Footnoting History

By Footnoting 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!

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Footnoting History episodes:

04.06.2024
Medieval Coroners
(Host: Samantha) If you've watched any significant number of crime dramas you've almost certainly come across a coroner who was probably presented as an experienced medical examiner who, if the hero is lucky, has unearthed a key piece of evidence to...
03.23.2024
Dressing Marie Antoinette
(Host: Kristin) Clothes and hair are among the most famous things about Marie Antoinette. But who were the designers behind the drama and what happened to them after the Revolution? And how did anyone actually wear – or afford – their...
03.09.2024
Tadeusz Kościuszko, Part II: Life and Legend
(Host: Lucy) How much is it impossible to know about an icon? This episode investigates Tadeusz Kościuszko’s place in historical memory. From the early 19th century onwards, myths coalesced around him and his role in the Polish struggle for independence. Paradoxically,...
02.24.2024
Tadeusz Kościuszko, Part I: International Icon, Revolutionary Hero
(Host: Lucy) Tadeusz Kościuszko was a leader in the Age of Revolutions, lending strategic expertise to the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and trying on no fewer than three occasions to secure lasting independence for his native Poland. He also...
02.10.2024
Harry Washington
(Host: Josh) When someone says "Washington" and "revolution" in the same sentence, George immediately comes to mind. But there's another Washington that we should know, one that George Washington enslaved. Harry Washington escaped from his enslavement, fought for the British in...
01.27.2024
Murder and the Mignonette
(Host: Christine) In 1884, a yacht called Mignonette left England for Australia but never reached its destination. After it was lost, those aboard were adrift at sea for weeks, resorting to desperate measures for survival. Here, Christine covers the ill-fated voyage, the murder...
12.09.2023
History for the Holidays III
(Hosts: Christine, Kristin, Josh) A tradition continues! Celebrate with us through this episode about the history surrounding a selection of end-of-the-year holidays.
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. The...
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 trial...
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 the details...
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 a variety of...
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 that his court career...
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 we only...
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...

What's Footnoting History about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Footnoting History episodes:

Medieval Coroners

Dressing Marie Antoinette

Tadeusz Kościuszko, Part II: ​Life and Legend

Tadeusz Kościuszko, Part I: ​International Icon, Revolutionary Hero

Harry Washington

Murder and the Mignonette

History for the Holidays III

The Many Adventures of Pope Innocent III

Kościuszko Squadron

History for Halloween X

The Witchcraft Trial of Alice Kyteler

Leo Frank and the Murder of Mary Phagan

The Cold Truth: A History of Refrigeration

Titus Oates, a Popish Plot, and the Mysterious Murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey

A Royal Son: Geoffrey, duke of Brittany

True Crime on Stage in Shakespeare’s England

Wyatt Earp and a Heavyweight Fix

William Mumler and Spirit Photography in the 19th century

Marlene Dietrich’s Scandalous Trousers

SPECIAL EDITION: The Stone of Destiny and the Crowning of Kings

The Public Arch

The Newsies Strike of 1899

The Weeks Murder Trial

Margaret Eaton and the Petticoat Affair

1288: A Moment in Norwich

Footnoting History’s Favorite Historical Footnotes

Rebecca Gratz: ​Philanthropist, Educator… Romantic Heroine?

The Papal Fleet

History for the Holidays II

The Greatest Knight: William Marshal, Part II

The Greatest Knight: William Marshal, Part I

History for Halloween IX

Who Murdered Licoricia of Winchester?

The Milne Family Part II

The Milne Family Part I

The Oneida Community, Part II

The Oneida Community, Part I

Jeffrey Hudson: England’s Forgotten Swashbuckler

Maria Merian’s Metamorphosis

Listener Q&A

Godiva’s Not-So-Naked Ride

Anna May Wong: International Star, Forgotten Icon

The Gold Cure

The Brothers York, Part II

The Brothers York, Part I

Sarojini Naidu: Beyond the Golden Threshold

Blue Jeans and the American Dream: ​The Story of Levi Strauss

The History of Valentine’s Day

The Origins of the Salem Witch Trials

Winnie-the-Pooh

Tadeusz Kościuszko, Part II: Life and Legend

Tadeusz Kościuszko, Part I: International Icon, Revolutionary Hero

Rebecca Gratz: Philanthropist, Educator… Romantic Heroine?

Blue Jeans and the American Dream: The Story of Levi Strauss