Walter Harper and the Summiting of Denali, Part 1

This 2021 episode covers Washington Irving, who is often associated with Halloween. But his writing had a significant influence on the way Christmas is celebrated in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Des 33min

Tracy wonders whether Jack the turkey went to the bathroom in the White House. Holly talks about how much she dislikes people arguing over food preferences. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Des 31min

The cranberries we typically eat are native to North America, though they are also grown in other places. How did they become a standard part of the holiday table? Research: Albanese, Ellen. “A brief history of the cranberry—Cape Cod’s most important fruit.” Cape Cod Life. 2016 Annual. https://capecodlife.com/a-brief-history-of-the-cranberry-cape-cods-most-important-fruit/ Banks, Sir Joseph, and Sir Joseph D. Hooker, ed. “Journal of the Right Hon., Sir Joseph Banks, BART., K.B., P.R.S., During Captain Cook’s First Voyage in M.S. Endeavour in 1768-71 To Terra Del Fuego [sic], Otahite, new Zealand, Australia, the Dutch East indies, Etc.” ” London. Macmillan and Co., LTD. 1896. https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/926449.pdf Berman-Vaporis, Irene, et al. “The U.S. cranberry harvest explained in four charts.” National Geographic. Nov. 27, 2019. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/united-states-cranberry-harvest-explained-charts?loggedin=true&rnd=1764767841856 Blakemore, Erin. “A Brief History of Cranberries.” Smithsonian. Nov. 25, 2015. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brief-history-cranberries-180957399/ Borunda, Alejandro. “Climate change is coming for New England's cranberries.” National geographic. Nov. 25, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/climate-change-affecting-massachusetts-cranberries Chen, Angus. “We Tried A Futuristic Cranberry. It Was Fresh And Naturally Sweet.” NPR. Nov. 24, 2015. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/24/457247226/cranberry-you-could-eat-without-sugar “DDT - A Brief History and Status.” Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status Eastwood, B. “Complete Manual for the Cultivation of the Cranberry: With a Description of the Best Varieties.” A.O. Moore. 1859. https://archive.org/details/completemanualf00eastgoog/page/n4/mode/2up Henshaw, Tom. “Cranberry Industry Seen Hurt for Years by Weed Killer Scare.” Courir-Post. Nov. 26, 1959. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/180597557/?match=1&terms=Marcus%20Urann “Historical Timeline of Cranberries.” Massachusetts Cranberries. https://www.cranberries.org/history Josselyn, John. “New-England's rarities discovered in birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country.” Boston. William Veazie. 1865. https://archive.org/details/newenglandsrarit00joss/page/n7/mode/2up “Marcus Urann Scholarship.” Bank of America. https://www.gnbvt.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Marcus-Urann-Scholarship-.pdf “M. Urann Rites Are Tomorrow.” The Standard-Times. April 5, 1963. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/1260416770/?match=1&terms=Marcus%20Urann “Our History.” CoBank. https://www.cobank.com/corporate/history Readal, Maryann. “Cranberry – Herb for the Holidays.” The HerbSociety of America Blog. Nov. 7, 2022. https://herbsocietyblog.wordpress.com/tag/elizabeth-lee-ocean-spray/ Smith, K. Annabelle. “How Marcus Urann’s idea revolutionized the cranberry industry.” Smithsonian. Nov. 27, 2013. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/this-man-made-the-first-canned-cranberry-sauce-180947862/ Tennenbaum, David, and Lee Sensenbrenner. “Sprouting a new future for Wisconsin’s red and white.” University of Madison-Wisconsin News. Oct. 29, 2015. https://news.wisc.edu/sprouting-a-new-future-for-wisconsins-red-and-white/ Theobald, Mary Miley. “Bogged Down in Cranberries.” Colonial Williamsburg. https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/Foundation/journal/Holiday06/cran.cfm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Des 36min

