History and Hearsay

Christina
  • 4.4 (25)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

On this podcast we discuss lesser known characters and events from history. Some of the details of these historical accounts may be debated and on this show YOU get to decided: Is it History? Or is it Hearsay? 

  1. Phossy Jaw & The Match Stick Girls Strike of 1888

    6D AGO

    Phossy Jaw & The Match Stick Girls Strike of 1888

    In the 1800’s taking a job at a Match Factory could end in a very slow and agonizing death as your body began to rot from the inside out.  Time Stamps 0:00 -  Intro  0:41 - Matches 2:20 - Working conditions 6:50 - Cornelia 10:06 - Phosphorus  14:17 - The Dangers of White Phosphorous 16:46 - Phossy Jaw  20:15 - Factory Conditions 22:05 - Annie Besant 25:33 - A Safer Way 26:41 - The Walk Out 28:23 - The Aftermath 31:38 - Banning White Phosphorus  Sources: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Match-Girls-Strike/  https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/library-and-publications/library/blog/phossy-jaw-and-the-matchgirls/  2022 Plaque: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/match-girls-strike/  https://www.britannica.com/event/Match-Girls-Strike  https://www.matchgirls1888.org/the-story-of-the-strike  Additional references listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchgirls'_strike  Additional reading: Louise Raw, Striking a Light: The Bryant and May Matchwomen and their Place in Labour History (London, 2011) Lowell J Satre, ‘After the Match Girls’ Strike: Bryant and May in the 1890s’, Victorian Studies 26:1 (1982)Seth Coven, The Match Girl and the Heiress (Princeton, 2015) https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(07)02033-2/abstract?cc=y  https://www.rdhmag.com/pathology/periodontitis/article/16404967/the-return-of-the-dreaded-145phossy-jaw146   Netflix Film - Enola Holmes 2 - a fictionalized story about the lead-up to the walkout

    34 min
  2. 100+ People DISAPPEAR!! The Lost Colony of Roanoke

    FEB 3

    100+ People DISAPPEAR!! The Lost Colony of Roanoke

    In 1590, an entire English colony vanished without a trace—no bodies, no signs of a struggle..  Only one clue was left behind…. A single word carved into a tree. Timestamps:  0:00 - Intro  0:55 - Colonizing the New World 3:35 - Military Colony 7:20 - The Roanoke Colony 12:11 - The Search 15:49 - Relocation Theory 18:32 - Hurricane or Lost at Sea Theory 22:43 - Killed by the Natives 29:02 - The Dare Stones & Georgia.  34:46 - A Hidden Fort 37:54 - Final Thoughts Support the show

    38 min
  3. The Dyatlov Pass Mystery - Finally Solved?!?

    JAN 29

    The Dyatlov Pass Mystery - Finally Solved?!?

    In February of 1959, Nine experienced hikers vanished without a trace. They left behind a slashed tent, with barefoot prints in the snow. And when their bodies were discovered, most appeared to have rushed out into the -30 night, wearing only their pajamas. Some of the bodies were crushed, others were missing their tongues. Today more than 65 years later, the question still remains: What could have forced or lured them away from their warm camp, out to almost certain death?  0:00 - Intro 1:47 - The Hikers 4:19 - The Hike 8:19 - The Search 11:21 - More about the Hikers 18:44 - The Discovery 22:38 - Theories - The Mansi 24:43 - Theories - The Government 31:41 - Other Theories… Yeti’s? 33:43 - Case Re-opened after 60 years 35:17 - Case Solved? 41:36 - 2025 Update  43:36 - Final Thoughts Sources:  https://dyatlovpass.com  https://www.history.com/articles/dyatlov-pass-incident-soviet-hiker-death-mystery  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/SoLiOdJyCK/mystery_of_dyatlov_pass  Discovery UK video where I shared the clip of hikers names from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAGQml3cWuA   Possible answer to the mystery: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2021/01/a-new-take-on-an-old-mystery.html  Study about possible avalanche: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00081-8 Support the show

    45 min
  4. The Ghost Army: Fooled the Germans with inflatable tanks!?! WWII's Fake Army

