Continuing our Women's History Month series, Makayla details the life of a Virginia farmer's wife in the mid-19th century. Her recounting includes actual quotes from contemporary sources, like the American Frugal Housewife, first published in 1828. Be sure to compare this Day in the Life to the others across time and place.

Music: Zac Bell

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

We're continuing our set of episodes for Women's History Month. Today, Misti describes a spring day in the life of women of the Eastern Woodlands. Seasonal and year-round activities each have their own place in the day and the visitor to a village can observe the rhythms of life.

For Women's History Month, we thought we'd change things up a bit and give you a taste of what a typical day would be like for some of the women we talk about at the Frontier Culture Museum. This month, we'll be bringing you four short episodes, in both first and third person, that paint a picture of daily life for women of the past. This week, we start in the 17th century with a typical spring day for a yeoman farmer's wife.

In this episode, we take a turn for the serious in observance of Black History Month. Mark, who has been a guest previously discussing navigation and shipping, talks to us about the traumatic and often deadly journey from freedom to enslavement via the Middle Passage. 

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Close Music: Jean-Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Have you ever thought about how easy it is to buy clothes in the modern world? Or how much automation goes in to making them? In the past, of course, everything was more labor intensive, particularly in the pre-industrial periods. But that labor intensity meant that finished products often held a higher societal and economic value. In this episode, we (attempt to) figure out just why clothes were worth so much more and explain the production process from raw material to wearable garment. We may even answer the question: which costs more comparatively, car or clothes?

Intro and Transition Music: Zac Bell

Closing Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

For another episode on current topics, we feature Makayla Baker Paxton discussing the long history of inoculation and vaccines. Featuring such notable figures as Catherine the Great, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, the story of vaccines, ever present in our minds today, has many similarities with the situation under COVID-19.

Intro Music: Zac Bell

End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

In this episode, we talk about archaeology: what it is, why we care, and how it interacts with history. Archaeology and the archaeological record is a valuable resource for knowing how people lived in the past. When written records are scarce or misleading, archaeology can fill in the gaps. The physical traces left behind by people tell their own stories.

Open Music: Zac Bell

Close Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Find out more at frontiermuseum.org, on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

In this holiday episode, we discuss the myths, misconceptions, and evidence (or lack thereof) surrounding the first Christmas tree. This ubiquitous holiday decoration doesn't have as simple of an origin as you might think. 

Music by Julius_H from Pixabay

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

In this episode, we dramatize a holiday story written in 1883. The adventures of the Peterkin family were chronicled by Lucretia P. Hale throughout the mid to late 19th century. The well-intentioned, but slightly sideways, family tended to create their own obstacles and were usually saved by a "Lady from Philadelphia." This Christmas installment is a perfect case in point!

Voices: 

Mr. Peterkin: Alex Tillen

Mrs. Peterkin: Sally Landes

Agamemnon: Dale Cook

Elizabeth Eliza: Rachel Sites

Solomon John: Mark Mazzochi

Music: Rachel Sites and Zac Bell

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Find out more online, on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. 

In this episode, which we recorded outside in August (cicadas, road noise, and all), our guest discusses the vernacular styles of architecture housed at the Frontier Culture Museum. He also discusses how those styles were brought over to America and elements were further blended and cherrypicked, creating new styles of vernacular structures. 

Intro and Transition Music: Zac Bell

End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

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