Podcast Summary: Stuff You Missed in History Class
Episode: Six Impossible Episodes: Listener Requests III
Release Date: December 2, 2024

In this engaging episode of "Stuff You Missed in History Class," hosts Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Fry delve into six remarkable yet underrepresented historical figures, brought to life through listener requests. These "Impossible Episodes" highlight individuals whose stories are either too complex, visually driven, or previously lacked sufficient information for a full episode. Here’s a detailed exploration of each featured personality:

1. Nellie Cashman

[04:09 – 11:19]

Early Life and Migration:
Nellie Cashman was born Ellen Cashman around 1844-45 in Ireland to a Catholic family during the Great Famine. Faced with the devastating consequences of potato blight and British governmental inaction, Cashman's family emigrated to Boston by 1850, later relocating to San Francisco.

Career and Adventures:
By 1872, Cashman became a prominent figure in the American West, engaging in "grub staking"—providing loans and supplies to miners with hopes of striking it rich. She ventured into remote mining areas across Nevada, British Columbia, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska, often being one of the few women present.

Charitable Endeavors and Legacy:
A devout Catholic, Cashman funded churches and hospitals, notably raising funds for Tombstone’s first Catholic church and a hospital in Alaska. Her heroic efforts during the winter of 1874-75, where she delivered essential supplies to starving miners, earned her the moniker "Angel of the Cathayer Mountains."
Tracy V. Wilson notes at [07:40]:
"She undertook a mission to take fresh vegetables and potatoes to those stranded miners, ensuring their survival."

Cashman's pioneering spirit also led her to become the first woman known to vote in Alaska in 1912, a year before women were legally granted this right. Her legacy is commemorated through a postage stamp and a monument in Middleton, Ireland.

2. Ella of Salisbury

[11:19 – 15:21]

Noble Lineage and Early Life:
Born around 1187 to William, the 2nd Earl of Salisbury, and Eleanor de Vitray, Ella became the ward of King Richard I after her father’s death in 1196. Circumstances surrounding her guardianship remain vague, with theories suggesting either protective concealment or ill-intent due to her inheritance.

Marriage and Power:
Ella married William Longsby, an illegitimate son of King Henry II, around the early 13th century. This alliance elevated her status, making her the Countess of Salisbury in her own right after William’s death in 1226, allegedly due to arsenic poisoning.
Holly Fry remarks at [13:55]:
"After her husband's death, Ella was Countess of Salisbury in her own right."

Religious Contributions and Later Life:
Influential in religious circles, Ella founded monasteries, including Hinton Charterhouse and an Augustinian canonesses house at Lacock, Wiltshire. In 1237, she embraced a life of devotion, becoming the first abbess of Laycock Abbey where she served for two decades until her death in 1261.

3. Charles "Teenie" Harris

[20:05 – 23:55]

Photography and Community Impact:
Born in Pittsburgh in 1908, Charles Harris, known as "Teenie," was a self-taught photographer whose work became a critical record of Pittsburgh’s African American community from the 1930s to the 1970s. Starting at the black-owned magazine Flash and later with the Pittsburgh Courier, Teenie captured everyday life and prominent figures alike.

Archival Struggles:
Teenie's extensive archive, comprising over 70,000 images, faced jeopardy when photo dealer Dennis Morgan improperly acquired his work in 1986 under dubious contractual terms. Despite legal battles, it wasn’t until after Teenie’s death in 1998 that his family successfully reclaimed the archive, which was subsequently preserved by the Carnegie Museum of Art.

Legacy and Recognition:
Today, Teenie Harris’s photographs are accessible online, showcasing vibrant depictions of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods and notable personalities like Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong. His contributions are further honored with a historical marker and inclusion in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

4. Jane Gauguin

[23:55 – 28:34]

Entrepreneurial Spirit and Artistic Innovation:
Jane Gauguin, born Jane Allison in 1804 in Scotland, was a pioneering knitter and writer who significantly influenced the craft of knitting and crochet. After marrying John James Gauguin, she expanded his haberdashery business, introducing lace and braid manufacturing.

Contributions to Craftsmanship:
In the mid-1830s, Jane began creating custom knitting patterns, eventually publishing comprehensive books such as Lady's Assistant and Knitter's Friend. She developed a system of notations that predated modern pattern languages, enabling precise and intricate designs. Her works gained royal acclaim, with high-profile subscribers like Dowager Queen Adelaide.