    JAN 22

    The Ghost Army: Fooled the Germans with inflatable tanks!?! WWII's Fake Army

    In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing the Ghost Army of WWII and how they used INFLATABLE tanks, planes and even weapons to fool the Germany Army?!? This is a wild one, so buckle up! =)   ~ Christina  Timestamps:  0:00 - Intro  0:30 - Jasper Maskelyne & The British 4:46 - The Ghost Army 12:37 - Ghost Army Operations 16:10 - Fooling the Allies 18:22 - Bill Blass 20:59 - Ralph Ingersoll & Hilton Railey 23:42 - Finally Honored ►Sources: Book: The Ghost Army of World War II  - Elizabeth Sayles and Rick Beyer https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/ghost-army-combat-con-artists-world-war-ii  https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/jasper-maskelyne-the-magician.html  https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/ghost-army-wwii/  PBS Documentary can be watched here: https://www.pbs.org/video/the-ghost-army-t5k1jv/ with a subscription to KERA. It is also available to rent on Amazon Prime title “The Ghost Army”  https://ghostarmy.org/  For info on the Ghost Army book, documentary, or tour, or Rick Beyer's appearance schedule? Go to ghostarmy.com  https://www.thirteen.org/blog-post/ghost-army-soldiers-wwii-art-schools/  https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/blog/the-ghost-army-of-world-war-ii  https://www.britannica.com/event/Operation-Fortitude  Clip of the men being honored: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgRBpT2kDVI&t=30s  Full Video - Ceremony Men being honored: https://www.youtube.com/live/QT8KqceRFG4?t=337s  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-ghost-army-of-wwii-used-art-to-deceive-the-nazis-180980336/  https://nationalvmm.org/the-ghost-army-world-war-iis-secret-weapon/  Support the show

    28 min
  5. Vanished Without A Trace The FLannel Isles Mystery

    JAN 17

    Vanished Without A Trace The FLannel Isles Mystery

    In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing the mysterious disappearance of 3 lighthouse keepers in Scotland. A disappearance that is STILL unsolved decades later. Let me know what YOU think happened! ~ Christina  Timestamps: 0:0 - Intro 1:05 - The Flannel Isles 3:20 - Construction of the Lighthouse 5:37 - Becoming a Lighthouse Keeper 10:25 - Eilean Mòr Lighthouse 11:52 - The Disappearance 15:31 - The Investigation 22:29 - Legends of the Island Theory 23:48 - Honorable mention Theories 27:49 - Lighthouse Keepers Gone Mad Theory  30:35 - Logical Theory 34:28 - Automation & Final thoughts ►Sources: Lightkeeping: https://www.nlb.org.uk/history/lighthouse-keeping/  https://www.nlb.org.uk/history/flannan-isles/#:~:text=After a careful examination of,the West landing, to secure  https://blog.nrscotland.gov.uk/2023/12/12/flannan-isles-lighthouse-keepers-the-disappearance/  https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/western-isles-lewis-scotland-b2379063.html  https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/historical-strangeness/eilean-mor-light-house-mystery  https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/  https://allthatsinteresting.com/flannan-isle-mystery  As mentioned some of what is said to have been found in lighthouse are now believed to be false - This article lists some of those things: https://www.historyhit.com/the-flannan-isle-mystery-when-three-lighthouse-keepers-vanished-overnight/  https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-flannan-isle-mystery-the-three-lighthouse-keepers-who-vanished  https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/maritime-history/what-caused-disappearance-flannan-isle-lighthouse-keepers  Support the show

    36 min
  6. The Orphans of Davenport - Eugenics and the War over Children's Intelligence

    12/18/2025

    The Orphans of Davenport - Eugenics and the War over Children's Intelligence

    In the 1930s, America believed that some children were born too stupid to ever learn.  If your IQ was low, the science of the day said it was hopeless—your blood was “bad.” Thousands of orphans were locked away in institutions, labeled “feebleminded,” and forgotten. But two young researchers at an Iowa orphanage decided to test that idea… and what they discovered would tear down one of the darkest chapters in American science. This is the true story of the Orphans of Davenport. Sources: Iowa Childrens Home: https://web.archive.org/web/20101230011824/http://www.qcmemory.org/Default.aspx?PageId=243&nt=207&nt2=239  Book: The Orphans of Davenport: Eugenics, the Great Depression, and the War over Children's Intelligence by Marilyn Brookwood-  Buy Book: https://amzn.to/4oS9D2r  https://www.byuradio.org/won-2021-10-14-the-davenport-orphans https://medium.com/leading-brains-review/two-hopeless-little-girls-abandoned-to-a-mental-institution-with-astounding-results-c9ac9a06ec28  https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/the-iowa-orphans-who-helped-resolve-the-fight-over-childrens-intelligence/2021/08/11/51bde2d6-de75-11eb-b507-697762d090dd_story.html  Interview with Researchers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0bQFsodlf4   https://time.com/archive/6780590/education-nature-v-nurture/  https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-11958-020  Papers written by the doctors: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Harold-M-Skeels-2047761714  1939: https://time.com/archive/6760602/medicine-feeble-minded-love/  https://origins.osu.edu/read/sterilization-carrie-buck  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/eugenics-finding-carrie-buck/  https://libguides.davenportlibrary.com/c.php?g=757345&p=5430552  Support the show

