History Ago Go

Dr. Timothy Roberts describes his research into the letters written between an Illinois couple during the American Civil War.  He discusses the migration patterns of central and southern Illinois and how many Southerners migrated west and brought their political philosophy with them.  He explains the Illinois Black Codes and the restrictions on Black citizens that limited large scale migration to the the Illinois.  Roberts talks about the letters of William and Jane Standard and how they provide insight into the political and social philosophy of many rural farmers.  He details the Standard's view of abolition, Abraham Lincoln and their general distrust of war aims.  He goes into the decision by an antiwar Illinoisan to join the Union effort and the war against the Confederacy.  Dr. Roberts explains the formation of the 103rd Illinois Regiment and the service and contribution to the war effort, including Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, the Battle for Atlanta and Sherman's March to the Sea.  He includes the pressure the war and William's absence had on Jane and the Standard family.  He details how William almost left the Army on several occasions.  He finishes with a discussion on how the rural way of life in America changed due to the Civil War and how that has impact still today.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Shock Top Belgian White, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO

BOOK:  This Infernal War: The Civil War Letters of William and Jane Standard
https://www.amazon.com/This-Infernal-War-Letters-Standard/dp/1606353357

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

PERIOD MUSIC:  Frontier Favorites: Old-Time Music of Wild West by Mark Gardner and Rex Rideout
https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Favorites-Old-Time-Music-Wild/dp/B000CAJZQ8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=rex+rideout+western+music&qid=1606276262&sr=8-1

Professor and author Alexander Mikaberidze offers an in-depth and informative discussion on the Napoleonic Wars.  He explains how Napoleon was able to rise to prominence from relative obscurity during the French Revolution.  The professor discusses the aspects of the Revolution that Napoleon embraced even after he became an "enlightened despot."  Mikaberidze details the impact that the French invasion of Egypt had on the region we now refer to as the Middle East.  He entertains the aspects of the Napoleonic Code that were progressive and how in way Napoleon was a progressive leader.  He offers his insight into the Franco-British rivalry and how that helped shape the political, economic, and social  aspects of the 19th century world.  He explains the sale of Louisiana to the United States and Napoleon view of the American nation.  The professor covers the failures and disasters that Napoleon encountered including the Continental System, the Peninsular War, and the Invasion of Russia.  He finishes with a description of how Napoleon "escaped" from Elba and reestablished himself in France before he was defeated at Waterloo.  The discussion includes the legacy of Napoleon and the impact of his policies, successes, and failures on the 20th century and today.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Li'l Napoleon IPA, Pensacola Bay Brewery, Florida

BOOK:  The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History
https://www.amazon.com/Napoleonic-Wars-Global-History/dp/0199951063

MUSIC:  Bones Fork
https://bonesfork.com/

New York Times best selling author John O'Neill recounts the amazing tale of the secret Vatican search to find the true grave and bones of St. Peter.  He explains what we know historically about the birth, life and death of Peter the Apostle.  He talks about the building of the original St. Peter's by the Emperor Constantine and how that construct leveled Vatican Hill and covered tombs that were centuries old.  O'Neill discusses the Catholic Church's first attempts to locate the bones of St. Peter in 1513 and later in 1683 - both of which were unsuccessful.  He tells of an amazing discovery in the 1930s when workers were digging to prepare for the burial of Pope Pius XI.  The discovery sparked renewed interest in First and Second Century Christians and embarked the Vatican on the trail once again to locate Peter's grave.  O'Neill discusses how the 1930s were a troubling time for the Catholic Church with fascist leaders who were belligerent to religion.  The Church out of funds turned to a Texas oilman, George Strake to fund the search for the fisherman's tomb.  The author also explains the importance of Father Walter Carroll and how he helped protect Rome from destruction during WWII.  The archeological dig finally got expert help with the addition of renowned archeologist Margherita Guarducci.  The discussion concludes with an overview of the current tour you can take to St. Peter's Tomb.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock, Paulaner Brewery, Munich, Germany

