
Very Old Animals
These animals have been marking time largely unaware of all the ups and downs and intrigues of humanity. And stories about them often have more to do with the way people perceive them than the animals themselves. Research: Butler, Paul G. et al. “Variability of marine climate on the North Icelandic Shelf in a 1357-year proxy archive based on growth increments in the bivalve Arctica islandica.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. Volume 373, 2013. Pages 141-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.01.016. Barber, Elizabeth. “Scientists discover world's oldest clam, killing it in the process.” Christian Science Monitor. Nov. 15, 2013. https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1115/Scientists-discover-world-s-oldest-clam-killing-it-in-the-process Binns, Daniel. “Blungling Scientists Kill World’s Oldest Creature – a Clam – After 507 Years in Sea.” Metro UK. Nov. 13, 2013. https://metro.co.uk/2013/11/13/bungling-scientists-kill-worlds-oldest-creature-a-clam-after-507-years-in-sea-4185580/ Brix, Lise. “New record: World’s oldest animal is 507 years old.” Science Nordic. Nov. 6, 2013. https://sciencenordic.com/ageing-denmark-geochemistry/new-record-worlds-oldest-animal-is-507-years-old/1392743 Free, Cathy. “The world’s oldest living land animal? At age 190, it’s Jonathan the tortoise.” The Washington Post. January 30, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/01/31/oldest-animal-tortoise-jonathan-/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/01/31/oldest-animal-tortoise-jonathan-/ “Daughter Scotches Churchill Parrot Claim.” BBC. Jan. 21, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3417353.stm Elliot, Danielle. “Ming the Clam, World’s Oldest Animal, Was Actually 507 Years Old.” CBS News. Nov. 14, 2013. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ming-the-clam-worlds-oldest-animal-was-actually-507-years-old/ Farrar, Steve. “Ming the Mollusk Holds Secret to Long Life.” The Times. October 28, 2007. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ming-the-mollusc-holds-secret-to-long-life-mfcvbtxl6gr Gamillo, Elizabeth. “At 190, Jonathan the Tortoise Is the World’s Oldest. Smithsonian. Feb. 4, 2022. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-190-jonathan-the-tortoise-is-the-worlds-oldest-living-land-animal-180979514/ Holmes, Anna. “Meet Ming the Clam – the Oldest Animal in the World!” Amgueddfa Blog. Feb. 11, 2020. https://museum.wales/blog/2122/Meet-Ming-the-clam---the-oldest-animal-in-the-world/#:~:text=At%20507%20years%20the%20Ocean,together%20as%20a%20collective%20form.· “In A Flap Over 'Churchill's' Old Bird.” SkyNews. Jan. 20, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20091204165346/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641119993 Kolirin, Lianne. “Meet 190-year-old Jonathan, the world’s oldest-ever tortoise.” CNN. Jan. 26, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/oldest-tortoise-jonathan-scli-intl-scn/index.html “Historic Tortoise.” The Jersey Journal. June 28, 1968. https://www.newspapers.com/image/908625184/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1 “How are seashells made?” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/did-you-know/how-are-seashells-made “Jonathan at 140 Looks to the Future.” The Kansas City Times. Aug. 20, 1969. https://www.newspapers.com/image/675666450/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1 Lyall, Sarah. “Reigate Journal; Parrot May Have Been Churchill's, but She's Not Saying.” New York Times. March 9, 2004. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/world/reigate-journal-parrot-may-have-been-churchill-s-but-she-s-not-saying.html Madden, Chris. “Having a chat with Churchill's parrot and - at 114-years-old - one of Reigate's oldest residents.” Surrey Live. Aug. 26, 2014. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/having-chat-churchills-parrot-114-13642592 Triesman, Rachel. “Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, marks his 190th with fanfare and salad cake.” NPR. Dec. 7, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/07/1141180557/jonathan-tortoise-birthday-190 “Unique Distinction.” The Daily Times. Nov. 18, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/303381370/?terms=%22tortoise%20st.%20helena%22%20&match=1 “Jonathan’s 190th” St. Helena Tourism. https://www.sthelenatourism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Jonathan-turns-190.pdf Larson, Samantha. “Oldest Clam Consternation Overblown.” National Geographic. Nov. 17, 2013. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/131116-oldest-clam-dead-ming-science-ocean-507?loggedin=true&rnd=1690833236811 “Ming the clam is oldest mollusc.” BBC. Oct. 28, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7066389.stm Morelle, Rebecca. “Clam-gate: The Epic Saga of Ming.” BBC. Nov. 14, 2013. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24946983 Wallenfeldt, Jeff. “History of Saint Helena.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Helena-island-South-Atlantic-Ocean/History “RIP Ming the Clam.” The Daily Telegraph.” October 29, 2007. https://www.newspapers.com/image/753409282/?terms=ming%20quahog&match=1 Roach, John. “405-year-old Clam Called Longest-lived Animal.” National Geographic. October 29, 2007. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/405-year-old-clam-called-longest-lived-animal “Winston’s Obscene Parrot Lives On.” BBC. Jan. 19, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3410893.stm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Aug 202336min

