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.

Hugh unpacks a Harper's Weekly illustration from September 1868, and reads articles about the barbecues with which Southern Democrats were attempting to win the votes of freedmen. For all images and notes, see the companion blog.

This is not my usual sort of episode. If you don't want to hear about my cat who is no longer with us, skip it.

Skipping forward fifty years, Hugh explores Mary E. Walker's legacy within the context of the changing roles of women during World War I.For notes and images of all articles read in the podcast, see the companion blog post.

Hugh reads from the issue of "The Revolution" published 150 years ago today, then has a delightful chat with Sally Roesch Wagner, Ph.D, Executive Director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation in Fayetteville, New York.For notes and images of all articles read in the episode, see the companion blog post.

Hugh reads exclusively from newspaper articles printed 150 years ago this week. He starts with a terrible, undeservedly self-satisfied newspaper article about Mary E. Walker, and then reads a slew of other articles that place the author's withering attitude in context.For notes and images of all articles read in the episode, see the companion blog post.List of articles in order:Advertisement - Ayer's SarsaparillaLife at Saratoga - Mary E. WalkerThe New White Sulphur Spring Baths - The springs of SaratogaThe Leland Family - Hoteliers of Saratoga SpringsRailroad articles:-A "Big Thing" in Prospective - The original projector of the Pacific Railroad prophesies a great future for Saratoga-OPENING OF A NEW RAILROAD-Letter From Senator Campbell - A more sober opinion of the new railroad projectsSyracuse Skating Rink articles:-Shall Utica Have a Skating Rink and New Public Hall?-SHALL A PUBLIC HALL AND SKATING RINK BE BUILDED IN UTICA?-THE CENTRAL CITY SKATING RINK-INAUGURATION OF THE SKATING RINK (advertisement)-INAUGURATION OF THE SKATING RINK-THE GRAND PROMENADE CONCERT LAST NIGHTAYER'S HAIR VIGOR (advertisement)Hop-Picking article:-HOP-PICKING-25 HOP-PICKERS WANTED-HOPS AND HOP-PICKINGPedestrianism articles:-Payn and Weston...-The Great Walking Match at Troy a "Fizzle."Baseball articles:-BASE BALL-The Ku Klux Klans...-A match game of base ball was played at Morrisville...Racial articles:-Information from Georgia...-SHERIDAN is "after the Indians"-In 1854 the motto..."-THE DEMOCRATS FREED THE...-OUR INDIAN TROUBLES-A BID FOR FENIAN VOTESA "Respiratory-Advertising Apparatus for precipitate inhumations"...Women's Fashion articles: (1:06-1:29)-Benefit Ball at the Union Hotel-The Ball at the Clarendon...-The Season at Saratoga is gay... *** A. Bernstein?***-News and Other ItemsTEA advertisementsA friend who has travelled in Germany... (advertisement)Mrs. Winslow's Soothing SyrupA Saratoga Lady on Picking BonesTwo ladies of Albany recently appeared on the streets...Poem: Womanhood Suffrage (1:44:00)

Hugh reads articles about six safe robbery attempts in Syracuse during the 1860s, then does a broader survey of all safe robberies mentioned in Syracuse newspapers during the 1860s. Then he studies the advertising campaign of the Marvin safe company, and places fire-proof and burglar-proof safes in the context of the Civil War and Reconstruction. For notes and images of all articles and advertisements, see the companion blog.

In this episode I read from a single fascinating page of the Syracuse Daily Journal from February 22nd, 1868. The drama between Johnson and Congress is heating up. I present that struggle in the context of all other levels of politics, and show how it all connects to race.For notes, including images of all articles, see the companion blog.

In this episode I rant about a run-in I had with an intellectually dishonest creep who attempted to disseminate the notions that Republicans have followed consistent ideals since the 1800s, that Democrats are racist, and that Republicans have always held that race has no place in politics. I provide ample ammunition for protecting against such historiological obscenities.For images of all articles, along with notes, see the companion blog.

