art history as documented in museums across the world!
- @arthistorydetail
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If you’re like me and can’t help obsessing over every detail of paintings in museums, this account is just the thing for you. With undeniable visual appeal and featuring artists from different regions and both historical and contemporary periods, each image on the account provides a detail-shot of a different painting.
- @historycoloured
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Lastly, a wonderful ode to the technological developments of our time, this account posts beautifully colorized versions of historical images alongside short captions contextualizing the photograph. The account is also linked to its own website containing collections of colorized images and longform content.