The Missing Chapter Podcast

You know, some of the greatest discoveries and inventions came from someone who started with a question.  How do we solve this problem?  What would happen if we mixed this with that?  How can we make this part of life easier for ordinary people? Many times, it’s just sheer curiosity that becomes the vehicle for discovery.  Now, in the 1960s, I think it’s safe to say that amidst the cold war, the u...

History can be understood in a good novel.  It can be taught by good storytellers.  It can be visualized by good documentaries.  But the sacredness can only be felt by experiencing the site first hand. We have had the opportunity and blessing to visit many historic sites around the country and around the world.  And in these summer months, why not take the time to visit historic locations that wil...

The story of America and the struggles our country endured in its early years, is the story of its people. If we are to learn from history and appreciate the stories and grow from our early ancestors, its necessary to hear the accounts of what they endured. In many ways, Mary Jemison’s birth and start in the New World with her family, represented the birth of new colonies and a new democratic nati...

In the fall of 1743 (33 years before the birth of the United States of America), somewhere on the stormy, turbulent Atlantic Ocean, a child was born. Thomas and Jane Jemison were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, while aboard the ship, William & Mary.  She would be named Mary and Mary would embark on a separate journey… a voyage, in and of itself, that commenced as soon as their vessel docke...

The 2nd book of Genesis describes what life was like before sin entered the world. No sin…so no evil, no disease, no shame, no guilt, no poverty, no famine, no tension and hostility between humans and animals or humans and God Himself for that matter.  Then of course, the perfect Garden of Eden, and humanity thereafter, became tainted, diseased with the entangling pains of sin when Eve ate the for...

The complicated relationship that existed between the United States and its Soviet advisory, Joseph Stalin, was one that changed with almost every shift in the global climate of the 1930s and 1940s. From defending the eastern front from Adolf Hitler’s advances in World War II to the negotiating table of the Paris Peace Conference, few leaders from history have had a more divisive legacy in our nat...

We’ve done a bunch of top 5’s - and we’ve gotten great feedback on them.  We’ve also had a great deal of guests on our show, from colleagues to students to historians and editors of worldwide magazines and nationally-renowned books.  Today, we’re combining the best of both worlds.  That’s right!  We’re taking a top 5 and mixing it with a guest speaker.  Welcome to the Top 5 Weirdest Traditions…it’...

Oh if these walls could talk - how many times have you heard that?  Well, how would you react if I told you that the office walls of a certain US ambassador were talking - to spying KGB members outside the US embassy in Moscow.  Now wait a second, how could this have happened?  And isn’t this the sort of stuff we see on Bond films and sci-fi movies?  That kind of stuff doesn’t really happen right?...

In the days following September 2, 1945, there were few labels more abhorrent than that of ‘Nazi.’ As the events of the Holocaust and Adolf Hitler’s genocide against Europe’s Jewish community and other groups and minorities came to light, anyone associated with the Nazi’s or anyone linked to their repulsive deeds were put on trial and held accountable for their actions. SS officers and Nazi offici...

Any historian or history buff will tell you, there are certain people throughout history that used their gift of leadership for great things.  Some, on the other hand, have used this gift for well, not so great things.  On this episode of the Missing Chapter, we’re taking a look back almost a millennia in time, to the 13th century, where we see a very, shall we say, skillful and strategic leader w...

The shadowy figure emerged from the staircase onto the roof of the hospital – the tallest building in Tokyo at the time. The series of lies and bluffs that he had used to this point had, in fact, worked gaining him access to the spot in the city skyline he would need to complete his mission. From beneath his kimono, he drew a small movie camera and began to pan the view before him, albeit draped u...

Historical Coincidences was a big hit with our fan base, so guess what, it’s a part II.  That's right, the sequel!  And are sequels ever as good as the original? Well, in this case, it is! We had a blast talking about the original top 5, so let’s expand on that initial episode and get into the coincidental, the odd, and maybe even get a little weird. It’s the part II episode of history’s...

