Footnoting History

By Footnoting History

History

What's Footnoting History about?

Footnoting History is a bi-weekly podcast series dedicated to overlooked, popularly unknown, and exciting stories plucked from the footnotes of history. For further reading suggestions, information about our hosts, our complete episode archive, and more visit us at FootnotingHistory.com!

4.5

197 ratings

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

The Many Adventures of Pope...

11.25.2023

(Christine and Josh) One of the most powerful popes of the Middle Ages, Innocent III made sure to have his hand in everything from religious wars like the Crusades to political squabbles with kings. Here, Josh and Christine take a ...

Footnoting History episodes:

11.25.2023 The Many Adventures of Pope Innocent III (Christine and Josh) One of the most powerful popes of the Middle Ages, Innocent III made sure to have his hand in everything from religious wars like the Crusades to political squabbles with kings. Here, Josh and Christine take a ...
11.11.2023 Kościuszko Squadron (Host: Lucy) What ties together a Revolutionary War hero, a Hollywood film director, and twentieth-century Poland’s quest for political independence? The Kościuszko Squadron was an international flying squad, whose airmen included former prisoners of war, idealistic Americans, and international adventurers. ...
10.28.2023 History for Halloween X Halloween, History, Spooky tales from history
10.14.2023 The Witchcraft Trial of Alice Kyteler (Kristin) In 1324, a woman named Alice Kyteler was accused of witchcraft in Kilkenny, Ireland. Her story is mysterious and fascinating and considered a landmark case in the history of European witch trials. Find out what happened – or didn’t ...
09.30.2023 Leo Frank and the Murder of Mary Phagan (Christine) In 1913, Leo Frank was arrested for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in Atlanta, Georgia. Two years later, he, too, was dead. In this episode, Christine explores the complicated case and its perhaps unexpected musical theatre legacy.
09.16.2023 The Cold Truth: A History of Refrigeration (Kristin) Ever stopped to think about how amazing it is that you have this box, in your home, that keeps food cold? Reliable, at-home refrigeration is pretty new to history – and utterly transformative of how we live. Learn about ...
09.02.2023 Titus Oates, a Popish Plot, and the Mysterious Murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey (Samantha) In the summer of 1678 a defrocked preacher named Titus Oates claimed to have knowledge of a Catholic plot to kill King Charles II and to replace him with his crypto-Catholic brother. At first the story gained no traction, ...
08.19.2023 A Royal Son: Geoffrey, duke of Brittany (Christine) Of the four sons of King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine who lived to adulthood, only one was never called king. In this episode we look at the life of Geoffrey, duke of Brittany, including ...
08.05.2023 True Crime on Stage in Shakespeare’s England (Lucy and Rachel) In the often-chaotic society of sixteenth-century England, many people enthusiastically consumed true crime narratives in songs, news, and theater plays. Then as now, true crime narratives often centered on community crime-solving as a way of dealing with ...
07.22.2023 Wyatt Earp and a Heavyweight Fix (Josh) In 1896, retired from his life in the so-called "Wild West," Wyatt Earp was asked to referee a boxing match. But not just any boxing match - a bout that would determine the new heavyweight champion. Two legendary boxers, ...
07.08.2023 William Mumler and Spirit Photography in the 19th century (Kristin) The 19th-century was on the cutting edge of some new technology and a new religious movement, and they intersected in some interesting – and surprising – ways. Find out how spirit photography became A Thing and how William Mumler ...
05.20.2023 Marlene Dietrich’s Scandalous Trousers (Lucy) Defying Nazis and gender norms, Marlene Dietrich was far more than an Oscar-nominated actress… though she was that too. From Weimar Berlin’s cabaret scene to golden-age Hollywood and beyond, Dietrich carved a distinctive path for herself, and crafted an ...
05.06.2023 SPECIAL EDITION: The Stone of Destiny and the Crowning of Kings (Samantha) During his coronation ceremony Charles III will sit on a chair built by Edward I over 725 years ago to house the Stone of Destiny (also called the Stone of Scone), that he had recently stolen from the Scots. ...
04.22.2023 The Public Arch (Josh) While one of the safest cities in the United States today, El Paso, Texas was one of America's most dangerous cities in the 1880s. Run by gunslingers, gambling brokers, and brothel madams, the city often descended into significant bouts ...
04.08.2023 The Newsies Strike of 1899 (Christine) In the summer of 1899, young New York newspaper sellers took a stand against publishing magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. In this episode, Christine looks at the causes, events, and outcome of the strike, as well as ...