SYMHC Classics: Transatlantic Telegraph Cable
This 2016 episode touches on the establishment of a submarine telegraph cable to connect North America and Europe. It took ingenuity, but more than anything else, it required tenacity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 Aug 202328min

Behind the Scenes Minis: Running and Sargents
Holly and Tracy talk about how the 1904 marathoners were abused by race organizers, and discuss lighter stories related to one of the runners. Tracy discusses John Singer Sargent's childhood drawings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4 Aug 202326min

Two Sargents: Judith and Emily
This episode is about two women related to John Singer Sargent: Judith Sargent Murray was a writer and an advocate for women’s rights. Emily Sargent was a prolific artist whose work was largely thought to be lost. Research: Cape Ann Slavery & Abolition. “Enslaved persons of record on Cape Ann.” https://capeannslavery.org/enslaved-persons-of-record-on-cape-ann/# Cascone, Sarah. “Emily Sargent, Not Just a Sister to John, Was a Serious Painter in Her Own Right. Her Watercolor Landscapes are Finally Entering Museums—and the Spotlight.” Artnet. 2/6/2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/emily-sargent-2215370 Charteris, Evan. “John Sargent.” New York : C. Scribner's sons. 1927. Colby, Vineta. “Vernon Lee: A Literary Biography.” University of Virginia Press. 2003. Harris, Sharon M. “Judith Sargent Murray (1751–1820).” Legacy , 1994, Vol. 11, No. 2 (1994). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25679133 Laidler, John. “It’s Emily Sargent’s time for a showcase.” Boston Globe. 5/12/2022. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/12/metro/its-emily-sargents-time-showcase/ McCarthy, Gail. “Sargent watercolors coming to Gloucester.” Gloucester Daily Times. 5/6/2022. https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/sargent-watercolors-coming-to-gloucester/article_2dd8d922-cc8e-11ec-8187-e763043a7f1f.html Michals, Debra. “Judith Sargent Murray.” National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/judith-sargent-murray "Murray, Judith Sargent." Shaping of America, 1783-1815 Reference Library, edited by Lawrence W. Baker, et al., vol. 3: Biographies Volume 2, UXL, 2006, pp. 393-400. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3450900081/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=c058aad0. Accessed 10 July 2023. Murray, Judith Sargent. “On the Equality of Sexes (Part 1). ” The Massachusetts Magazine, Or, Monthly Museum 1790-03: Vol 2, Issue 3. Murray, Judith Sargent. “On the Equality of Sexes (Part 2). ” The Massachusetts Magazine, Or, Monthly Museum 1790-03: Vol 2, Issue 4. New England Historical Society. “Judith Sargent Murray, The Forgotten Revolutionary.” https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/judith-sargent-murray-2/ Public Domain Review. “Judith Sargent Murray’s On the Equality of the Sexes (1790).” https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/equality-of-the-sexes Ruiz, Paloma. “Judith Sargent Murray’s On the Equality of the Sexes (1790).” Public Domain Review. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/equality-of-the-sexes Skemp, Sheila L. “First Lady of Letters: Judith Sargent Murray and the Struggle for Female Independence.” University of Pennsylvania Press. 2009. Skemp, Sheila L. “Judith Sargent Murray : a brief biography with documents.” Boston : Bedford Books. 1998. Skemp, Sheila L. “The Pioneer in Women's Rights Who Was on the Wrong Side of History.” History News Network. http://hnn.us/articles/86355.html “A Will of Their Own: Judith Sargent Murray and Women of Achievement in the Early Republic.” https://npg.si.edu/exhibit/murray/#1 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2 Aug 202341min

