Stuff You Missed in History Class

Holly and Tracy talk about the prediction of Houdini's death, and Rose Mackenberg's abundant bravado. They also discuss the long road the movie 'Till" took to get to the screen, and the film's careful handling of Mamie and Emmett's story.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The movie "Till" tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley and her son Emmett. Actor Jalyn Hall and director Chinonye Chukwu talked with the podcast about the research and planning that went into bringing this important historical event to life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rose Mackenberg spent decades working to uncover fraud taking place in the name of Spiritualism, first working for Houdini, and then on her own. In her work, she said she received messages from 1,000 dead husbands that never existed. Research: “Says Lawmakers Consult Mediums.” New York Times. Feb. 27, 1926. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1926/02/27/98846926.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp...

This 2009 episode from previous hosts Katie and Sarah covers Harry Houdini, once known as the world's greatest magician. Houdini's reputation still resonates with modern fans of illusion and magic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy and Holly discuss WWII submarine warfare as it related to Helen Duncan’s story. Tracy also shares her experience visiting the Mütter Museum when it was hosting an exhibit titled “Imperfecta.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1639, doctor Edward May published a 40-page text about a serpent he found in the heart of a 21-year-old man during a post-mortem examination. We don’t know exactly what it was, but there are plenty of theories. Research: Bush, Sargent Jr. “Bosom Serpents before Hawthorne: The Origins of a Symbol.” American Literature , May, 1971, Vol. 43, No. 2 (May, 1971). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stab...

Helen Duncan is sometimes described as Scotland’s last witch, or the last person imprisoned for witchcraft in Britain, or the last person to be tried under the UK’s 1735 Witchcraft Act. None of those are quite accurate. Research: Undiscovered Scotland. “Helen Duncan.” https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/d/helenduncan.html “Scotland’s Last Witch.” Modern Scotland. https://www.bbc.co....

This 2019 episode covers England’s largest and deadliest set of witch trials. They were largely influenced by one man, Matthew Hopkins, who was known as the Witchfinder General. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy and Holly talk about how racism stripped Paul Robeson of his career, and Robeson’s support of the communist Soviet Union. They also discuss whether Schrepfer may have accidentally poisoned himself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johann George Schrepfer’s life story is clouded by his embellished and falsified tales of his necromancy and spiritualism. And both his followers and detractors also gave biased and incorrect accounts of their interactions with him. Research: Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Seven Years’ War".  Encyclopedia Britannica , 29 Aug. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War Andri...

The Peekskill Riots surrounded a concert by singer and activist Paul Robeson. His stances on political and civil rights issues and his communist affiliations catalyzed protests that were fueled with an undercurrent of racism and antisemitism. Research: American Civil Liberties Union. “Violence in Peekskill: A Report on the Violations of Civil Liberties at Two Paul Robeson Concerts near Peekskill,...

This 2016 episode covers a skeleton found in a tree near Birmingham, England in 1943. More than 70 years later, it's still unknown who the deceased was and how the body ended up in an elm tree. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tracy discuss the difficult nature of Chapin's personality. They also talk about the ways that the rivalry between Pulitzer and Hearst played out, and the way one of Chapin's employees got quiet revenge.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapin's successful journalism career crumbled as stress chipped away at his mental health, and he committed a terrible crime. But there were still surprises left to his story.  Research:  “Of the Dynamite Explosion in Russell Sage’s Office.” The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarkeville, Tennessee). Dec. 7, 1891. https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/353237459/?terms=%22russel%20sage%22&match=1 “A Dynami...

Chapin built a life people envied, and had a great deal of power. His entire biography is full of noteworthy achievements and awards. As a newsman, he covered many of the key moments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Research: “Of the Dynamite Explosion in Russell Sage’s Office.” The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarkeville, Tennessee). Dec. 7, 1891. https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/353237459/...

This 2019 episode covers the burning of the P.S. General Slocum in the East River in New York on June 15, 1904. It had been chartered for a group outing that suddenly became a deadly maritime disaster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy and Holly talk about hunting for sources for Eugene Jacques Bullard's story, and his unpublished memoir. They also talk about wanting to return to Paris knowing Bullard's story.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After World War I ended, Eugene Jacques Bullard returned to Paris. He worked as a jazz drummer and nightclub owner, and as the tensions that led to World War II loomed, as an intelligence agent for France.  Research: "Bullard, Eugene." Encyclopedia of World Biography, edited by Lisa Kumar, 2nd ed., vol. 37, Gale, 2017, pp. 62-64. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3656400039/GPS?u=mlin...

Bullard is often described as the first Black American fighter pilot – which is true – but he also had a full and fascinating life beyond that. This episode covers his travels before WWI and his military career.  Research: "Bullard, Eugene." Encyclopedia of World Biography, edited by Lisa Kumar, 2nd ed., vol. 37, Gale, 2017, pp. 62-64. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3656400039/GPS?...

This 2012 episode from previous hosts Sarah and Deblina discusses how during Jack Johnson's time, the heavyweight championship was unofficially a whites-only title. Despite discrimination, Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion, but some questioned his legitimacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tracy talk about the gossip surrounding two of Livinia Fontana Zappi's paintings. They also discuss the degree to which people ignored Imogene Rechtin's actual messaging about kissing when criticizing her campaign.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 1900s, Imogene Rechtin started a crusade to get people to stop kissing socially as a way to stop disease spread. Her argument was sound, but she was largely dismissed as being uptight. Research: “Health Society Bars Kisses.” The Taney Country Republican (Forsyth, Missouri). June 15, 1911. https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/859865029/?terms=Imogene%20Rechtin&match=1 “World’s H...

Lavinia Fontana was taught painting by her father, and became one of the earliest examples of a woman with an independent career in art that supported her family. She became very well-known for her portraits and her devotional art.  Research: Bohn, Babette. “Women Artists, Their Patrons, and Their Publics in Early Modern Bologna.” Pennsylvania State University Press. 2021. Villa, Angelica. “Nation...

This 2011 episode from prior hosts Sarah and Deblina covers polio, a threat in the early 20th century that often left victims paralyzed or dead. Vaccines caused an immediate drop in polio cases and today have nearly eradicated the disease.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tracy and Holly talk about school science fairs and their performance in them. They then discuss the interesting aspect of Field of Cloth of Gold preparations that put people from England and France side by side as they worked. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.