    48 min
  7. Victim of America's Dark Eugenics Era - The Tragic Life of Carrie Buck

    12/05/2025

    Victim of America's Dark Eugenics Era - The Tragic Life of Carrie Buck

    In 1927 one woman’s fate decided the future of thousands. She was labeled “feeble-minded”locked away and put on trial for her future. But recent research reveals that almost everything said about Carrie Buck was a lie—carefully crafted to push a sinister agenda.” 0:00 - Intro 0:29  - Chatty Cathy 1:19 - Eugenics in the United States 3:01 - Carrie’s Early Life 7:26 - Forced Sterilization 10:07 - Harry Laughlin 11:34 - The Trial 15:39 - Sterilization & Life going forward 21:01 - Doris Buck  23:07 - Three Generations, No Imbeciles 24:11 - Lasting Effects Sources: 1939: https://time.com/archive/6760602/medicine-feeble-minded-love/  https://origins.osu.edu/read/sterilization-carrie-buck  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/eugenics-finding-carrie-buck/  https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/amex32ec-soc-buckvbell/buck-v-bell-and-eugenics-american-experience/   https://www.press.jhu.edu/newsroom/just-lucky?srsltid=AfmBOooFCdt5QfnmfixNPb1qfqHxInr7HV4kszJEf58cpC4ha6I98Usf  Book (I have not read, but looks intriguing!): https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12262/three-generations-no-imbeciles  https://www.translationalres.com/article/S0022-2143(01)24354-6/fulltext  https://exhibits.hsl.virginia.edu/eugenics/3-buckvbell/index.html  Support the show

    26 min
  8. Forgotten Hero of the Civil War –Sheltered Orphans & Reinvented Hospital Kitchens | Annie Wittenmyer

    11/19/2025

    Forgotten Hero of the Civil War –Sheltered Orphans & Reinvented Hospital Kitchens | Annie Wittenmyer

    In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing Annie Wittenmyer and all of the amazing work that she did! I hope you enjoy todays episode & maybe even learn something new!  ~ Christina  Timestamps:  0:00 - Intro  0:32 - 3 Part Series & my cold =) 1:02 - Sarah Annie Turner 3:04 - Move to Iowa 6:23 - Annie’s life - The “Real” story 11:34 - Keokuk Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society 17:02 - The Woman who fed an army  19:37 - Iowa Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home 22:04 - Orphan’s Home Evolves 28:41 - Temperance Movement 32:44 - Final Thoughts ►Sources: https://web.archive.org/web/20110525191459/http://www.qcmemory.org/Default.aspx?PageId=231&nt=207&nt2=229  Annie’s Book: https://librivox.org/under-the-guns-by-annie-wittenmyer/  https://uipress.lib.uiowa.edu/bdi/detailspage.aspx?id=415  Was she a Widow or not? https://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc/2022/10/13/the-truth-will-out-annie-wittenmyer/  Iowa Childrens Home: https://web.archive.org/web/20101230011824/http://www.qcmemory.org/Default.aspx?PageId=243&nt=207&nt2=239   https://web.archive.org/web/20101230011824/http://www.qcmemory.org/Default.aspx?PageId=243&nt=207&nt2=239  https://teachingiowahistory.org/virtual-exhibits/home-soldiers-orphans  https://libguides.davenportlibrary.com/c.php?g=757345&p=5430552  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/grant-wittenmyer/  Hymns she wrote: https://hymnary.org/person/Wittenmeyer_Annie#google_vignette  https://history.iowa.gov/media/291/download?inline  Iowa Childrens Home: https://web.archive.org/web/20101230011824/http://www.qcmemory.org/Default.aspx?PageId=243&nt=207&nt2=239  Book: The Orphans of Davenport: Eugenics, the Great Depression, and the War over Children's Intelligence by Marilyn Brookwood-  Buy Book: https://amzn.to/4oS9D2r  Support the show

    34 min
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4.4
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About

On this podcast we discuss lesser known characters and events from history. Some of the details of these historical accounts may be debated and on this show YOU get to decided: Is it History? Or is it Hearsay? 

Information

  • Creator
    Christina
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Christina
  • Show Website
    History and Hearsay

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