No dogs or cats here! A number of unorthodox pets have arrived at the White House and become part of the first family in very unusual ways throughout history. Research: “All Creatures Great and Small: Ground Floor Pet Sculptures.” The White House. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/holiday/2002/groundfloor/05.html “An Animal Often Misjudged.” Evening Star. Nov. 28, 1926. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/618563692/?match=1&terms=raccoon%20%22white%20house%22%20coolidge “Coolidge Didn’t Leave ‘Rebecca’ Behind.” News Journal. March 11, 1927. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/291999678/?match=1&terms=rebecca%20raccoon Coolidge, Calvin. “The Autobiography Of Calvin Coolidge.” Cosmopolitan Book Corporation. 1929. https://archive.org/details/autobiographyofc011710mbp/page/n1/mode/2up Costello, Matthew. “Raccoons at the White House.” The White House Historical Association. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/raccoons-at-the-white-house Hard, Anne. “Pets of the White House.” The Minneapolis Journal. Jan. 6, 1929. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/811305767/?match=1&terms=%22reuben%20raccoon%22 Heiskell, Samuel Gordon. “Andrew Jackson and early Tennessee history, Vol. 3.” Ambrose Printing Co. 1921. https://archive.org/details/andrewjacksonear31heis/page/52/mode/2up?q=parrot Jack the Turkey. “On Gratitude.” President Lincoln’s Cottage. No. 27, 2014. https://www.lincolncottage.org/on-gratitude/ King, Gilbert. “The History of Pardoning Turkeys Began With Tad Lincoln.” Smithsonian Magazine. Nov. 21, 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-history-of-pardoning-turkeys-began-with-tad-lincoln-141137570/ “Live Raccoon Gives Coolidge Big Problem.” The Columbus Ledger. Nov. 26, 1926. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/855229358/?match=1&terms=raccoon%20%22white%20house%22%20coolidge McGraw, Eliza. “This raccoon could have been a president’s Thanksgiving meal. It became a White House pet instead.” The Washington Post. Nov. 25, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/11/25/this-raccoon-could-have-been-presidents-thanksgiving-meal-it-became-white-house-pet-instead/ “Meet Rebecca!” The Cincinnati Enquirer. Dec. 25, 1926. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/103377809/?match=1&terms=rebecca%20raccoon Meyer, Holly. “Andrew Jackson’s Funeral Drew Thousands, 1 Swearing Parrot.” The Tennessean. June 7, 2015. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/06/07/andrew-jacksons-funeral-drew-thousands-swearing-parrot/28664493/ Mezaros, John. “Statue of Jack the Pardoned Turkey.” Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/statue-of-jack-the-pardoned-turkey Moser, Harold D. (ed.) “The Papers of Andrew Jackson.” University of Tennessee Press. 2002. https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=utk_jackson “Odds and Ends At the Nation’s Capital.” The Buffalo News. March 1, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/837109710/?match=1&terms=rebecca%20raccoon “Raccoon Sent to Coolidge to Be White House Pet.” Salt Lake Telegram. Dec. 1, 1926. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/288632502/?match=1&terms=raccoon%20%22white%20house%22%20coolidge “Rebecca in Disgrace Again As She Flees White House Kennels to Spend Night Out.” The Evening Star. Dec. 14, 1927. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/618609389/?match=1&terms=%22rebecca%20in%20disgrace%22 “Rebecca, Raccoon, Is Banished From Coolidge Domicile.” San Francisco Examiner. March 17, 1927. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/457915005/?match=1&terms=rebecca%20raccoon Upton, Harriet Taylor. “Our Early Presidents, Their Wives and Children: From Washington to Jackson.” D. Lothrop Company. 1890. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=vzpOAAAAYAAJ&vq=alligator&source=gbs_navlinks_s “Wills House Virtual Identity: Thomas ‘Tad’ Lincoln.” National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/wills-house-virtual-identity-thomas-tad-lincoln.htm Wootson, Cleve R. Jr. “A history of White House profanity — and one cursing presidential parrot.” Washington Post. Jan. 12, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/01/12/a-potty-mouthed-history-of-presidential-profanity-and-one-cursing-white-house-parrot/ Wright, James L. “Coolidge Heads Toward Outing Spot in Dakota.” The Buffalo News. June 14, 1927. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/836843871/?match=1&terms=rebecca%20raccoonakota.” Zellner, Xander. “A Brief History of President-Bird Companionship.” Audubon. Feb 12, 2016. https://www.audubon.org/news/a-brief-history-president-bird-companionship See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Des 34min

This 2021 episode covers how The Nutcracker is a Russian adaptation of a German story that wasn’t really a Christmas staple in its home country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Des 39min

Tracy shares how her Charles Sumner research yielded a three-part episode. Holly mentions that while there's not a lot of scholarly work about Cassius Coolidge's life, he is featured in a lot of newspaper mentions from his time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Des 29min

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s most well-known art is the Dogs Playing Poker series. He was a true Renaissance man, and even patented a style of kitsch art. Research: Arn, Jackson. “Why This Painting of Dogs Playing Poker Has Endured for over 100 Years.” Artsy. June 6, 2018. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-painting-dogs-playing-poker-endured-100-years Barry, Dan. “Artist’s Fame Is Fleeting, But Dog Poker Is Forever.” New York Times. June 14, 2002. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/14/nyregion/artist-s-fame-is-fleeting-but-dog-poker-is-forever.html “The bicycling fraternity …” The Evening World. Oct. 17, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/50674735/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 Coolidge, Asenath Carver. “The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury.” Hungerford-Holbrook Company. 1905. https://books.google.com/books?id=-04LAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22cassius+coolidge%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s Coolidge, Cassius M. (as Kash). “The Accomodating Lender.” The Cosmopolitan. Volume 2. Schlicht & Field, 1887. P. 120. https://books.google.com/books?id=P5rNAAAAMAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s Coolidge, Cassius M. “Improvement in the processes of taking photographic pictures.” U.S. Patent Office. April 14, 1874. https://patents.google.com/patent/US149724 “Dog Poker Art Fetches Big Bucks.” CBS News. Feb. 16, 2005. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-poker-art-fetches-big-bucks/ Edwards, Phil. “Ever stick your face in a cutout? Meet the kitsch genius who invented them.” Vox. May 29, 2015. https://www.vox.com/2015/5/29/8682601/carnival-cutouts-inventor “The exciting road race …” The Evening World. Sept. 26, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/163980688/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 “Gallinipper Mosquitos & Other Insects.” Nebraska Extension Disaster Education. https://disaster.unl.edu/gallinipper-mosquitos-other-insects/ “George A. Banker received this week …” Pittsburg Dispatch. Aug. 16, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/76578744/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 Haddock, John A. “The Growth of a Century: as Illustrated in the History of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894.” Sherman and Company, 1894. https://books.google.com/books?id=KyUVAAAAYAAJ&dq=antwerp+cassius+coolidge+bank&source=gbs_navlinks_s “King Gallinipper.” New York Times. April 28, 1892. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1892/04/28/104126214.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 Lewis, Joel. “Boat Unloading: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge,” Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow 7. Issue 7, part 2014. https://books.google.com/books?id=Zu__BgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA205&dq=coolidge%20%22september%2018%2C%201844%22&pg=PA205#v=onepage&q&f=false McManus, James. “Play It Close to the Muzzel and Cards on the Table.” New York Times. Dec. 3, 2005. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/03/sports/othersports/play-it-close-to-the-muzzle-and-paws-on-the-table.html Martinovic, Jelena. “Beloved By All But The Art World - The Dogs Playing Poker Painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.” Artsper. Feb. 27, 2025. https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/dogs-playing-poker-painting/ “Mr. Cassius M. Coolidge, the New York artist and playwright …” Sun-Journal. Oct. 3, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/828104988/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 “A Notable Game of Poker.” The Sun. Sept. 17, 1893. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83030272/1893-09-17/ed-1/?sp=7&st=pdf&r=0.147%2C0.847%2C0.213%2C0.088%2C0 “Rehearsals for ‘King Gallinipper,’ …” The Evening World. April 20, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/50663243/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 “Reviewed Work(s): A Prophet of Peace by Asenath Carver Coolidge and Cassius M. Coolidge.”The Advocate of Peace (1894-1920), Vol. 70, No. 5 (MAY, 1908), p. 117. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20665503 “Teachers’ Institute.” Democrat and Chronicle. June 9, 1876. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/135109029/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 “The wheelmen of the Manhattan Atheltic Club …” The Evning World. Sept. 23, 1892. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/163977579/?match=1&terms=%22cassius%20coolidge%22 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Des 35min