BOOK:  The Fisherman's Tomb: The True Story of the Vatican's Secret Search
https://www.amazon.com/Fishermans-Tomb-Vaticans-Secret-Search/dp/1681921405/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&hvadid=78477753307848&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=the+fisherman%E2%80%99s+tomb&qid=1605233077&sr=8-1&tag=mh0b-20

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

Former Mayor Chuck Scholz tells the story of the five sitting presidents that visited the Gem City including Rutherford B. Hayes, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.  He even covered the coastal visit of Jimmy Carter.  He covers the trip of Hayes that included a rough follow-on trip to Hannibal where General William Sherman had to admonish the crowd.  Scholz covers the William McKinley visit that included speeches by almost his entire cabinet, including John Hay.  The short but successful visit by President Theodore Roosevelt at the old Adams County Court House.  He speaks extensively about the visit by President Clinton and the stop to see the Father Tolton statue.  He finishes with Barack Obama's trip to the Convention Center.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

Dr. Carol Berkin discusses her book Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America's Independence.  She begins by explaining what aspects of American colonial society would be understandable to modern women and what aspects would be abhorrent.  As an expert in the Revolutionary War, she explains why the war is often incorrectly interpreted as a simple, quaint, and harmless conflict.  Berkin details the horrors and violence of the War and specially how that impacted American women.  She discusses the political roles women assumed during the 1770s with their voices, raising money, and the use of their purchasing power as a political weapon.  She talks about the importance of "camp followers" in the camps of the British and American armies and the problems that arose from the presence of women in the camps and forts.  The discussion included the presence of Martha Washington and other wives of key officers in the camps.  One of the most entertaining aspects of the conversation was regarding the female spies, saboteurs, couriers and heroines who helped win America's independence.  There are some specifics stories you will really enjoy.  She finishes the discussion with a desire for Americans to return to normalcy at the conclusion of the war, but indicates the strides women made as a result of the fight for independence.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Every Day-Hero Session IPA, Revolution Brewery, Chicago, IL

BOOK:  Revolutionary Mothers:  Women in the Struggle for America's Independence
https://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Mothers-Struggle-Americas-Independence-ebook/dp/B000XUAEA8

MUSIC:  Bones Fork
https://bonesfork.com/

Mount Vernon Research Historian Mary V. Thompson discusses the Virginia slave system that was used on the plantations that George Washington grew up on.  She explains how Washington first became a slave owner upon the death of his father when George was only 11.    She discusses his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis and the laws regarding the slaves of a widow.  Thompson talks about how Washington's military service impacted his management and philosophy on slavery.  She discusses his fierce temper and his approach to managing a plantation.  She explains how the Washington's maneuvered around a Pennsylvania law to avoid the situation where their slaves living with them in Philadelphia could sue for their freedom.  Thompson covers the story of West Ford and contends that he was not fathered by George Washington although many of his descendants claim that parentage.  She talks about the special relationship between Washington and his personal slave servant Billy Lee and the manner in which George Washington freed his slaves in his will.  She finishes with a discussion on how Mount Vernon has interpreted slavery over the years.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  George Washington's recipe for small beer

BOOK:  "The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret"
https://www.amazon.com/Only-Unavoidable-Subject-Regret-Washington/dp/0813941849

MUSIC:  Bones Fork
https://bonesfork.com/

Musical historian Rex Rideout discusses the individual songs, composers and performers that helped tame the American West.  From the first American explorers heading into the unknown, such as Lewis and Clark and Zebulon Pike, music was an important component to maintaining high spirits and morale.  Rex emphasizes the songs of the Civil War and cowboy songs of the West.  Rideout tells American history through a series of songs.  Some of the songs featured on the podcast are The Girl I Left Behind Me, Old Rosen and Beau, Old Dan Tucker, and The Battle Cry of Freedom - just to name a few.  Enjoy the musical journey that Rex takes us on and the interesting stories that accompany the traditional music or America's past.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Hop Bullet Double IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Chico, California

REX's MUSIC:  Frontier Favorites: Old-Time Music of the Wild West
https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Favorites-Old-Time-Gardner-2003-08-26/dp/B01KAT88FY

