Strange Country Episode 123: Tennessee Children's Home Society

Strange Country is ringing out the old year with a story to remind all of its readers that people are just really awful. Georgia Tann popularized adoption in the 1920s, but she did it by stealing kids and selling them for primo profit. Gross. She's gross. Co-hosts Beth and Kelly will be back in the new year with more stories to remind you that maybe our mass extinction isn't such a bad thing.

Theme Music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

Christie, Judy Pace, and Lisa Wingate. Before and after: the Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Childrens Home Society. Ballantine Books, 2019.

O'connor, John J. “Review/Television; Mary Tyler Moore's Smile Turns Evil.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Mar. 1993, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/25/news/review-television-mary-tyler-moore-s-smile-turns-evil.html?searchResultPosition=2.

Raymond, Barbara Bisantz. The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption. Union Square Press, 2008.

https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-yellow-fever-epidemic-of-1878

http://www.ajbialo.com/id21.html

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/08/the_baby_thief_by_lakewood_aut.html

Strange Country Episode 122: Rhoda Eats Bark

Winter is upon us in Strange Country. How will you get through? Listen as Beth and Kelly discuss the brief and questionable tale of Rhoda Beebe of upstate New York who survived a hellish winter in the 1700's. Or did she? This is a ramble through winter worries, special tips intended for rich people who venture into the cold on purpose, and typical mother fail admissions. We are two friends, librarians, and writers, who are certainly not perfect, and we so greatly appreciate those who accept us for who we are and listen each week-with love.

Theme Music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Strange Country Episode 121: Human Radiation Experiments

Over a 30 year period, from 1944 - 1974, the U.S. government deliberately and purposefully conducted radioactive tests on its citizens and released radioactive elements into the environment. Strange Country cohosts Beth and Kelly explore some of these experiments like the boys of Fernald fed Quaker Oats laced with radioactive iron or the pregnant women visiting Vanderbilt Hospital given "cocktails" to help with their prenatal problems.

Theme Music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your sources:

“1944–1956: Radioactive Nutrition Experiments on Retarded Children by Harvard and MIT.” AHRP, 20 Apr. 2016, https://ahrp.org/1944-1956-radioactive-nutrition-experiments-conducted-by-harvard-and-mit-on-disabled-children/.

“44 Years Later, the Truth About the 'Science Club'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 Dec. 1993, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/31/us/44-years-later-the-truth-about-the-science-club.html.

“America's Deep, Dark Secret.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/americas-deep-dark-secret/.

Boissoneault, Lorraine. “A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Radioactive Oatmeal Go Down.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 8 Mar. 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/spoonful-sugar-helps-radioactive-oatmeal-go-down-180962424/.

Chapter 7: The Studies at the Fernald School, Advisory Committee On Human Radiation Experiments, https://bioethicsarchive.georgetown.edu/achre/final/chap7_5.html.

Crockett, Zachary. “The Dark Secret of the MIT Science Club for Children.” Priceonomics, 19 Apr. 2016, https://priceonomics.com/the-mit-science-club-for-disabled-children/.

Dobbin, Ben. “Relatives of Six People Injected With Plutonium Sue for $300 Million.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 19 June 1995, https://apnews.com/bd4e82f9a52817a97d92de4000f9af79.

“Fernald State School.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 5 Nov. 2014, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fernald-state-school.

Hornblum, Allen M., et al. Against Their Will: the Secret History of Medical Experimentation on Children in Cold War America. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

“Radioactive Oatmeal Suit Settled for $1.85 Million.” The Washington Post, “1944–1956: Radioactive Nutrition Experiments on Retarded Children by Harvard and MIT.” AHRP, 20 Apr. 2016, https://ahrp.org/1944-1956-radioactive-nutrition-experiments-conducted-by-harvard-and-mit-on-disabled-children/.

“Settlement Reached in Suit Over Radioactive Oatmeal Experiment.” The New York Times, 1 Jan. 1998, https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/01/us/settlement-reached-in-suit-over-radioactive-oatmeal-experiment.html.

“Vanderbilt Sued on Radiation.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Feb. 1994, https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/02/us/vanderbilt-sued-on-radiation.html.

Welsome, Eileen. The Plutonium Files: Americas Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War. Delta, 2000.

Strange Country Episode 120: Jackie Mitchell

We are changing things up here at Strange Country starting with our newest intro song. Keep listening as Strange Country podcasters Kelly and Beth discuss our belief that the #metoo movement stretches way into the past. So many of our leading ladies dealt with misogynist bullshit, including this week’s Jackie Mitchell. Mitchell likely would have been one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history...if she wasn’t a woman. But she did her best to show up on the mound, strike out two well-known home run hitters, all while being asked to powder her nose. Listen this week as Beth does a damn good impression of a 1920’s era commentator, and Kelly spins the tale of a woman you should know. And check out our Patreon page too!