One hundred fifty years ago this week, the newspapers sounded that last faint, sour echoes of the first impeachment of a U.S. President. In this episode I delve into the origins of that impeachment.For images of all articles read in the episode, see the companion blog.

In this episode I explore Hodgson's weird fiction within the context of his culture's fascination with electricity and spiritualism. For images of all articles, along with links to further information, see the show notes.

One hundred years ago this week, the London Times reported the death of William Hope Hodgson. In this episode I explore the popular image of Hodgson: manly man, strong man, brave man and adventurer.For images of all articles read in the episode, see the companion blog post.

In this episode I give my first interview! I stopped by the Pompey Historical Society and had a lovely chat with Historian Ruth Hotaling about the life and work of "Pompey boy" Homer D. L. Sweet.For show notes, see the companion blog post.

It's February 19th, 1868, and the results of the Syracuse Mayoral election are in! In this episode I explore those results, go off on my usual tangents about journalistic narratives, and sing the praises of giving babies opiates.Check out the show notes.

It's February 18th, 1868, the day of the Syracuse Mayoral election, and the Syracuse Daily Standard is taking its final shots at John A. Green. For show notes, see the companion blog post. Historic Headlines on FacebookHistoric Headlines on Twitter

It's February 17th, 1868, the day before the Syracuse Mayoral election, and the Syracuse Daily Courier is spewing the vilest material you'll ever hear coming out of my mouth. For show notes, see the companion blog post. Historic Headlines on FacebookHistoric Headlines on Twitter

In this episode I delve into the panoply of libels that the Republican newspapers leveled at John A. Green, the Democratic Mayoral candidate, on the day before the Syracuse elections of 1868.See the companion blog post for images of all newspaper articles read in the episode, and notes on people and events mentioned.

In this episode, I delve into the military career of John A. Green and discuss how it intertwines with his political career. See the companion blog for copious footnotes.

Returning to the Syracuse mayoral election of 1868, we find the Standard jumping onto the Green-bashing bandwagon, while John A. Green's "organ", the Courier, sings his praises.Episode Links: 18th Regiment Silas Titus Ezra L. Walrath Edwin S. Jenny Formation of the Republican Party in 1855John Brown's Raid on Harper's FerryFort Sumter24th Brigade For images of all newspaper articles, see the companion blog post.

Continuing with the journalistic war over the 1868 Syracuse elections, we see the Journal getting down and dirty in its invective against mayoral candidate John A. Green. References: Barber's Itch The draft during the Civil War Clement Vallandigham For images of all articles I read, see the companion blog post.

150 years ago this week, the Syracuse newspapers began a war of ink over the impending mayoral election. It got so ugly that reading the articles nauseated me. No joke. In this episode, we delve into the preliminary shots in this battle for the Syracuse Mayoralty. The name "Vallandigham" comes up in a few of the articles. Clement Vallandigham was basically the level boss of Copperheads. To see the articles read in the podcast, visit the companion blog post.

150 years ago this week, a bunch of Syracusans paid to see a guy walk really fast around a sawdust track in Shakespeare Hall. In this episode I explore the sensation surrounding Edward Payson Weston, and the pedestrian sport he helped promote. For episode notes, see the companion blog post.

150 years ago this week, a small newspaper article mentioned that suffragette Bettie Bisbee went over to the Democrats. This formed the kernel of this episode's investigation, which focuses on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and their fateful partnership with George Francis Train. For show notes, see the companion blog post.

150 years ago this week, spiritualists were supposedly guiding some people toward gold, and others toward oil deposits. In this episode, I explore the obsession with spiritualism. For images, see the companion blog post.

On January 30, 1868, the Syracuse Daily Standard devoted most of a page to a speech that Senator Morton gave on the 24th, in response to Senator Doolittle's speech of the previous day. In this episode, I read both speeches and discuss the historical context. For the companion blog post, see https://syracuseonthisday.wordpress.com/2018/02/04/historic-headlines-episode-1-doolittle-and-morton-on-reconstruction/.