Historic Headlines

Hugh tells the story of a petty exchange that took place in the pages of the New York Tribune and the Syracuse Post-Standard, and culminated one hundred years ago today. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh reads the Syracuse Daily Standard's story about the funeral of Rev. Samuel J. May, which includes details about the sights, smells and sounds that he's found nowhere else. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh talks about a tennis champion from 1921, and a disturbingly familiar misogynistic media potshot at her. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh analyzes the media coverage of the life of Rev. Samuel J. May during the week following his death. Hugh does not do a good job of maintaining his composure in the face of the New York Herald's mind-boggling hypocrisy.  To see all articles referenced in the episode, follow along with the companion blog post.

Hugh parses—and asks for help interpreting—three articles printed 150 years ago yesterday: The Chicago Tribune's account of Gerrit Smith's hot take on Victoria Woodhull The Philadelphia Evening Telegraph throwing shade at the Democracy for its hypocrisy over Jeff. Davis The Chicago Tribune's snark at Horace Greeley throwing his hat in the ring for a Presidential run Follow along with the show notes.

One hundred fifty years ago, folks in Pennsylvania, Australia, Chicago and Iowa had strong opinions about Syracuse salt producers and the tariffs they favored. In this episode, Hugh endeavors to explain why that matters to our interpretation of the nineteenth century. Follow along with the show notes.

After getting his own episode number wrong, Hugh examines a report from one hundred years ago this week about a spectacularly fatuous convocation of advertisers around the Cardiff Giant. The giant snake of Baldwinsville also puts in an appearance, as do various miraculously cured users of patent medicines. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh reads two long pieces from the Salt Company of Onondaga printed in the Syracuse Daily journal and the New-York Tribune 150 years ago today. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh paints a picture of the Syracuse of 1871, with a special focus on one remarkably annoying sound. He ends with a demonstration of the noisemaker that caused such a sensation. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh has the most fun yet with this silly little story printed in Emporia, Kansas 150 years ago today. He  examines the spread of this viral meme that originated six months earlier with one man's embarrassing moment during an Episcopal church service in Syracuse. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh reads from the Syracuse papers of 150 years ago this week, and delves into two social media flame wars: fast driving of horses on James Street, and a supposedly botched medical diagnosis.   Follow along with the show notes. 

Hugh teases out the fascinating and sickening references in a single page of the Syracuse Daily Journal published 150 years ago this week. Follow along with the show notes.

Hugh examines stories from page four of the Syracuse Daily Journal printed one hundred fifty years ago today. It's almost as interesting as the delicious Yunnan "Black Gold" black tea he drank while recording it.   Follow along with the show notes.    

Hugh explores the history of Irish soda bread, with surprising results. For this episode, you'll definitely want to follow along with the show notes.

Hugh tells of his encounter with a purveyor of historical disinformation, recounts the exploits of an "eclectic doctor" who advertised in two Pennsylvania newspapers 150 years ago this week, then builds a case for the fascination with electrical medicine having arisen at least in part from a phonetic coincidence. For all images and notes, see the companion blog post.

Hugh takes an uncharacteristic wallow in the seedy underbelly of Syracuse, reading almost exclusively from a single page of the Syracuse Daily Journal of March 13, 1871.   For all news articles and supporting material, see the show notes.

In this episode, Hugh outlines his investigation into a striking article about a Syracuse circuit court that apparently valued bears more than girls. The investigation yields tragic details of a little girl's death, and disturbing details of Southern attitudes during Reconstruction.  For all article images, along with corrections and omissions, see the show notes.

In this episode, Hugh does a quick guerilla-style episode because he has to let the podcast suck before it stands a chance of being good.    All articles come from the Syracuse Daily Journal of March 10, 1871.   For all news articles read in this episode, see the show notes.

In this episode, Hugh refutes an obscene meme about Confederate statues, showing their place in the historiography and systemic racial violence of the early twentieth century.  For all images, articles and notes for the episode, see the show notes.

Hugh delves into the Democratic barbecues of 1868 by reading page four of the New York Herald of August 12th. For all notes and images, see the companion blog.