On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab announces the fascinating discovery of what may be the earliest known example of modern musical notations from Western Europe in private hands. Unearthed from a ninth-century Latin manuscript originally part of a Sacramentary, the notations on this leaf are revealed to be groundbreaking remnants of the Carolingian Renaissance. The episode explores the meticulous process of authenticating these rare documents and the historical significance of Charlemagne's influence on handwriting standardization. Learn about the exciting journey of uncovering these medieval musical notations and their remarkable impact on our understanding of history. To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/medieval-manuscripts/earliest-musical-notations

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:32 Unveiling a Historical Discovery

00:53 The 9th-Century Sacramentary Manuscript

02:21 The Significance of Carolingian Script

03:25 Discovery at Auction

03:44 Musical Notations (Neumes) in Medieval Manuscripts

05:34 Confirming the Discovery

05:55 Research and Historical Context

07:05 The Excitement of Historical Discoveries

08:08 Conclusion

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab about a newly discovered, unpublished letter of Abraham Lincoln. The episode explores how rare historical documents like this Civil War-era Lincoln letter provide fresh insights into history. They delve into the letter's background, detailing its journey from Lincoln's hands to General Washburn, stationed in Brownsville, Texas, to its recent discovery in a private collection, and discuss the value of Lincoln autographs and letters. The episode also highlights the importance of preserving and studying these documents to deepen our understanding of historical figures and events. To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidents-autographs/abraham-lincoln-autograph

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:33 Unveiling a Rare Lincoln Document

02:18 The President’s Correspondent: General Cadwallader Washburn

02:49 The Battle of Brownsville, Texas

05:39 Lincoln's Handwritten Letters

06:09 The Value of Lincoln Documents

06:59 Incorporating this Discovery into Lincoln Scholarship

07:28 Conclusion 

In this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, answers some frequently asked questions about historical documents and autographs. Nathan shares insights on how he entered the business, the daily operations of a historical document dealer, and the intricate process of authenticating documents. He emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in building meaningful collections and discusses the challenges and nuances of the autograph market. The episode also covers how The Raab Collection sources its materials and provides practical advice for new collectors.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:34 Meet Nathan Raab: The Historical Document Expert

01:49 The Day-to-Day Life of a Historical Documents Dealer

03:10 The Art of Authenticating Historical Documents

04:53 Selling Historical Documents to The Raab Collection

07:06 The Role of Third-Party Authenticators

14:26 Advice for New Collectors

17:09 Where The Raab Collection Finds Its Treasures

18:55 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab recounts the discovery and acquisition of President Ronald Reagan’s original, handwritten “Are You Better Off” speech, his closing statement from the 1980 presidential debate against Jimmy Carter. Raab delves into the manuscript's origins, its long-hidden existence, and its lasting impact on American political rhetoric. The manuscript also contains Reagan’s line: “Join us in a crusade to make America great again,” making it a remarkable bridge between political generations. The episode also highlights Reagan's legacy and the historical value of collecting and preserving rare documents.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 The Impact of Reagan's 'Are You Better Off' Speech

01:00 Discovery of the Manuscript

01:34 The Speech's Enduring Influence on American Political History

03:07 Origins and Preservation of the Document

05:48 Collecting Reagan Documents & Autographs

06:45 Conclusion

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab about an archive of documents related to Paul Revere and a Colonial-era church in Massachusetts. The conversation covers Revere’s historical significance during the American Revolution, the rarity of his autograph, and the context of these historical documents which span from 1760 to 1809. Highlighting the journey of Revere's documents from his Midnight Ride to his creation of a church bell in Arlington, Massachusetts, the episode also delves into the lives and contributions of the lesser-known Minutemen and community members whose stories are captured in this fascinating archive.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 Paul Revere's Midnight Ride and Historical Documents

01:34 The Rarity and Significance of Revere's Autograph

02:16 Lexington, Concord, and Monotomy

03:17 The Church and Community of Arlington, Massachusetts

04:11 Inside the Archive

05:56 The Revolutionary Spirit Captured in Documents

08:58 Conclusion and Reflections

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of the Raab Collection, about a recently surfaced, unpublished letter from JRR Tolkien. The letter, acquired by the Raab Collection, features Tolkien discussing his characters and providing permission to a fan to name his golden retriever after one of them. They delve into the historical significance and market value of Tolkien's autographs, the enduring impact of his works, and the unique insights these letters offer into his creative process and personality. Additionally, they discuss how collectors often start their journeys with items related to their personal heroes, like Tolkien. For more information: https://www.raabcollection.com/literary-autographs/tolkien-names-of-chatacters

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:32 An Unpublished J.R.R. Tolkien Letter

01:30 The Legacy of Tolkien's Characters

05:06 Tolkien's Correspondence and Unusual Handwriting

06:22 The Value of Tolkien's Autographs

08:14 Collecting Autographs: A Personal Journey

09:39 Conclusion 

In this special episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry and Nathan Raab welcome Mayor Viktor Šimunić, mayor of the Croatian town of Oroslavja, Croatia, to discuss the acquisition of Joseph Mikulec’s remarkable autograph book. 

