Holly and Tracy talk about the multiple homes called the Redpath Mansion and how that confuses the story in press sometimes. They also discuss the ebb and flow of the kinds of research projects that show up in Unearthed! episodes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fall is here and so is the latest two-part edition of Unearthed! Part one includes updates, oldest things, books and letters, and a late entry into our Halloween stuff. Research: Abbott, Dennis. “Archaeologists unearth skeleton dating from Battle of Waterloo” Brussels Times. 7/13/2022. https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/254695/archaeologists-unearth-skeleton-dating-from-battle-of-waterloo Amaral, Brian. “A R.I. wreck that may be Captain Cook’s Endeavour is being eaten by ‘shipworms’.” Boston ...
On June 13, 1901, Ada Maria Redpath, and her son Jocelyn Clifford were found shot to death in their home. What exactly happened between the two of them is something we will likely never understand. Research: Adams, Annmarie, et al. “‘She must not stir out of a darkened room’ 1: The Redpath Mansion Mystery.” Material Culture Review 72. Fall 2010. https://www.academia.edu/26130347/Articles_She_must_not_stir_out_of_a_darkened_room_1_The_Redpath_Mansion_Mystery Enos, Elysha. “History buffs still fas...
This 2015 episode features two troubling tales from the 1920s. First, newlyweds that vanished on what would have been a historic boating trip. Second, a family murdered by someone who may have been hiding in their house for weeks or months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Holly and Tracy talk about the many products that have been made with licensed (and sometimes unlicensed) Ouija board imagery. They also discuss the scientific experiments covered in Wednesday's episode in greater detail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In addition to being the focus of corporate machinations, the Ouija board has also been invoked in many legal cases and has been featured in pop culture throughout the 20th century. But how does it work, psychologically speaking? Research: “Items Personal and Social.” Denton Journal. January 31, 1891. https://www.newspapers.com/image/7111598/?terms=ouija&match=1 “’Ouija’ Board Her Advisor.” Baltimore Sun. March 26, 1905. https://www.newspapers.com/image/371127794/?terms=ouija&match=1 “Ed...
The rise of the Ouija board in North America involves corporate intrigue, family betrayal, a lot of litigation, and very little spiritualism. Today’s episode covers how “talking boards” went from divination tool to big business. Research: “Items Personal and Social.” Denton Journal. January 31, 1891. https://www.newspapers.com/image/7111598/?terms=ouija&match=1 “’Ouija’ Board Her Advisor.” Baltimore Sun. March 26, 1905. https://www.newspapers.com/image/371127794/?terms=ouija&match=1 “Edi...
This 2014 episode covers the 1930 vanishing of Joseph Force Crater. His missing person cases has fueled decades of speculation about what exactly happened to the New York State Supreme Court justice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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&ip=0 “Houdini to Appear.” Evening Star. Feb. 21, 1926. https://www.newspapers.com/image/618515204/?...
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/stable/2924236 Church, William Selby. “The Rise of Physiology in England: The Harveian Oration Delivered...
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.uk/history/scottishhistory/modern/oddities_modern.shtml “Britain's 'last witch': Campaign to pardon ...
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 Andriopoulos, Stefan. “Kant’s Magic Lantern: Historical Epistemology and Media Archaeology.” Representatio...
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, NY.” 1949. By LANSING WARREN Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. "Paris 'Peace Congress' Assails U. S. an...
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 Dynamite Bomb.” The Alliance Herald. Dec. 11, 1891. https://www.newspapers.com/image/legacy/423611027/?terms...
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/?terms=%22russel%20sage%22&match=1 “A Dynamite Bomb.” The Alliance Herald. Dec. 11, 1891. https:/...
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_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=1958ab1b. Accessed 24 Aug. 2022. Redmon, Jeremy. “The Vanishin...
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?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=1958ab1b. Accessed 24 Aug. 2022. Redmon, Jeremy. “The Va...
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 Health Organization Waging War Against Kissing.” The Evening-Times Star and Almeda Daily Argus.” Feb ...
