Talking Hoosier History

Today, socialism is a misunderstood political buzzword. In this episode, we ask you to set aside preconceptions to look at the historical roots of the movement and what it meant to workers with few protections. In 1912, Terre Haute native Eugene V. Debs ran for president on the Socialist Party of America ticket, which promised to give more power to the average American worker. While he didn't win, his campaign illustrates the power of third parties to shift major party platforms.

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John, Louann, and Lydia Rhodes escaped enslavement in 1836, and eventually settled in Hamilton County, Indiana. Like many formerly enslaved people, they lived with the looming threat of recapture for the next 8 years until, in 1844, their worst fears became reality when their former enslaver showed up on their front doorstep. What came next has come to be called the Rhodes Family Incident.

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In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people lived a lot more closely with death than we do today. Mortality rates were much higher. Wakes were held in the family home. And relics of the dead, such as death photographs and hair jewelry, were kept as prize possessions after the wake had ended. Perhaps it's not surprising then, that from this time came a wealth of ghost stories, often related in the pages of newspapers. In this episode, we'll share just a few of these ghastly tales from the pages of Indiana History.

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On Thursday, April 24, 1919, 13 women took off their headsets and staged a walk out at the New Home Telephone Company in Linton, Greene County, Indiana. Five days later, a battle broke out between the people of Linton and the Indiana militia. On this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we explore the harsh working conditions that drove these women to strike and the course of events that led to the whole area around Linton being put under Martial Law.

Read transcripts and show notes here.

What is a Hoosier? People have been asking just that question for nearly two centuries, but have we ever really figured it out? On this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we explore some of the various and sometimes outlandish explanations of the origin of the most famous demonym in America.

Read transcripts and show notes here.

What is a Hoosier? People have been asking just that question for nearly two centuries, but have we ever really figured it out? On this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we explore some of the various and sometimes outlandish explanations of the origin of the most famous demonym in America.

On April 4, 1968 Robert Kennedy arrived in Indianapolis for a planned campaign speech. Instead, he had the impossible task of telling the mostly African American audience that Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot and killed. His speech was an inspiring moment of grace in the aftermath of unthinkable violence. However, it was the strong African American leaders of Indianapolis who led the community in peaceful mourning while other cities erupted into violence.

Read transcripts and show notes here.

On April 4, 1968 Robert Kennedy arrived in Indianapolis for a planned campaign speech. Instead, he had the impossible task of telling the mostly African American audience that Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot and killed. His speech was an inspiring moment of grace in the aftermath of unthinkable violence. However, it was the strong African American leaders of Indianapolis who led the community in peaceful mourning while other cities erupted into violence. Dr. Frank Thomas joins for a discussion of his book and concept of "moral imagination." Dr. Thomas calls on us to visualize a positive future to achieve it.

You may know that George Rogers Clark took Fort Sackville in Vincennes, Indiana, from the British in a daring siege. But why should we care? How would history be different if he hadn't? What you may not know is that he later expatriated himself and dared a second revolutionary act that also could have changed history and the U.S. map . . . possibly to this day. In this episode of Talking Hoosier History we ask... WHAT IF?

Read transcripts and show notes here.

You may know that George Rogers Clark took Fort Sackville in Vincennes, Indiana, from the British in a daring siege. But why should we care? How would history be different if he hadn't? What you may not know is that he later expatriated himself and dared a second revolutionary act that also could have changed history and the U.S. map . . . possibly to this day. In this episode of Talking Hoosier History we ask... WHAT IF?