Flip Through This Quiz on the History of Magazines

We have artist Thomas Nast to thank for the modern image of Santa Claus. In 1866, he was commissioned to depict the figure in an issue of "Harper's Weekly." He went on to produce a number of additional Christmas images for the magazine, each showing the portly bearded figure in red. The 1866 image shows Santa making toys in his workshop, watching children to see if they had been naughty or nice, and checking his list.

Famous aviator Charles Lindbergh was named 1927’s “Man of the Year” after becoming the first person to fly solo and nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. This tradition started by accident when the “TIME” editorial team struggled to find a cover photo. Ever since, the magazine has selected an influential man, woman, or group to feature every year.

After years of low readership, “Sports Illustrated” shifted its focus from elite activities such as yachting, polo, and safaris to popular sports content. Its first big break was covering the 1956 Winter Olympics in Italy. A few years later in 1960, the magazine began publishing full-color photographs of the week's sports, turning it into the publication we know today.

Consistently ranked among the best travel magazines, “Travel + Leisure” was launched in 1937, and over the years it expanded to include eight international editions. Its coveted “World’s Best Awards” and the “T+L 500” rank hotels, cities, airports, cruise ships, islands, and more.

With 50 cover appearances, Michael Jordan takes the prize for the most popular “Sports Illustrated” cover athlete. Muhammad Ali comes in second, with 40 appearances. Celebrities, nonathletes, and Presidents have also graced the magazine’s cover since its founding in 1954.

You’ve seen it on supermarket shelves, encouraging you to read the latest on celebrity gossip and style. Founded on March 4, 1974, “People” was originally published by Time Inc. and featured actress Mia Farrow on the cover of the first edition. Today, it’s the only publication in its category to regularly fall into the top 10 U.S. magazines by circulation.

“Playboy” has long featured more than just centerfolds. The magazine has published short stories, essays, and book excerpts from some of modern history's most famous writers, including Margaret Atwood, Jack Kerouac, Kurt Vonnegut, Joyce Carol Oates, and Ray Bradbury. After being published in novel form in 1953, Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" was serialized in three issues of “Playboy,” helping launch the dystopian novel to success.

Lucille Ball is a true cover girl: Over the course of her career, she appeared on the cover of “TV Guide” a whopping 39 times. Her first appearance was on the inaugural cover in 1953, along with her newborn son, Desi Arnaz Jr. The headline read "Lucy's $50,000,000 baby," referencing the immense public interest in the highly publicized birth of the “I Love Lucy” stars’ son.

It may sound like the name of a hip fake magazine you’d find in a movie from the early 2000s, but "Sassy" had an important cultural significance to young women in the ‘90s — and beyond. An emblem of Generation X, “Sassy” was a feminist alternative to boyfriend-focused teen girl magazines. It covered everything from music to sexual health, and set the stage for beloved brands such as “Bust” and “Jane.”

“Vogue” magazine was already a staple of the U.S. fashion industry when the first international expansion took place in 1916, based in London. “British Vogue” was established due to import restrictions and rising paper costs. The new editor-in-chief wanted to focus on more than just fashion, so the publication also covered news, sports, and travel. Today, 27 countries and regions have their own “Vogue” magazine.

“Scientific American” has been fanned out over coffee tables and in waiting rooms at doctors’ offices for more than 175 years. Founded in 1845, the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S. was initially an invention-based publication, reporting on such breakthroughs as the lightbulb and the telephone.

In 1888, the National Geographic Society founded a monthly magazine that would go on to attain a circulation of 1 million readers by 1926. The first “National Geographic” color cover page was published in 1959, featuring a 49-star American flag. The image was to honor Alaska’s entry to the U.S. that past January. The photo drew attention to the cover, and readers looked forward to the monthly images, which quickly became a staple of the publication.

"TIME" magazine's Person of the Year distinction began in 1927 (then called Man of the Year) as a way to commemorate an influential individual or a concept. Some people have earned the title once, several luminaries have done it twice, but only one person has received the honor three times: Franklin D. Roosevelt. The former President was featured on the magazine's cover in 1932, 1934, and 1941.

Launched in 1917 during World War I, “Forbes” was the only major business magazine in the U.S. for its first 10 years in print. Financial writer B.C. Forbes was fascinated with bold business leaders and entrepreneurial capitalism, resulting in the creation of the century-old magazine we know today.

Founded in 1857, “The Atlantic” quickly became one of the most respected publications in the U.S. for both literary works and political opinion. The historic magazine has published such famous works as Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Among its founders were famed writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Founded in 1923 in New York City, “TIME” magazine quickly became the leading news magazine in the U.S., covering top national and international stories. The first cover featured a picture of former Speaker of the House Joseph G. Cannon; in the 100 years since, the magazine has featured some of the most influential figures in the world on its cover.

The Beatles have appeared either together or individually on the cover of “Rolling Stone” a total of 31 times — the most anyone has graced the cover of the famous pop culture magazine. In fact, the cover of the very first issue of “Rolling Stone,” in 1967, featured John Lennon. Madonna has made the cover more than any other female artist, with a total of 23 times.

“The Saturday Evening Post” featured Norman Rockwell’s work for 47 years, from 1916 to 1963. Rockwell always dreamed of having his art on the cover of the “Post,” deeming it one of the best ways for an illustrator to make a name for himself. He stopped illustrating for the magazine because he wanted the freedom to call attention to political matters that editors did not allow him to feature.

The bestselling book “The Devil Wears Prada” (and the 2006 film adaptation starring Meryl Streep) was playfully inspired by “Vogue” magazine. Author Lauren Weisberger was once assistant to the magazine’s famous editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. The novel isn’t entirely based on the company, but in interviews, Weisberger acknowledged that her time there influenced the story.

In 1888, the National Geographic Society founded a monthly magazine that proved so popular, it attained a circulation of around 1 million by 1926. With a focus on history, geography, and nature, the magazine became world-famous for its detailed articles and one-of-a-kind photographs.