Challenges and Legacy:
Despite her success in literature, Jane's focus on pattern books strained her husband's business, leading to multiple bankruptcies and eventual separation. Jane passed away in 1860, but her innovative contributions to knitting remain celebrated, with her pattern books available online and her impact acknowledged in historical craft studies.

5. Edward A. Carter Jr.

[32:43 – 41:03]

Early Life and Military Endeavors:
Born on May 26, 1916, in Los Angeles, Edward A. Carter Jr. was immersed in missionary life, moving to India and China during his youth. Fascinated by military life, he joined the Chinese National Revolutionary Army at 15 before eventually enlisting in the U.S. Army after serving with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War.

World War II Heroism:
During WWII, Carter served in a segregated unit and sought combat roles despite racial barriers. In a pivotal battle crossing the Rhine River, Carter displayed extraordinary bravery by taking out enemy soldiers alone after being severely wounded, capturing intelligence that was crucial for his unit’s advancement.
Savannah Guthrie highlights at [35:39]:
"He killed six of them, captured two more, and used the two he had captured as a shield to get back to his unit."

Post-War Struggles and Recognition:
Despite his heroism, racial discrimination led to Carter being unfairly scrutinized and denied further military advancement. It wasn't until the 1990s that his service was reassessed, resulting in a posthumous Medal of Honor awarded by President Bill Clinton. Carter's remains were honored with burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and his legacy was formally exonerated in 1999.

6. Alice Augusta Ball

[41:03 – 50:45]

Academic Prowess and Scientific Breakthrough:
Alice Augusta Ball, born on July 24, 1892, in Seattle, was a trailblazing African American chemist. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical chemistry in 1912 and a pharmacy degree in 1914 from the University of Washington. At the University of Hawaii, she became the first woman and first black person to earn a master’s degree in chemistry.

Medical Innovation:
Ball developed the "Ball Method," an effective treatment for Hansen's disease (leprosy), which transformed the management of the disease by making the active components of chalmugra oil water-soluble and injectable. This advancement significantly reduced bacterial counts and lesion development in patients.

Tragic End and Posthumous Recognition:
Alice Ball died on December 31, 1916, under circumstances that remain debated—officially from tuberculosis, though some suggest a laboratory accident. Initially uncredited, her contributions were overshadowed by her male counterparts. It wasn’t until the 1970s that her work gained recognition, leading to honors such as a campus plaque and the University of Hawaii’s Medal of Distinction.

Listener Engagement and Additional Insights

The episode also features an insightful email from listener Jenna, discussing the use of framing devices in literature, specifically relating to Horace Walpole's Castle of Otranto. This interaction underscores the podcast's commitment to engaging with its audience and exploring diverse historical topics.

Tracy V. Wilson responds:
"The frame stories I could think of from literary fiction of that era were mostly from things that were later than the Castle of Otranto."

Conclusion

In "Six Impossible Episodes: Listener Requests III," Tracy and Holly bring to light the extraordinary lives of Nellie Cashman, Ella of Salisbury, Charles "Teenie" Harris, Jane Gauguin, Edward A. Carter Jr., and Alice Augusta Ball. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, they ensure these pivotal yet overlooked figures receive the recognition they deserve, enriching listeners' understanding of history's multifaceted narratives.

Notable Quotes:

• Tracy V. Wilson on Nellie Cashman:
  "As she moved from place to place, she'd follow the gold or silver strike, stay there until it started to be played out, and then move on to the next thing."
  Timestamp: [07:01]

• Holly Fry on Ella of Salisbury:
  "After her husband's death, Ella was Countess of Salisbury in her own right."
  Timestamp: [13:55]

• Savannah Guthrie on Edward A. Carter Jr.:
  "He killed six of them, captured two more, and used the two he had captured as a shield to get back to his unit."
  Timestamp: [35:39]

• Tracy V. Wilson on Alice Ball:
  "I also really like this interest in the rise of the novel in the English speaking world, in part because when I was in college I was required to take either a class called the Art of the Novel or Masterpieces in Drama."
  Timestamp: [50:23]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the episode, providing a vivid portrayal of each historical figure and the hosts' insightful discussions, making it accessible and informative for listeners and history enthusiasts alike.