In this episode of Public History, we talk to author and public historian Ryan Quint about his new book, Dranesville: A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire of a Forgotten Battle, Dec. 20, 1861. His previous book, Determined to Stand and Fight: The Battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, was published in 2017. 

You can purchase the book here!

Or find a Kindle version here.

In this episode, we talk about: 

The Battle of Dranesville 

Civilian experiences during the early stages of the Civil War in northern Virginia. 

Why the experience in Dranesville in 1861 is a warning about the realities of civil war 

How the local community in Dranesville honors the memory of those who fell in the December 1861 battle. 

And in our Postscripts, we discuss: 

Jake - The new movie Civil War and and its message about modern conflict 

Ryan - New class of interns at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and the deep interest these young adults have in American history 

Justin - The recently unearthed, never-released, extremely cringe in hindsight 2010 recruitment videos produced by the New York Knicks to attract Lebron James to the Big Apple. Featuring notables such as Tony Soprano, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, and Harvey Weinstein. 

In this pod we discuss episodes 3 and 4 of the Apple TV+ limited series "Manhunt" about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the Lincoln assassination in 1865. We are joined by our friend and fellow public historian Rich Condon to discuss the show's portrayal of the early stages of Reconstruction. 

In this show you'll hear: 

Our unvarnished opinions about Manhunt

Laments about too much artistic license used in some historical dramas

How this show does a fairly good job of showing the implications of Reconstruction

And more! 

Our Postscripts this week: 

Justin - Why We Love Baseball A History in 50 Moments by Joe Posnanski; Gaylord Perry and the Moon Landing

Rich - Lemuel Butler and Midland Cemetery 

Jake - Taking Rich to his first NASCAR race in Richmond, VA

In our first conversation of our Making a Public Historian series, we chat with Maureen Lavelle who currently works as the History Programs Manager for the City of Boise Department of Arts and History. 

We discuss her career journey as a public historian, her unique experiences in the National Park Service, and her advice for aspiring young historians with an interest in working with the public. 

Lavelle has previously worked for the National Park Service at numerous parks around the country, including Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Death Valley National Park, and Camp Nelson National Monument. She’s a graduate of West Virginia University public history graduate program. 

Our Postscripts:

Justin - The Eisenhower Tree at Augusta - https://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2024-04-08/2024-04-08_the_legacy_of_the_eisenhower_tree_lives_on.html 

Maureen - The Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio - https://www.bicyclemuseum.com/ 

Jake - “Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen - https://bookshop.org/p/books/nuclear-war-a-scenario-annie-jacobsen/20335598?ean=9780593476093 

In the inaugural episode of the pod, Jake and Justin discuss the first two episodes of the Apple TV+ limited series "Manhunt." This show, based on James Swanson's book of the same name, follows the hunt for John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in April 1865. 

In the show, you'll hear about: 

A beardless, not grumpy enough Edwin Stanton

Attempts to steal Daniel Day-Lewis's Lincoln voice 

John Wilkes Booth's fame level - before the assassination

Centering the narrative of race and Reconstruction in the story of Lincoln's assassination 

And more! 

We also introduce our closing segment - the Postscript

Justin's Postscript

Smarter Everyday - Day 293: https://youtu.be/OoJsPvmFixU?si=wWiOmfT7YZxtVm3q

Jake's Postscript

Takeover by Timothy Rybeck: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780593824740-takeover

Welcome to "Public History with Jake & Justin," the podcast where the past is never far behind. Join us as we delve into the ever-changing world of public history. In this show we will examine how the public consumes history at museums, historic sites, national parks, battlefields and through popular culture. 

With over a decade of experience in public history, Jake has spent years sharing stories from the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. His career as a public history began in Frederick, Maryland at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and online at WynningHistory.com and PennCivilWar.com.

Joining him is colleague and friend, Justin Voithofer, a dedicated public historian with a rich background that includes time interpreting Civil War battlefields with the National Park Service and serving in the United States Army. Justin's unique perspectives from the front lines of history and his dedication to preserving our nation's legacy add compelling depth to our conversations.

Tune in as we navigate the fascinating landscape of public history, where every story holds the power to inspire, educate, and provoke discussion. Welcome to our conversation.

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely our own and do not reflect the views of our employers or any affiliated organizations.