Hello all-

In previous free-for-alls, I have more or less shamelessly plugged my website, toldinstone.com, which explores (mostly ancient) history through buildings and monuments. Now I'd like to solicit a bit of feedback...

The centerpiece of toldinstone is still my History of Rome in 15 Buildings. For the past few weeks, however, I've been devoting my free time to a new series, Ten Buildings in Turkey. Unlike the History of Rome, "Ten Buildings" has no overriding narrative. Instead, I've chosen buildings on the basis of two (frankly subjective) criteria: the building must be (a) intrinsically interesting and (b) connected in some way with an intriguing episode or era in premodern history (anytime before, say,1600).

The first building (I have an elastic definition of "building") was the Walls of Herakleia, which explored the struggles of Alexander's successors. The second was Mren Cathedral, which I connected with the Byzantine-Sassanian War of 602-28. The third was the Obelisk of Theodosius, which I used to discuss the chariot races held in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The fourth will be the Great Theater of Ephesus, through which I'll explore the life and culture of Roman Asia Minor's largest city. And the fifth....remains to be chosen.

Although I have a few candidates in mind for the remaining buildings, I'm curious to know whether you, the good people of AskHistorians, have any ideas. Besides Hagia Sophia (for which I have other plans), are there any premodern (pre-1600) buildings within the modern borders of Turkey that you would like to see discussed in their historical context?

I have inherited a collection of photos through my grandmother. I believe they were taken by my grandfather or his father who were both in the Navy. They range from the 1930s to 1940s and appear to show HMS Adventure during their time with the China fleet and possibly in Shanghai. Some are horrifically graphic scenes after bombs, some show other ships or landscapes, there's an equator party and crew images, prisoners, an officer's funeral.

I have researched the ship and found a memoir which ties in with my images but obviously is only one crew members story. I have no idea what to do with them, I want to find out more information about the content. I feel like there's something important in them but I'm missing it.

I’m going to study history (and maybe politics) next year at university. I can’t wait. So yeah, thought I’d share that 😌

I have found an obligation from the Russian government first issued in 1880. The document's latest date is 1960. There are some writings on it talking about it being an obligation for the "iron road past the Ural".

Is there any way I can check it's legitimacy? I have found it in my late father's attic who was a banker.

I also don't know if this merits it's own thread.

My grandfather used to be a member of the Comintern (as a member of a communist party in a non-communist European country that is not Germany) and he was invited to the GDR in 1961 or 1962 (do not have the relevant pages in his passport with me atm).

My father and I would like to find out who he was invited by and who else he was meeting with and what was discussed there.

We suspect that there might be information about the event in the STASI records agency and one can request access to records. However, there is a very strict privacy regulation in Germany.

There is a page that explains certain do's and dont's about getting information about a family member and am wondering what can be expected and what will not be answered.

I suspect that information about people he met with and what they discussed might be out of bounds since this might implicate other people that are not family members. Is this correct? Would it depend on how we formulate things,regarding scoop and purpose?

EDIT: if this is not the right place, or you suspect that I might get a better answer elsewhere, I welcome any pointers.

What are some new or up-coming history-related books I should ask Santa for?

Maybe an odd question, but does anyone know of any black and white stage productions that have been performed? As in, the cast wore make up to simulate black and white film? And the set was in black and white?

Does anyone here know what the latest up to date figures for deaths in the Algerian War 1954-1962? I've heard anywhere from 350,000 to 1 million. What's the most accurate number that we have?

Does anyone here know any databases where I can find Nigerian primary sources from the colonial era (primarily late 19th c.)? I’m attempting to find primary sources from an African perspective, but have only been able to find a couple here and there. I’m pretty new here, so sorry if this doesn’t belong, but thank you!

My question is inspired by a comment by /u/Kochevnik81: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/a1sosi/friday_freeforall_november_30_2018/eatj0z1/

If I am interested about knowing about typical Holocaust victim with typical background and their point of view, what should I read?