For decades, much of what we knew about Cathay Williams came from military documents and a newspaper article published in 1876. But as historians continue to study Cathay’s life, new questions arise. What if we’ve had the story backwards this entire time? 

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

Alice Austen's story is one of artistic brilliance and rebellion (not an unusual pairing), but her body of work, over 7,000 images, was almost lost to history. In this episode, you will learn how the social commentary in her photographs, taken during the turn of the century, is exceedingly relevant today, and how these photographs were discovered decades later.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

World AIDS Day has been observed annually on December 1st since 1988. This year, 2025, is the first time since 1988 that the United States government has not honored World AIDS Day. 

We took an opportunity, however, to commemorate World AIDS Day by interviewing Nicole Pascarelli O’Brien about her deep connection to the people involved in the early days of the AIDS Action Committee in Boston, and her efforts to preserve their stories.

At the end of this episode, you will hear a few voices from Nicole’s oral history archive: Larry Kessler, Linette Liebling, and Mary Clark.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

Harvey Milk may already be familiar to you, as one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, and for the tragedy that ended his life far too soon. But his legacy is much more than time-stamped moments. In this episode, you will learn a fuller story about Milk's legacy and why this great leader’s messages of visibility and hope still matter.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

In this episode, we are exploring one of the most fascinating and misunderstood figures in Native American storytelling: the trickster. This figure embodies complexities and contradictions that reveal deep truths about ourselves and our place in the universe.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

In this episode, you will meet Charley Parkhurst, who lived an extraordinary life as one of the most famous stagecoach drivers during the California Gold Rush! 

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not know how Charley identified or might identify today. The content in this episode uses language from primary source materials and conveys attitudes and circumstances from the time period.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

There are plenty of conversations about gender today, in the media, pop culture, recent legislation, and even in Executive Orders. In this episode, our host, Kathleen Barker, will unpack the first known case of when someone’s gender became a legal matter. And the testimonies in the court records read like a soap opera. 

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

Before there was k.d. lang, Janelle Monáe, or Brandi Carlile, there were queer women — bold, brilliant, and unapologetic — whose voices redefined music genres and challenged social norms. In this episode, you will meet three pioneers whose music and lives defied social norms and changed music forever.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

In 1873, off the coast of a small village in Nova Scotia, the SS Atlantic was pulled off course by the tides of the Bay of Fundy and it crashed headlong into the rocks. 1,000 people were on board. 

Fast forward to the 21st Century, when Lynette Richards, author and artist - and super sleuth  - moved to this little coastal village, called Lower Prospect, and discovered the mass graves of 500 lives who perished in the wreck. This led Lynette on a years-long journey that rescued lives and stories that are now living in Lynette's graphic novel, Call Me Bill. Have a listen as our host, Kathleen Barker, talks with Lynette about the mysteries and injustices that have been discovered and corrected in Lower Prospect and beyond!

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org

On April 27th, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, a quiet but devastating policy that institutionalized fear, fueled decades of discrimination against LGBTQ people, and erased countless lives from public service. Our host, Kathleen Barker, will unpack the context that led to this order, how it impacted generations of Americans, and why understanding this history matters more today than ever.

History UnErased is putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom. UnErased.org