Public History with Jake and Justin Jake Wynn and Justin Voithofer

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we review one of our favorite movies about Sputnik, rocketry, coal mining, and West Virginia - the 1999 film "October Sky."

This year marks 25 years since the film came out and we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about this film. It tells the story of Homer Hickam, a teenager from a mining town in West Virginia who becomes interested in science and rockets after watching the Soviet satellite Sputnik fly over his hometown of Coalwood, West Virginia.
The film stars a young Jake Gyllenhaal in his first leading role, as well as Chris Cooper and Laura Dern.
 

In this episode we discuss:

The history behind the film October Sky

Our continued obsession with West Virginia and space

Why we both love this film from our childhood

How this film properly tells the story of mining communities and people who live there
 

And our Postscripts this week:

Justin - Kyle Larson attempts the double

Jake - Why the Indy 500 is one of the greatest sporting events in the world

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, it's the end of the school year and we are handing out superlatives to our favorite museums. Justin and I share our opinions about museums we've visited across the United States and around the world.

In this episode we discuss:

Museum superlatives!

Categories such as:

Most Innovative Exhibits

Coolest Hidden Gem

Class Clown

Bucket List Museum

And our Postscripts this week:

Justin - Trying to Steal Graceland

Jake - Visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico

In our newest episode in the "Making a Public Historian" series, we chat with Becky Oakes, a historian with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In this role, Becky seeks to inspire innovation by telling the stories of past and present
inventors, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers, as well as maintaining a robust repository of institutional history.

Becky previously served as the USPTO’s social media specialist. Prior to the USPTO, Becky worked for the National Park Service in the field of historic interpretation. She holds a B.A. in History from Gettysburg College and an M.A. in Public History and 19th Century U.S. History from West Virginia University, and specializes in the long Civil War era.


In this episode we discuss:

The West Virginia University public history mafia

Mentorship and teams in the National Park Service

Bringing historical thinking to a government agency

Diverse stories and what resonates with the public and the media

Becky's favorite invention and inventor from the USPTO

Follow USPTO on social media and explore their History page

And our Postscripts this week:

Justin - Hiking the Appalachian Trail at Gathland State Park

Becky - Aurora Borealis and shared community moments

Jake - Walking the C&O Canal Towpath and exploring Brunswick, MD

In this episode of Public History, we are sharing the story of the Workman family of Wiconisco, Pennsylvania and their ties to the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864. Josiah and Franklin Workman were young soldiers in the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry who lost their lives during the fighting on May 10, 1864.
Their story is one that reveals the legacy of tragedy left behind in the wake of the Overland Campaign, one of the Civil War's deadliest periods that left tens of thousands dead. This month marks the 160th anniversary of this crucial moment in American history. 
Read the original article here: https://wynninghistory.com/2017/05/12/workman-brothers/ 
 
 

In this episode of Public History, we conclude our reviews of the Apple TV+ miniseries "Manhunt" with guest co-host Rich Condon. We also discuss NPR's investigation into the nation's historical markers. 
 
In this episode, we talk about: 
Manhunt's significant departures from historical fact 
Edwin Stanton's frequent flyer miles 
Writers who talk down to television viewers 
Historical markers and their role in shaping public memory of historical events 
 
NPR's Up First episode about the investigation HERE
 
And in our Postscripts, we discuss: 
Rich - Running a half marathon in Gettysburg 
Jake - Watching his beloved Everton secure their spot in the Premier League for another season at a bar in Philadelphia 

In this episode of Public History, we talk to author and public historian Ryan Quint about his new book, Dranesville: A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire of a Forgotten Battle, Dec. 20, 1861. His previous book, Determined to Stand and Fight: The Battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, was published in 2017. 
 
You can purchase the book here!
Or find a Kindle version here.
 
In this episode, we talk about: 
The Battle of Dranesville 
Civilian experiences during the early stages of the Civil War in northern Virginia. 
Why the experience in Dranesville in 1861 is a warning about the realities of civil war 
How the local community in Dranesville honors the memory of those who fell in the December 1861 battle. 
 
And in our Postscripts, we discuss: 
Jake - The new movie Civil War and and its message about modern conflict 
Ryan - New class of interns at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and the deep interest these young adults have in American history 
Justin - The recently unearthed, never-released, extremely cringe in hindsight 2010 recruitment videos produced by the New York Knicks to attract Lebron James to the Big Apple. Featuring notables such as Tony Soprano, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, and Harvey Weinstein.