1904 Olympic Marathon
In 1904, the U.S. hosted its first Olympics. It had a host of problems. But the event that was the most dangerous for athletes was the marathon. Research: Abbott, Karen. “The 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest Ever.” Smithsonian. Aug. 7, 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/ “Amateur Athletic Union Suspends Member for Life.” The Brunswick News. Sept. 4, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/897913415/?terms=%22fred%20lorz%22%20&match=1 Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Russo-Japanese War". Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 May. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Russo-Japanese-War Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "St. Louis 1904 Olympic Games". Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/St-Louis-1904-Olympic-Games “Cuban Marathon Runner Carvajal Comes to Life.” The Evening World. April 11, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/85305956/ “Felix Carvajal.” Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/felix-carvajal Lawrence, Andrew. “Think the Tokyo Olympics are a bad idea? St Louis 1904 set the bar high.” The Guardian. July 13, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/13/st-louis-olympics-1904-tokyo-flawed-games Longman, Jerry. “The Marathon’s Random Route to Its Length.” New York Times. April 20, 2012. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/sports/the-marathons-accidental-route-to-26-miles-385-yards.html?_r=0 Lucas, Charles J. P. “The Olympic Games 1904.” Woodward & Tiernan. 1905. Accessed online: https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/29697/the-olympic-games-1904-by-charles-j-p-lucas?_lg=en-GB “Olympic Games at St. Louis.” Weekly Democrat-News. Feb. 28, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/954304418/?terms=olympic&match=1 Rodrigues, Ashwin. “The Unbelievable True Story of the Craziest Olympic Marathon.” Runners World. Aug. 6, 2021. https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a37039437/1904-olympic-marathon/ “William Garcia.” Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/en/athletes/william-garcia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Juli 202339min

SYMHC Classics: Annette Kellerman
This 2017 episode covers Annette Kellerman, who gets a lot of the credit for developing the women's one-piece bathing suit. But she was also a competitive swimmer, as well as a vaudeville and film star who designed her own mermaid costumes. Annette Kellerman collection at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences https://collection.maas.museum/search?q=Annette_Kellerman+CostumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 Juli 202331min

Behind the Scenes Minis: Money, Power and Staying Positive
Holly and Tracy talk about how depressing it can be to look into the history of money and politics, but how important it is to know how it all works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Juli 202315min

