January 27, 1880

Today's episode marks a day that was significant to the entire world. It was the day Thomas Edison patented his lightbulb, forever changing the way people light their homes. How did it all go down? And, what additional history stories were being printed in newspapers the same day?

SOURCES

• “Adelaide Herrmann.” Magicana. Accessed January 28, 2025.https://www.magicana.com/exhibition/adelaide-herrmann.
• “Advertisement: Excelsior Ironing Table (Page 2).” The Newnan Herald (Newnan, Georgia), January 27, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “Alexander Herrmann.” Wikipedia, August 17, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Herrmann.
• “Compars Herrmann.” Wikipedia, November 29, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compars_Herrmann.
• “Edison’s Light.” Public Ledger (Memphis, Tennessee), January 27, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “The Electric Light System.” National Parks Service. Accessed January 19, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/edis/learn/kidsyouth/the-electric-light-system-phonograph-motion pictures.htm#:~:text=In%201882%20Edison%20helped%20form,the%20U.S.%20have%20electric%20power.
• “The Harpurhey Murder: Fac-Simile of the Decoy Letter.” The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England), January 17, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “The Harpurhey Murder: History of the Man Haild.” Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, Merseyside, England), January 26, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “The Harpurhey Murder: The Inquest and Verdict.” The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England), January 24, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “Hermann The Magician.” The Oakland Times (Oakland, California), January 27, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• Higgs, Michelle. “The Mystery of the Murdered Maid.” THE MYSTERY OF THE MURDERED MAID, January 1, 1970. https://servantsstories.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-mystery-of-murdered-maid.html.
• “Life of Thomas Alva Edison: Biography: Articles and Essays: Inventing Entertainment: The Early Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings of the Edison Companies: Digital Collections: Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress. Accessed January 19, 2025. https://www.loc.gov/collections/edison-company-motion-pictures-and-sound-recordings/articles-and-essays/biography/life-of-thomas-alva-edison/.
• “The Manchester Murder.” Sheffield and Rothenham Independent (Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England), January 27, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “Marshal Ney in North Carolina.” New York Daily Herald (New York, New York), February 10, 1879. www.newspapers.com.
• “Michel Ney.” Encyclopædia Britannica, January 6, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michel-Ney.
• “Michel Ney.” Wikipedia, January 27, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Ney.
• “The Mystery of Marshal Ney.” The Southland Times (Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand), January 27, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “The Plot Thickens: Did DNA Settle a Centuries-Old Conspiracy?” Davidson, September 18, 2023. https://www.davidson.edu/news/2023/09/18/plot-thickens-did-dna-settle-centuries-old conspiracy#:~:text=The%20crew%20from%20a%20French,was%20from%20Switzerland%20or%20Germany.%E2%80%9D.
• “Voice of a Veteran.” St. Joseph Gazette (St. Joseph, Missouri), December 15, 1880. www.newspapers.com.
• “Was It Marshall Ney?” The Buffalo Sunday Morning News (Buffalo, New York), May 29, 1887. www.newspapers.com.
• Whisenant, David. “French Researchers Conclude That Napoleon’s Famed Marshal Ney Is Not the Peter Stuart Ney Buried in Rowan Co. Church Cemetery.” https://www.wbtv.com, September 9, 2023. https://www.wbtv.com/2023/09/09/french-researchers-conclude-that-napoleons-famed-marshal-ney-is-not-peter-stuart-ney-buried-rowan-co-church-cemetery/.

SOUND SOURCES

• Al Jolson. “I’ll Say She Does.” www.pixabay.com/music.
• Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies. “Cold Winter Blues.” www.pixabay.com/music.
• Sophie Tucker. “Reuben Rag.” www.pixabay.com/music.