Matches | Alchemy, Phossy Jaw, and the Matchstick Girls Strike (TSB124)

I honestly didn’t think I would be as interested in the history of today’s topic when I first started reading about it. There was a lot of chemistry involved and anyone who knew me in high school knows that was the worst subject for me. When you listen to the episode, you’ll notice I kept the chemistry aspect to a minimum. But as I kept researching, what intrigued me the most was when the chemistry switched to biology and women’s studies toward the end, when working conditions for those making today’s subject resulted in a serious epidemic and women went on strike to protect themselves and other workers.

I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Matches.

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Media:

• Music for Makers

Sources:

• A History of the Match - The Museum of Everyday Life
• History of Chemical Matches - ToughtCo.com
• John Walker's Friction Light - BBC
• History of Matches and Lighters - HistoryofMatches.com
• Phosphorus Element Facts - Chemicool
• Friction Matches Were a Boon to Those Lighting Fires–Not So Much to Matchmakers - Smithsonian.mag
• Today in Science History - Nov. 27 - TodayInSci.com
• Uncovering the cause of "phossy jaw" Circa 1858 to 1906 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Meet the matchstick women — the hidden victims of the industrial revolution - The Conversation
• The return of the dreaded 'Phossy Jaw' - Destistryiq.com
• White slavery in London by Annie Besant - mernick.org.uk
• Annie Besant (1847 - 1933) - BBC
• Matchsticks Once Sickened and Deformed Women and Children - Mental Floss
• Matchgirls Strike - BBC America

Referenced:

• Cutting Class Podcast: Body by Calvin Coolidge