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

Dr. Arthur Mehrhoff explains how German traditions and customs have added to American life.  He details the domestic issues and conflicts that were going on in Germany that led to a widespread migration to the United States.  He discusses the impact of the Revolution of 1848 in Germany and the expectations of the “48ers” that came to America.  Mehrhoff describes why many Germans migrated to the American Midwest while other immigrant groups such as the Irish mainly concentrated in Eastern cities.  He identifies some of the first and largest German communities in Missouri which a special emphasis on Hermann, Missouri.  He talks about the economic, religious, and artistic impact Germans had on Missouri culture, as well.  He explains how the German initially preserved and cultivated their traditions and customs – including a discussion on how German Christmas customs has had an effect on American holiday traditions.  Mehrhoff delves into the history of groups such as the “Turners” and discusses the impact that WWI and anti-German hysteria had on German communities in the U.S.  He describes how Prohibition devastated German breweries in the United States.  He then explains how WWII and the move to the suburbs in the 1950s changed German communities forever.  Mehrhoff finishes with a look to the future and how communities are celebrating and educating the public about German heritage in America.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Korbinian Doppelbock, Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, Germany

MISSOURI HUMANITIES COUNCIL

https://mohumanities.org/

PUBLICATION:  Missouri Life

https://missourilife.com/

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

https://bonesfork.com/

FOLK MUSIC:  Eisberg Germanisches Land

Author Anne R. Keene discusses the story of the Navy baseball team that was formed in the early years of World War II called the Cloudbuster Nine.  The squad was made up of several major league baseball players including Williams, Sain, Pesky and Gremp.  The focus is really on Hall of Famer Ted Williams and Anne Keene's father who served as a batboy for the Cloudbusters.  She explains how Williams decided to join the Navy's elite V-5 Pre-Flight School.  The program had five locations in the United States including at the University of Iowa and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  The discussion centers on the training and team at UNC.  Keene talks about how Ted Williams worked through early academic troubles to become one of the most successful trainees at the Pre-Flight School.  She explains training developed by Naval commander Tom Hamilton which was the most challenging and difficult course in the U.S. Navy.  Anne talks about her father's connection to baseball, his struggles with near fame and his legacy.  She finishes with a discussion on the Cloudbuster schedule and a fabled game with Babe Ruth's squad which featured the Bambinos very last at-bat.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Tank 7 American Saison Ale, Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO

BOOK:  The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team that Helped Win World War II
https://www.amazon.com/Cloudbuster-Nine-Untold-Williams-Baseball/dp/1683583620/ref=asc_df_1683583620/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459526726066&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16977945266457766814&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022417&hvtargid=pla-915388764440&psc=1

AUTHOR:  Anne R. Keene
https://www.annerkeene.com/

MUSIC:  Bones Fork
https://bonesfork.com/

Veteran writer James Donovan talks about the inspiration and dangerous beginnings of the American space program.  He explains how the U.S. in WWI acquired important plans and equipment from the Nazi V-2 rocket program, including the German scientist Wernher von Braun.  He goes into Operation Paperclip the secret American plan to bring German scientists into the United States for use in military development and rocket technology.  The conversation covers the importance of Sputnik in 1957 and how the Soviets had moved past the U.S.  He details how the United States selected the astronauts for the early space program and the requirements and training they received.  He goes into the flights of Alan Shepard and John Glenn and how that revived a struggling American space program.  Dononvan describes how the election of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson changed the trajectory of the space race.  He goes into the famous Apollo 204 training incident that resulted in the deaths of astronauts Grissom, White and Chaffee and how that nearly grounded the entire system.  The author tells how he handles those that believe the Moon landing was fake.  He finishes with the legacy of Apollo 11 and the importance of space exploration for humanity.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Blue Moon LightSky Citrus Wheat, Blue Moon Brewery, Denver, CO

BOOK:  Shoot for the Moon: The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo II 
https://www.amazon.com/Shoot-Moon-Extraordinary-Voyage-Apollo/dp/0316341789

MUSIC:  Bones Fork
https://bonesfork.com/