Theme Music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands

Cite your Sources:

Gates, Jim. Giving The House a Home. Baseball Hall of Fame. https://baseballhall.org/House-of-David-donation

Horwitz, Tony. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-woman-who-maybe-struck-out-babe-ruth-and-lou-gehrig-4759182/#Sz9qbpjyO6Rjyzam.99

Lee, McKenzie. Bygone Badass Women. Abrahms Image. New York 2018.

https://www.history.com/news/why-are-left-handers-called-southpaws

Minsberg, Tayka. Overlooked No More: Jackie Mitchell Who Fanned Two of Baseball Greats. New York Times Overlooked. Nov. 07, 2018.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/obituaries/jackie-mitchell-overlooked.html

https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/vance-dazzy

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/03/03/this-day-history-1913-womens-suffrage-parade

Strange Country Episode 119: Nancy Clem

Strange Country Episode 119 has it all--greed, betrayal, murder, the hazards of women's fashion, and even patent medicine. Nancy Clem, a 19th century grifter, likely killed her business partner and his wife, but after only about a bazillion trials was she set free. Co-hosts Beth and Kelly showcase their financial illiteracy as they talk about the Notorious Mrs. Clem.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

GAMBER, WENDY. NOTORIOUS MRS. CLEM: Murder and Money in the Gilded Age. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV Press, 2017.

Nudson, Rae. “Women Used to Burn to Death in Their Dresses Kind of All the Time.” Racked, Racked, 19 Dec. 2017, https://www.racked.com/2017/12/19/16710276/burning-dresses-history.

Strange Country Episode 118: The Hum

Huuuummmm. If you went in the direction of anything related to a phallus- go turn on another podcast. This one is all about the hum that is heard round the world by 2 percent of the people in the world- and driving them a little crazy. Have you heard it Dash Hounds? If you have there is a map you need to go to right now to help those trying to figure out what and where that noise is coming from. Meanwhile Beth and Kelly will remind you it is all about the greed, the climate change, and why basically this like everything else bad and sad on Strange Country is our President’s fault.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite Your Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/science/oceans-whales-noise-offshore-drilling.html

http://thehum.info/

https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2018/04/in-the-hopper.html

Ceranic, Irena. Satellite Captures Rarely Seen Atmospheric Gravity Wave Phenomenon off Wa's Coast. 10/23/2019. mobile.abc.net.au

https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/593992/doom-vibrations/

https://newrepublic.com/article/132128/maddening-sound

Strange Country Episode 117: Ed and Lorraine Warren

Velcome Dashounds, to Strange Country: The Halloween Edition. In ep. 117, co-hosts Beth and Kelly talk about the paranormal investigators who started it all, Ed and Lorraine Warren. Hear the story of Annabelle, the doll, and the Snedeker Funeral Home Haunting. . . if boo dare!!!

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

“Arne Cheyenne Johnson.” The Courtroom Sketches of Ida Libby Dengrove, https://archives.law.virginia.edu/dengrove/writeup/arne-cheyenne-johnson.

Bendici, Ray. “Damned Interview: Ray Garton.” Damned Connecticut, Mar. 2009, http://www.damnedct.com/damned-interview-ray-garton.

DeAngelis, Perry, and Steven Novella. “Hunting the Ghost Hunters.” NeuroLogica Blog, 22 July 2009, https://theness.com/index.php/hunting-the-ghost-hunters/.

Delazio, Sheena. “'Demon in Home' Grabs Our Attention.” Times Leader, 2 Mar. 2008, https://web.archive.org/web/20080305004915/http://www.timesleader.com/news/20080303_03lookback_smurls_sd_ART.html.

Frank, Steve. “Snedeker Family Member Goes on Record with Damned Connecticut.” Damned Connecticut, Mar. 2009, http://www.damnedct.com/snedeker-family-member-goes-on-record-with-damned-connecticut.

Genzlinger, Neil. “Lorraine Warren, Paranormal Investigator Portrayed in ‘The Conjuring,’ Dies at 92.” The New York Times, 19 Apr. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/obituaries/lorraine-warren-dead.html.

Janes, DeAnna. “Nightmare on Chase Street: The Smurl Family Haunting.” The Lineup, 25 May 2016, https://the-line-up.com/smurl-family-haunting.

Martinez, Herza. “The Perron Family's Real Haunting Inspired The Conjuring.” The Lineup, 11 Apr. 2019, https://the-line-up.com/perron-family.

Nickell, Joe. “Connecticut Haunting.” https://issuu.com/jorgemourinho/docs/skeptical-inquirer-vol.33-issue3-may-june-2009.

