Stuff You Missed in History Class

This 2020 episode about Leicester Hemingway reveals a life very much lived in the shadow of his famous brother. But after Ernest Hemingway’s death, Leicester made some bold and surprising moves.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy talks about how Muriel Rukeyser being the entry point for the Hawk's Tunnel Disaster episode. Holly talks about Billie Burke's writing about her husband, Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., and unfair comparisons to other performers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billie Burke is known today for one iconic movie role, but in the early 20th century, she was incredibly successful and very famous. Her life and marriage are as fascinating and dramatic as any play or film she starred in. Research: “Billie Burke.” Playbill. https://www.playbill.com/person/billie-burke-vault-0000023585 “Billie Burke and Burkeley Crest.” Hastings Historical Society. Sept. 14, 2009....

The Hawk’s Nest Tunnel Disaster involved thousands of workers being exposed to silica dust, and many continued to get sick and die for years after the tunnel was finished. The project was run with total disregard for workers’ lives and safety. Research: Investigation Relating to Health Conditions of Workers Employed in the Construction and Maintenance of Public Utilities : hearings before the Unit...

The 2018 episode covers the day the last known Carolina parakeet died at the Cincinnati Zoo, as well as the stories of two other endlings, to see how abundant species can quickly become extinct. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy talks about the lengthy articles in law review journals that she read regarding the Insular Cases. Holly discusses why there are flavored sparkling waters even though that seems counter to the definition.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The desire to replicate natural effervescence led a lot of people to try to figure out how to carbonate water. But Jacob Schweppe was able to achieve brand recognition and establish a company that has endured despite early setbacks. Research: Burros, Marian. “Carbonated Water: More Than a Matter of Taste.” New York Times. April 27, 1983. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/27/garden/carbonated-water-m...

The Insular Cases are SCOTUS cases regarding rights of people in U.S. territories. They’re considered U.S. citizens from birth, but they don’t have the same constitutional rights or representation as citizens who live in one of the 50 states. Research: Armstrong v. United States, 182 U.S. 243 (1901). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/182/243/ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Sa...

This 2018 episode covers Buddy Bolden, often referred to as the first jazz performer. But his life story, cluttered by lack of documentation and misinformation, played out tragically after his ascension to the apex of the New Orleans music scene. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tracy talk about the furor over Ming the clam, and why it's irrational for most people. Tracy continues the discussion of the problems with the sourcing of Anna's story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It took a while to figure out the cause of milk sickness. One woman often gets credit for solving the mystery, but does that story hold up? Research: Allen, John W. “It Happened in Southern Illinois: The Legend of Dr. Anna Bigsby.” The Daily Register. Harrisburg, IL. 1957. Allen, John W. “It Happened in Southern Illinois.” Southern Illinois University. 1968. “Disease in Ohio, Ascribed to Some Dele...

These animals have been marking time largely unaware of all the ups and downs and intrigues of humanity. And stories about them often have more to do with the way people perceive them than the animals themselves.  Research: Butler, Paul G. et al. “Variability of marine climate on the North Icelandic Shelf in a 1357-year proxy archive based on growth increments in the bivalve Arctica islandica.” Pa...

This 2016 episode touches on the establishment of a submarine telegraph cable to connect North America and Europe. It took ingenuity, but more than anything else, it required tenacity.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tracy talk about how the 1904 marathoners were abused by race organizers, and discuss lighter stories related to one of the runners. Tracy discusses John Singer Sargent's childhood drawings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is about two women related to John Singer Sargent: Judith Sargent Murray was a writer and an advocate for women’s rights. Emily Sargent was a prolific artist whose work was largely thought to be lost.  Research: Cape Ann Slavery & Abolition. “Enslaved persons of record on Cape Ann.” https://capeannslavery.org/enslaved-persons-of-record-on-cape-ann/# Cascone, Sarah. “Emily Sargent,...

In 1904, the U.S. hosted its first Olympics. It had a host of problems. But the event that was the most dangerous for athletes was the marathon. Research: Abbott, Karen. “The 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest Ever.” Smithsonian. Aug. 7, 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/ “Amateur Athletic Union Suspends...

This 2017 episode covers Annette Kellerman, who gets a lot of the credit for developing the women's one-piece bathing suit. But she was also a competitive swimmer, as well as a vaudeville and film star who designed her own mermaid costumes. Annette Kellerman collection at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences https://collection.maas.museum/search?q=Annette_Kellerman+Costume See omnystudio.com/...

Holly and Tracy talk about how depressing it can be to look into the history of money and politics, but how important it is to know how it all works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  The second part of our campaign finance history starts with both a scandal and reform linked to Theodore Roosevelt, and carries through to more recent Supreme Court rulings.  Research: Bedard, Paul. “George Washington Plied Voters with Booze.” USNews and World Report. Nov. 8, 2011. https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/11/08/george-washington-plied-voters-with-booze Blakemor...

Part one of our discussion of U.S. campaign financing starts before the colonies had gained their independence and covers some of the earliest ways that money was collected for political parties.  That book title we were after during the episode was "A Children's Illustrated History of Presidential Assassination," by Bryan Young. Research: Bedard, Paul. “George Washington Plied Voters with Booze.”...

This 2014 episode - originally a two-parter - covers a perfect storm of nautical carnage: There's a shipwreck, a mutiny and a massacre.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy and Holly talk about when children find historically significant items. Tracy also reads the long list of Roman items that came up in preparation for this edition of Unearthed! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part two of the summer 2023 unearthed finds includes the potpourri/hodgepodge category, as well as medical stuff, climate, repatriations, books and letters, religious artwork, weapons and tools, and birds. Research: “Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge of the Netherlands’.” The Guardian. 6/21/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/21/archaeologists-unearth-stonehenge-nether...

This installation of literally and figuratively unearthed items includes updates to previous podcast topics, edibles and potables, shipwrecks, and some surprises -- including items that turned out to be surprisingly valuable. Research: “Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge of the Netherlands’.” The Guardian. 6/21/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/21/archaeologists-unear...

This 2018 episode covers chef Auguste Escoffier. This one man revolutionized food preparation and restaurant dining in ways that are still part of almost any meal you may be served today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.