Stuff You Missed in History Class

The Stationary Low-Power Plant Number 1 was a small boiling-water reactor built at the National Reactor Testing Station, west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. On January 3, 1961, during a restart of the reactor, a catastrophic tragedy unfolded when the reactor went supercritical.  Research: Divison of Technical Information Extension, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. “SL-1 The Accident, Phases I and...

Joaquín Torres-García was Uruguayan-born artist who wanted to bring Constructivism and Modernism to Latin America, and worked for much of his life promoting the idea that Latin-American voices should be part of the Modernist art movement.  Research: ·     Bollar, Gorki. “Primitive Paintings: Connections to Realism and Constructivism.” ...

This 2020 episode covers the sphere of plutonium-gallium alloy that the U.S. made for use in an atomic bomb during World War II known as the Demon Core was  It was the source of two fatal criticality accidents.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy relays how Sarah Winnemucca's story inspired this week's episodes, though they were recorded about a month apart, and also how Ely S. Parker is one of the most complicated figures she has ever written about.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While working for the Treasury Department, Ely S. Parker met someone who would become a big part of much of the rest of his life – Ulysses S. Grant. It was through this connection that Parker gained a good deal of power, and cemented a controversial legacy. Research: ·       Adams, James Ring. “The Many Careers of Ely Parker.” National Museum...

Ely S. Parker was instrumental in the creation of President President Ulysses S. Grant’s “peace policy." Parker was Seneca, and he was the first Indigenous person to be placed in a cabinet-level position in the U.S. and the first Indigenous person to serve as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Research: ·       Adams, James Ring. “The Many Career...

This 2020 episode covers scurvy, a deficiency in vitamin C. Its story goes way  back in history – all the way to our evolutionary ancestors living more than 60 million years ago.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy talks about getting listener requests, and wonders about the details of one the stories from Monday's show. Tracy and Holly talk about the size of Lynn, Massachusetts, and Holly waxes rhapsodic about shoes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shoes you’re wearing today likely were made possible by an invention from the late 19th century. But the inventor of that machine, who had little to no formal education, didn’t really get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Research: ·     “29c Jan E. Matzeliger single.” Smithsonian National Postal Museum. https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_1993.2015.160 ·     Biography.com Editors. “Jan Mat...

This episode includes six stories requested by listeners that wouldn't quite work as standalone episodes. The topics include: Nellie Cashman, Ela of Salisbury, Charles "Teenie" Harris, Jane Gaugain, Edward A. Carter Jr., and Alice Ball. Research: ·       National Parks Service. “Nellie Cashman.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/nellie-cashman.htm Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame. “Nellie Cashman.” htt...

This 2016 episode covers the introduction of Hansen's disease to Hawaii, when businessmen, especially from the U.S., were having an increasing influence on the Hawaiian government.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy talks about the SYMHC calendar, and the controversial nature of Sarah Winnemucca's life story. She also discusses the different ways people have labeled Sara's autobiography.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As an adult, Sarah Winnemucca spent a lot of time trying to advocate for the Northern Paiute, although her legacy in that regard has some complexities. Research: ·       Carpenter, Cari M. “Sarah Winnemucca Goes to Washington: Rhetoric and Resistance in the Capital City.” American Indian Quarterly , Vol. 40, No. 2 (Spring 2016). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5250/amerindiquar.40.2.008...

Sarah Winnemucca was Northern Paiute and was born not long before her band had their first contact with people of European descent. That happened in the middle of the 19th century, which means she lived through a lot – this episode covers her early life. Research: ·       Carpenter, Cari M. “Sarah Winnemucca Goes to Washington: Rhetoric and Resistance in the Capital City.” American Indian Quarterl...

This 2014 episode covers the Treaty of Waitangi, a treaty between the British and the Maori that established New Zealand as a nation. The goal was to benefit both parties, but a hurried translation of the document led to some confusion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly notes the racist views of one of Charles Brown's biographers. Tracy and Holly also discuss presidential proclamations and the ways Thanksgiving has been framed as a feel-good story over the years.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode covers President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s decision to move the date of Thanksgiving with the hope of helping businesses that were trying to recover from the Great Depression – and the controversy that caused.  Research: Associated Press. “’Omnipotence of Hitler.’” Decatur Daily Review. 8/17/1939. Associated Press. “Roosevelt to Move Thanksgiving; Retailers For It, Plymouth is Not.”...

Charles Farrar Browne is often called the first standup comedian. He was, in the 1860s, wildly famous, but his early death, and the soaring career of one of his friends, have contributed to Browne fading from the spotlight in history. Research: “Born 1834; Married 1835. Artemus Ward’s Alleged Widow Claims His Estate.” The Savannah Morning News. April 15, 1891. https://www.newspapers.com/image/8525...

This 2017 episode covers Katharina von Bora, Marguerite d’Angoulême and Jeanne d’Albret, who all left their mark on the Reformation, but all in different ways.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly talks about realizing how Hans Sloane’s early life likely normalized the idea of colonization for him, and also Museum Mike the cat. Tracy talks about the structure of Nate DiMeo's book as it compares to his podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy talks with Nate DiMeo about podcasting, varying approaches to talking about history, and his new book, "The Memory Palace." You can find the book "The Memory Palace" wherever books are sold; it's out on November 19. The podcast The Memory Palace is available at https://thememorypalace.us/     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Hans Sloane’s legacy is a bit mixed. He is the reason there’s a British Museum, but there are a lot of problematic aspects to the way he gathered his collection. Research: Blair, Molly. “350 years of the Chelsea Physic Garden: A brief history.” Gardens Illustrated. https://www.gardensillustrated.com/features/chelsea-physic-garden-350 Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Sir Hans Sloane,...

This 2018 episode covers the craze in the 1800s when orchids became a status symbol and the cornerstone of a high-dollar industry. Collecting the plants involved adventure and excitement -- and a high death rate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly talks about the bias against Lyon in his bank robbing trial. Tracy talks about the way other podcasts that cover history are made, and the dynamics of the Manson family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy speaks with Toby Ball, creator and host of the podcast Rip Current, which explores the story of the two assassination attempts against President Gerald Ford that were carried out less than three weeks apart in 1975.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.