Radford, Benjamin. “The Real Story Behind 'The Haunting in Connecticut'.” LiveScience, Purch, https://www.livescience.com/5346-real-story-haunting-connecticut.html.

Rubio, J'aime. “The Real Bathsheba Sherman- True History vs. ‘Conjured’ Fiction.” The Real Bathsheba Sherman- True History vs. "Conjured" Fiction, 15 July 2014, https://dreamingcasuallypoetry.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-real-bathsheba-sherman-true-history.html.

Shultz, Christopher. “Every Time Ed & Lorraine Warren Were Exposed As Total Frauds.” Ranker, https://www.ranker.com/list/ed-lorraine-frauds/christopher-shultz.

“Snedeker House.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 10 June 2012, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/snedeker-house.

“Warrens Biography.” The New England Society For Psychic Research, 2017, https://www.warrens.net/warrens-biography/.

White, Abbey. “6 Cases Investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren.” The Lineup, 10 Nov. 2017, https://the-line-up.com/ed-and-lorraine-warren-paranormal-cases.

Strange Country Episode 116: Prudence Crandall

Welcome Dear Dash Hounds to another weekly tale of strange behavior from Merkins. Back in the day when slavery was legal and it was illegal to teach slaves to read, there was a woman named Prudence Crandall who knew that was wrong and set to change such terrible ways that white people ran education. In her frustration, Prudence, a highly educated and obviously intelligent woman, opened a school only for black girls. Well Prudence knew damn well this is how we move forward and progress towards a better country - a better world- and she followed her heart and her mind. But in the tiny picturesque town of Canterbury, CONNECTICUT the townspeople had other thoughts on Crandall’s school. Who wins in the end? Listen and remember- we haven’t reached the end yet.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite Your Sources Dude:

Connecticut's Cultural Treasures: Prudence Crandall. ConnecticutHistory.org. Video. 2015.

Michals, Debra.  "Prudence Crandall."  National Women's History Museum.  National Women's History Museum, 2015.  Date accessed, 10/13.2019. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/prudence-crandall

Camera, Lauren. African American Students Lagging far Behind. US News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/12/11/african-american-students-lagging-far-behind

Jurmain, Suzanne. The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and DRamatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students. 2005

https://www.prb.org/empoweringwomendevelopingsocietyfemaleeducationinthemiddleeastandnorthafrica/

Prudence Crandall. National Women's HIstory Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/prudence-crandall

Strange Country Episode 115: The Lonely Doll

On the surface, The Lonely Doll depicts the glamour of city life. But when you dig deeper, you realize it's a disturbing portrait of deep loneliness, which is way to describe its author, Dare Wright. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly talk about Wright's upbringing, the weird relationship with her mother and whether some people should even have children.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your Sources:

Bengal, Rebecca. “The Creepiest Children's Book.” The New Yorker, 26 Sept. 2017, https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-cultish-allure-of-the-creepy-childrens-book-the-lonely-doll.

“Kim Gordon: By the Book.” The New York Times, 26 Feb. 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/books/review/kim-gordon-by-the-book.html.

Nathan, Jean. The Secret Life of The Lonely Doll: the Search for Dare Wright. Picador/Henry Holt & Co., 2005.

Strange Country Episode 114: Carry A. Nation

Readers, we welcome you to this millionth episode of Strange Country. As much as Kelly and Beth want you to drink and be merry whilst listening to this tale of a woman named Carry A Nation, maybe you should get a glass of water and listen earlier than 9 pm. We are getting old people, and really is drinking that good for you? If Carry were alive today she would say def not- and she would also swing a hatchet in your general direction. Which is why we love her a little bit and she joins the ranks as one of our favorite hatchet wielding Strange Country ladies.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Strange Country Episode 113: Mary Surratt

We like to recognize our firsts, like the first American woman doctor. But sometimes being the first ain't so great especially if you're the first woman executed by the U.S. government. That distinction belongs to Mary Surratt who was executed for her role in the conspiracy to assassinate Pres. Abraham Lincoln and members of his cabinet. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly talk about this first as well as consider interesting ideas for throw pillows.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

Larson, Kate Clifford. Assassins Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln. BasicBooks, 2011.

Mayhew, Robert. “The Female in Aristotle's Biology. Reason or Rationalization.” Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2004.09.19, 2004, http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2004/2004-09-19.html.

“Surratt Society Homepage.” Mary Surratt's Story, http://www.surrattmuseum.org/mary-surratt.