03.25.2023 The Weeks Murder Trial (Kristin) In 1800, Levi Weeks was accused of the murder of Elma Sands in New York City and throwing her body down a well. His defense team included Henry Livingston, Aaron Burr, and Alexander Hamilton. His is the first murder ...
03.11.2023 Margaret Eaton and the Petticoat Affair (Christine) In January of 1829, a widow named Margaret O'Neale Timberlake married John Eaton, a United States Senator with his star on the rise. Inspired by the suggestion of a Footnoting History listener, Christine uses this episode to dive into ...
02.25.2023 1288: A Moment in Norwich (Samantha) Often it is hard to get any sense of what life was like in the past. This week, Sam will take you into the Norwich Leet Roll of 1288. This local court record that listed fines for everyday transgressions ...
02.11.2023 Footnoting History’s Favorite Historical Footnotes (Christine, Kristin, Josh, Lucy, Samantha) It's our birthday! Footnoting History first launched in February of 2013. To celebrate turning ten, all of our current hosts (yes, all!) picked out their favorite historical footnotes to share. This episode contains anecdotes from ...
01.28.2023 Rebecca Gratz: Philanthropist, Educator… Romantic Heroine? (Lucy) Rebecca Gratz helped to shape the vibrant cultural life of Philadelphia after the Revolutionary War. A second-generation immigrant, she supported artists and public institutions, and pioneered co-ed religious and cultural education for American Jewish children. She lived a remarkable ...
01.14.2023 The Papal Fleet (Josh) It’s POPE NAVY time! When Church leaders gathered at the Council of Vienne in 1311, King Henry II of Cyprus promised Pope Clement V a fleet of ships which would have the purpose of enforcing trade embargoes the papacy ...
12.03.2022 History for the Holidays II (Christine, Josh, Kristin) The so-called holiday season that ends every year is filled with fascinating history. For our second year in a row, we are bringing you some holiday-themed history to help you say goodbye to 2022 in style.
11.19.2022 The Greatest Knight: William Marshal, Part II (Christine, Kristin) Continuing our look at the career of one of medieval England's most famous knights, Christine and Kristin turn their eyes to William Marshal's older years, including his marriage, his continued association with kings, and that time he was ...
11.05.2022 The Greatest Knight: William Marshal, Part I (Christine, Kristin) What did a man have to do in the Middle Ages to have many call him 'the greatest knight'? Join Christine and Kristin for their dive into the life of William Marshal, from his beginning as a younger ...
10.22.2022 History for Halloween IX (Christine, Lucy, Kristin) From haunted houses to hysterical historical happenings, our team is here again with snippets of creepy stories from the past to celebrate Halloween.
10.08.2022 Who Murdered Licoricia of Winchester? (Kristin) It’s an unsolved mystery: Licoricia of Winchester, once the wealthiest woman in England, was found stabbed to death, with her maid, in 1277. Licoricia was a businessperson, whose clients included the king of England. She was a wife and ...
09.24.2022 The Milne Family Part II (Christine) Picking up where we left off in Part I, Christine looks at World War II through as experienced by the Milnes (both on the home front and in the military), explains how post-war life saw a dramatic change in ...
09.10.2022 The Milne Family Part I (Christine) In January, Christine brought you the story of that silly old bear, Winnie-the-Pooh. Now, she’s back (thanks to listener requests!) with an in-depth look at the family that brought him to life: A.A. Milne, his wife, Daphne, and their ...
08.27.2022 The Oneida Community, Part II (Josh) The Industrial Revolution of the 1830s provoked a considerable amount of anxiety in the United States. While some turned their attention to combatting the scourge of alcohol, others ran away from the new society created by industrialization. Looking for ...
08.13.2022 The Oneida Community, Part I (Josh) The Industrial Revolution of the 1830s provoked a considerable amount of anxiety in the United States. While some turned their attention to combatting the scourge of alcohol, others ran away from the new society created by industrialization. Looking for ...
07.30.2022 Jeffrey Hudson: England’s Forgotten Swashbuckler (Lucy) Dancer, court favorite, and popular celebrity in late 17th-century England, Jeffrey Hudson was distinguished not chiefly by his achievements, but by his size. Born with dwarfism, Hudson was known as “Lord Minimus.” His diminutive stature and social ableism meant ...
07.16.2022 Maria Merian’s Metamorphosis (Samantha) Maria Sibylla Merian was born in 1647 – a time when women were not expected to thrive as artists or scientists but she defied all odds to become both and in the process she illuminated the process of metamorphosis.
07.02.2022 Listener Q&A (Christine and Kristin) You asked, we answered! Join Footnoting History's producers for our first-ever episode entirely dedicated to answering your questions about everything and anything related to history and our show.