This artifact, containing tens of thousands of signatures from prominent figures of the early 20th century, was lost to history until rediscovered by Nathan Raab. Mayor Šimunić’s dedication to bringing the book back to Croatia highlights the importance of preserving national heritage. The episode delves into the personal journeys and efforts that led to the book's return, its potential to boost historical tourism, and the mayor's vision for a museum dedicated to Mikulec’s adventures.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 A Special Episode: The Famous Autograph Book of Joseph Mikulec

02:06 Mayor's First Impressions of the United States

02:44 The Journey of the Autograph Book

03:18 The Mayor's Determination and Vision

04:35 The Discovery and Acquisition of the Book

07:20 The Book’s Future in Croatia

12:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab explores a rare 1783 letter written by Thomas Jefferson, just months after the Revolutionary War ended. Nathan provides insights into Jefferson's emotions and the history surrounding the Treaty of Paris, the spread of democracy, and the right of democratic citizens everywhere to bear arms against tyranny.

The discussion covers the letter's journey through time, its disappearance and eventual rediscovery, and its significance in the context of Jefferson’s life and the broader democratic movements of the period. Overall, the episode emphasizes the enduring impact of historical documents on our understanding of history.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 Thomas Jefferson's 1783 Letter

01:46 The End of the Revolutionary War, The Treaty of Paris and Its Challenges

02:45 Jefferson's Life and Career in 1783

03:28 The Journey of Jefferson's Letter

05:06 Jefferson's Views on Democracy and Bearing Arms

07:33 The Broader Impact of the American Revolution

08:37 Reflecting on Jefferson's Achievements

10:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Further Resources: 

To learn more about this piece of American history: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/jefferson-ratify-treaty-of-paris

To see other documents signed by Thomas Jefferson: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidents-autographs/thomas-jefferson-autograph

On this episode of 'Inspired by History,' Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, about the original, signed reading copy of President Benjamin Harrison’s inaugural address. Raab discovered and acquired the historical manuscript over a decade ago. Now Raab is loaning it to Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis, where it will be on exhibit alongside other presidential documents and memorabilia, now through August. This episode also highlights Harrison's contributions as the 23rd President of the United States and discusses the value and rarity of historical presidential documents. The discussion underscores how such artifacts bring history to life and their importance in understanding presidential legacies.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:34 Exploring the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

01:11 The Discovery of Harrison's Inaugural Address

01:38 Acquisition and Journey of the Historical Documents

02:34 Putting the Address on Exhibit at the Presidential Site

03:13 Significance of Historical Presidential Documents

06:11 Benjamin Harrison's Legacy and Accomplishments

08:15 The Role of Inaugural Addresses in American History

09:00 Conclusion and Podcast Information

Further Resources: 

To learn more about this piece of American history: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/harrison-original-inaugural-manuscript

To see other historical documents related to Benjamin Harrison: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidents-autographs/benjamin-harrison-autograph

To visit the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site: https://bhpsite.org/ 

To check out Nathan Raab’s book, “The Hunt for History”: https://www.raabcollection.com/the-hunt-for-history 

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, about his recent discovery and acquisition of a large archive of documents acquired from the heirs of the Crowninshield family, a prominent early American business family. They discuss the discovery process and the historical significance of the documents, which includes a privateers commission signed by James Madison and James Monroe during the War of 1812 and a privateer’s capture booklet. We meet several members of the Crowninshield family who navigated international shipping and political arenas, with one brother in Congress, and another becoming Secretary of the Navy. This archive provides a unique glimpse into early 19th-century business and politics, and its preservation offers new insights and color to the historical narrative. Click here for more information on Benjamin Crowninshield and the Crowninshield Family Archive.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 Discovering a Historical Archive

02:02 The Crowninshield Family Legacy

03:28 Privateering During the War of 1812

06:01 Researching and Analyzing Historical Documents

06:47 Political Connections: Benjamin Harrison as Secretary of the Navy  

08:01 Preserving and Discovering New Historical Narratives

10:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts