A Postcard, A Poem, & A Shift in Perspective
A 1909 postcard sent from Wetumka, Oklahoma, with a short handwritten message and a printed verse, leads us back to the work of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. This episode looks at the poem behind the postcard...
29 Apr 6min
And I Made It Myself | A Craft Store Story
A small wax paper bag from 1977 is creased, worn, & was probably never meant to be kept. It leads us back to a craft store in Omaha, Nebraska where they are still offering ways to encourage you to say...
22 Apr 10min
Peanuts are just Li'l Folks
Charlie Brown didn’t start everywhere. He started small. Before Peanuts became a brand, it was a comic of a different name. Once Charles Schulz made it real, a syndicate made it national, and Hallma...
15 Apr 11min
When a “Nasty Cat” Became Big News
In 1980 Garfield was only two years old already syndicated, already sarcastic, already beloved. The article captures Jim Davis just off a promotional tour and navigating sudden attention of his lasag...
8 Apr 4min
1936 WRIGLEY'S Gum - 3 Pack Sample Card
A 1936 sample card from Wm. WRIGLEY Jr. Co. features three sticks of gum and a lot of promises. A small piece of ephemera becomes a window into how WRIGLEY presented itself to the public in the early ...
1 Apr 10min
Pfc Brother Charlie Writes Home - May 7, 1944
A 1944 WWII letter sent home, from Camp Stewart, offers a glimpse into family life, distance, and the everyday concerns of a U.S. Army Private First Class. Even when the full story remains just out o...
25 Mar 10min
Breadcrumbs & Breakthroughs: The Woman Who Invented Stove Top Stuffing
It started with finding a 1952 Purdue Yearbook. After having it for a couple years, I finally thought to look & see if any notable people attended at the time. I was excited to find out Ruth Siems, cr...
18 Mar 9min
It's Only A Piece Of Paper! Salvage for Victory
Even now, long after the Depression, we still live with the same mindset, just dressed in modern language. We call it recycling, re-purposing, sustainability. But at its core, it’s the same idea: don’...
11 Mar 3min