In the United States, the Roaring 20’s represented an era of great change and growth. Music, industry, arts & literature, entertainment and fashion were evolving at an extraordinary pace and out of this a hot new item emerged. Decorated with a recently discovered miracle substance, this accessory would change the way people were able to tell time. However, no one could have known that this mir...

Here in Central NY, we are in close proximity to many historic sites and cities…Cooperstown, Albany, Saratoga, Niagara Falls, and of course New York City just to name a few.  We’ve mentioned it before in previous episodes - we really are centrally located to many places that have some serious historical significance!  It’s a playground for historians!  One of the best parts of being so historicall...

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone!  Some of us are doing what most people do on April 1st...nothing really out of the ordinary - while others, however, are using today’s date and continued tradition as an excuse to pull some of the most ridiculous, albeit clever pranks on everyone from family, friends, grandparents, teachers, classmates…no one is off limits on April 1st because hey, that’s wha...

Sung an estimated 10 million times each year, and recorded an estimated 7,000 times by various artists and churches, Amazing Grace is one of the most popular songs in history.  It has brought people to tears, myself included, it has inspired thousands to overcome adversity, it has motivated civil rights activists and encouraged those suffering from injustice and hatred, and has become a rally...

The year is 1947, Jackie Gleason is seated at a bar having a drink. Next to him, his good friend and fellow entertainment icon… Frank Sinatra. Gleason motions to the bartender. “Have you tried Jack Daniel’s?” he asks his rat pack associate. Sinatra shakes his head no and tries it that night, for the very first time. His introduction to the Tennessee distilled whiskey, in many ways, will be the cou...

The Bank of England is one of the oldest financial institutions in the world, tasked with maintaining monetary stability in the United Kingdom. Since 1734 it has occupied a 3.4-acre site in London’s Threadneedle Street, where the iconic building conceals eight subterranean vaults filled with precious gold. The bank prides itself on having never been robbed at any point in its 329-year history. How...

From the time I picked up my first basketball to the time I took off my uniform and sneakers for the last time, I dreamt of one thing - cutting down the nets.  The symbolism and emotion involved in that moment is just as the title suggests - it’s the dream!  Any basketball player knows what I’m talking about.  As my dad has always said, there’s only one team that ends their season w...

Welcome to today’s episode of the Missing Chapter.  Today we take a look at the life of a true pioneer.  But rather than carving new paths on the ground, this person carved the skies.  She overcame obstacles like discrimination against her African American background, the fact that she was a woman, and surviving an aviation accident.  She was incredibly talented in her field -...

Hey Missing Chapter fans, the Phils are back with another listener-favorite, the Top 5. It’s one of our favorite kinds of episodes, too, and today we got a great one!  Top 5 Historical Coincidences - the times in history that baffle the mind, the stories that make you say, “no way, how is that possible?” So hopefully you have your favorite coffee brewed and your volume turned up because it’s...

It was a dark night, October 10th, 1809, when an unassuming man stopped at a small, modest log cabin lodging house known as Grinder’s Stand. Differing versions of that night have this particular man arriving with several other associates – others, alone. Traveling to Washington, D.C., this mysterious individual had financial matters to settle and, by many accounts, reasons to be guarded and cautio...

The U.S. Civil War is one of the most intriguing, impactful events in not only our nation’s history, but consequently world history. Within these 4 years, one single occurrence could have altered the outcome of the struggle and ultimately the fate of the Union. In September of 1862, the war was still young and both sides were experiencing moral-lifting victories and crushing defeats. Confederate g...

I think it’s safe to assume that all of our listeners at some point have experienced the social contagion that is so memorable, you may even get a physical reaction to the thought of it - the cringy awkwardness of one of the facets of the early pre-teen and teenage years - the middle school dance.  The music is blasting, the lights are flashing, to a completely void, lonely, and awkward dance...

It's the moment we have been previewing and plugging for quite some time now - it's the Hometown History Episode - and we are proud to announce that today we have special guest and guests Dawn McKinney and her "fun 5th Period Class" from Lincoln, California!  We have some eager students ready to share their story and we are honored to have such a passionate educator with us today to share wha...