05.21.2022 Godiva’s Not-So-Naked Ride (Samantha) Today, the name Godiva evokes two things: fine chocolates, and a gorgeous blonde nude astride a horse. But in her own time Godgifu was best known as the wife of the earl of Mercia and as the generous benefactor ...
05.07.2022 Anna May Wong: International Star, Forgotten Icon Anna May Wong was a a movie superstar, international fashion icon, and antiracist advocate in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Learn more about this fascinating film star with Lucy this week on Footnoting History!
04.23.2022 The Gold Cure (Josh) To know American History is to know the history of substance abuse. Whether alcohol, tobacco, or narcotics, Americans have sought the comfort of substances to ease the pains of the world and to "lubricate" life. And as long as ...
04.09.2022 The Brothers York, Part II (Christine) When we last left the Brothers York, Edmund was dead for several years, while Edward had become King Edward IV of England, Richard was his staunch ally, and George was imprisoned after periods of rebellion and dramatic behavior. In ...
03.26.2022 The Brothers York, Part I (Christine) Richard, Duke of York, and his wife Cecily Neville had four famous sons: Edward, Edmund, George, and Richard. In this episode and the next, Christine will take a look at the lives of the four brothers whose lives were ...
03.12.2022 Sarojini Naidu: Beyond the Golden Threshold (Lucy) Poet and activist, scholar and politician, Sarojini Naidu inhabited many roles. The daughter of privilege, she enjoyed an elite education... and defied her family in marrying for love. Before women students could receive degrees, she studied at universities in ...
02.26.2022 Blue Jeans and the American Dream: The Story of Levi Strauss (Samantha) When his father died in 1846, Levi Strauss was left with few opportunities as a Jewish youth in his native Bavaria and so he left with his mother and sisters for New York where he joined his brothers’ modest ...
02.12.2022 The History of Valentine’s Day (Kristin) Ever wondered about the origins of Valentine’s Day and whether it was purely the invention of the greeting card industry? Join Kristin this week on Footnoting History to explore the development of our modern celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.
01.29.2022 The Origins of the Salem Witch Trials (Kristin) Think you know how the Salem Witch Trials started? You may be surprised. Join Kristin on this week’s episode of Footnoting History to explore the origins of the 1692 trials and find out what historians know … and what ...
01.15.2022 Winnie-the-Pooh (Christine) Winnie-the-Pooh has lived in the the hearts of people of all ages since the 1920s. Here, Christine traces the life of the famous bear (and his friends) from his origins in the family of author A.A. Milne and his ...
12.11.2021 History for the Holidays (Christine, Josh, Kristin) Join us as we say goodbye to 2021 with a series of historical anecdotes related to holidays, from Hanukkah to Christmas to New Year's. Click here for tips for Teaching with Podcasts! Or here to buy some ...
11.27.2021 Uncle Remus, Joel Chandler Harris, and the South, Part II (Elizabeth) How did Joel Chandler Harris's stories on Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Bear, and Br'er Fox go from beloved to problematic in the mid-twentieth century? In this episode, Elizabeth traces the story of how Joel Chandler Harris's work became Song of ...
11.13.2021 Uncle Remus, Joel Chandler Harris, and the South, Part I (Elizabeth) By the end of the nineteenth century, Joel Chandler Harris's Uncle Remus folktales were famous not only in the South, but throughout the United States. For much of the last century, however, they have been sharply critiqued for their ...
10.30.2021 History for Halloween VIII Oh my gosh, we're back again! Our annual tradition continues as this year we bring you yet another round of creepy and fantastic history for the scariest holiday of the year. Click here for tips for Teaching with Podcasts! Or ...
10.16.2021 Ivanhoe and the Modern Middle Ages (Lucy) How did Ivanhoe become a wildly popular school text? And what happened to the interpretation of the text when it did? Across the Anglophone world, Scott’s medieval England became reified as a time and place of chivalric adventure, despite ...
10.02.2021 Ivanhoe and the Invention of Merry England (Lucy) There are some things that almost any Hollywood film set in the Middle Ages can count on. It will be set in England. There will be a lot of forests. The Norman nobility will oppress the Saxon peasantry. Other ...
09.18.2021 Sicilian Vespers, Part II: The Massacre and the War of the Vespers (Josh) Manfred of House Hohenstaufen is dead; Charles of Anjou, in the name of the papacy, has claimed Sicily and awaits coronation. Across the Ionian and Aegean Seas, Michael Palaeologus looks to the Latin West and waits. In Germany, Conradin, ...

Older episodes