The wxPython demo has a pretty good "type-ahead" filter built into it. Looking at the source code to Main.py they do it the "manual way", loop and rebuild the list. They are using a treeview but the ideas are sound.
I like the ObjectListView wrapper better than the straight wx.ListCtrl. It includes the ability to filter items in the control as a feature of the widget. You can read about it here: http://objectlistview.sourceforge.net/python/features.html#filtering and here's the main page for the control: http://objectlistview.sourceforge.net/python.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.