Campaign Finance in U.S. History, Part 2
The second part of our campaign finance history starts with both a scandal and reform linked to Theodore Roosevelt, and carries through to more recent Supreme Court rulings. Research: Bedard, Paul. “George Washington Plied Voters with Booze.” USNews and World Report. Nov. 8, 2011. https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/11/08/george-washington-plied-voters-with-booze Blakemore, Erin. “Elections in Colonial America Were Huge, Booze-Fueled Parties.” History.com. Nov. 25, 2019. https://www.history.com/news/colonial-america-election-day-parties R. Brunson, “Swartwout, Samuel,” Texas State Historical Association. Handbook of Texas Online. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/swartwout-samuel. “Buckley v. Valeo.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/buckley-v-valeo “Court Decision Stirs Up Fuss.” The Spokesman Review. April 4, 1944. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569336879/?terms=Lonnie%20E.%20Smith%20&match=1 “Did You Know... Samuel Swartwout Skimmed Staggering Sums?” U.S. Customs and Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/about/history/did-you-know/samuel-swartwout Dunbar, John. “A Modern history of campaign finance: from Watergate to ‘Citizens United.’” The Center for Public Integrity. Nov. 15, 2017. https://publicintegrity.org/politics/a-modern-history-of-campaign-finance-from-watergate-to-citizens-united/ “Appendix 4 -- The Federal Election Campaign Laws:A Short History.” FEC. https://transition.fec.gov/info/appfour.htm#anchor616480 Encyclopedia of Detroit. “NEWBERRY, TRUMAN HANDY.” https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/newberry-truman-handy Fair Political Practices Commission. “Use of Campaign Funds.” Campaign Manual. June 2020. https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/Campaign%20Manuals/Manual_4/Manual_4_Ch_7_Use_of_Campaign_Funds.pdf Fuller, Jame. “From George Washington to Shaun McCutcheon: A brief-ish history of campaign finance reform.” The Washington Post. April 3, 2014. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/04/03/a-history-of-campaign-finance-reform-from-george-washington-to-shaun-mccutcheon/ Supreme Court of the United States. “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.” October 2009. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4163268-Citizens-United-v-FEC-Decision.html “Washington City, May 19, 1840.” The Baltimore Sun. May 21, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/364961740/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 Grizzard, Frank E. “George Washington: A Biographical Companion.” ABC-CLIO 2022. Hinnershitz, Stephanie, PhD. “The Smith–Connally Act and Labor Battles on the Home Front.” The National WWII Museum. June 22, 2023. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/smith-connally-act-and-labor-battles-home-front “House of Burgesses.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/house-of-burgesses/ Lau, Tim. “Citizens United Explained.” Brennan Center for Justice. Dec. 12, 2019. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained “McConnell v. FEC.” Federal Election Commission United States of America. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/mcconnell-v-fec/ “Mark Hanna and the 1896 Election.” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Hanna_1896Election.htm#:~:text=At%20age%2015%20he%20moved,coal%2C%20iron%2C%20and%20steel. “Money-in-politics Timeline.” Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/learn/timeline “Mr. Crittenden’s Speech.” Hartfor Courant. Feb. 14, 1839. https://www.newspapers.com/image/369520711/?terms=%22crittenden%22&match=1 Mutch, R. (2002). “The First Federal Campaign Finance Bills.” Journal of Policy History,14(1), 30-48. doi:10.1353/jph.2002.0004 Lewis, Charles. “Was campaign finance an issue in George Washington’s day?” Investigative Reporting Workshop. Sept. 27, 2021. https://investigativereportingworkshop.org/news/was-campaign-finance-an-issue-in-george-washingtons-day/ “Louisville.” The Courier-Journal. Feb. 4, 1837. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118738402/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 “Mr. Bell’s Bill … “ The Natchez Weekly Courier. June 10, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/248855111/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Buffalo Commercial. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/282153733/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1 "NEWBERRY, Truman Handy." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/N000062 “Pendleton Act (1883).” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/pendleton-act#:~:text=The%20Pendleton%20Act%20provided%20that,were%20covered%20by%20the%20law. Perlstein, Rick. "Watergate scandal". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal Roosevelt, Franklin D. “Veto of the Smith-Connally Bill.” June 25, 1943. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/veto-the-smith-connally-bill Roosevelt, Theodore. “December 5, 1905: Fifth Annual Message.” UVA – Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-5-1905-fifth-annual-message Scott, Kyle, and Matthew A. Kern. “Buckley v. Valeo (1976).” The First Amendment Encyclopedia. 2009. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/126/buckley-v-valeo “The Election Case of Truman H. Newberry of Michigan (1922).” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/102Ford_Newberry.htm “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168100996/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1 Terry, Stephen C. “Major Election Reform Legislation Quietly Approved by Senate.” The Times Argus. March 24, 1976. https://www.newspapers.com/image/657291645/?terms=buckley%20valeo&match=1 “Tursts for Roosevelt.” Freeport Bulletin. Oct. 20, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/762693183/?terms=insurance%20roosevelt&match=1 Thompson, Mary V. “Beer.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/beer/#note3 United States. “Defalcations. Reports of majority and minority ... Report of the Committee of Investigation on the subject of the defalcations of Samuel Swartwout and others : ... also the report of the minority of the Committee.” Thomas Allen. 1839. Accessed online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007704602 United States Senate. “Presidential Election Campaign Fund of 1966.” https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SPrt301.pdf Victor, Jennifer Nicoll, Phd. “History of Financing of Federal Campaigns in the US.” Wondrium Daily. July 25, 2021. https://www.wondriumdaily.com/history-of-financing-of-federal-campaigns-in-the-us/ Woodward, Bob and Brian Duffy. “Chinese Embassy Role in Contributions Probed.” Washington Post. Feb. 13, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/china1.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 Juli 202337min





