Strange Country Episode 112: Diabetes

Readers of Strange Country- we have made a milestone- episode 1000! That is a terrible lie, but maybe it will help us in our efforts to become world famous. Also this episode learn how Kelly stays alive everyday along with the other Type 1 Diabetics of the world as Beth and Kelly discuss the discovery of insulin in 1922. Learn all kinds of new things this week including just how many cows it takes to keep a Diabetic alive each year. And why this podcast is way more fun when Beth is pissed.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

Barcott, Bruce. “Two Went Out, One Came Back.” The New York Times, 7 Sept. 2003, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/07/books/two-went-out-one-came-back.html?searchResultPosition=1.

Blanco, Juan Ignacio. “Raffi Kodikian: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers.” Raffi Kodikian | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers, https://murderpedia.org/male.K/k/kodikian-raffi.htm.

“Hiking Rattlesnake Canyon In New Mexico.” Hiking Rattlesnake Canyon In New Mexico -, https://sedonaredrocktours.com/hikes/hiking-rattlesnake-canyon-new-mexico/.

Holcombe, Madeline. “A 70-Year-Old Woman Fell to Her Death at the Grand Canyon National Park.” CNN, Cable News Network, 14 Aug. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/us/grand-canyon-woman-dies/index.html.

Jones, Eliza Brackenridge. “Is a Murderer Always a Murderer?” Criminal, 1 Sept. 2018, https://criminal.media/is-a-murderer-always-a-murderer.

Kersten, Jason. Journal of the Dead: an Extraordinary True-Life Tale of Adventure, Friendship and Lost Dreams. Ebury, 2004

“N.M. Desert Killing Is Described.” The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/09/07/nm-desert-killing-is-described/04608402-dac2-4c5d-a53c-81dd89af90f5/.

“Physician-Assisted Suicide Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Aug. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/us/physician-assisted-suicide-fast-facts/index.html.

Willingham, AJ. “On Average, 6 People Die in National Parks Every Week. This Is How You Can Protect Yourself.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 Apr. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/us/national-parks-service-deaths-per-week-trnd/index.html.

Strange Country Episode 111: Raffi Kodikian

If your best friend asked you to kill him, would you do it? That's what Raffi Kodikian told the park rangers when they found him in Rattlesnake Canyon, four days past his camping permit. Kodikian said he killed his best friend Dave Coughlin because Coughlin asked him to. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly ponder mercy killings, sinus infections and this sad case in episode 111.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

Barcott, Bruce. “Two Went Out, One Came Back.” The New York Times, 7 Sept. 2003, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/07/books/two-went-out-one-came-back.html?searchResultPosition=1.

Blanco, Juan Ignacio. “Raffi Kodikian: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers.” Raffi Kodikian | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers, https://murderpedia.org/male.K/k/kodikian-raffi.htm.

“Hiking Rattlesnake Canyon In New Mexico.” Hiking Rattlesnake Canyon In New Mexico -, https://sedonaredrocktours.com/hikes/hiking-rattlesnake-canyon-new-mexico/.

Holcombe, Madeline. “A 70-Year-Old Woman Fell to Her Death at the Grand Canyon National Park.” CNN, Cable News Network, 14 Aug. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/us/grand-canyon-woman-dies/index.html.

Jones, Eliza Brackenridge. “Is a Murderer Always a Murderer?” Criminal, 1 Sept. 2018, https://criminal.media/is-a-murderer-always-a-murderer.

Kersten, Jason. Journal of the Dead: an Extraordinary True-Life Tale of Adventure, Friendship and Lost Dreams. Ebury, 2004

“N.M. Desert Killing Is Described.” The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/09/07/nm-desert-killing-is-described/04608402-dac2-4c5d-a53c-81dd89af90f5/.

“Physician-Assisted Suicide Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 1 Aug. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/us/physician-assisted-suicide-fast-facts/index.html.

Willingham, AJ. “On Average, 6 People Die in National Parks Every Week. This Is How You Can Protect Yourself.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 Apr. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/us/national-parks-service-deaths-per-week-trnd/index.html.

Strange Country Episode 110: Zantop Murders

Robert Tulloch and Jim Parker were like a modern day Leopold and Loeb. The two teenagers believed they were higher beings who could commit murder with impunity. And like their 19th century counterparts, they got caught. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly discuss this ghastly murder that took the lives to two beloved Dartmouth professors in 2001. This episode's PSA: If you think you're a superior being, you're not.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

Bovsun, Mara. “Teens Murder Dartmouth Professors for Cash to Start Their Life of Crime Together.” New York Daily News, 27 July 2014, https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/good-deed-bad-good-deed-bad-article-1.1881655.

“Killer in Dartmouth Professors Stabbing Case Seeks Early Release from Prison.” Valley News, 26 Apr. 2019, https://vtdigger.org/2019/04/26/killer-dartmouth-professors-stabbing-case-seeks-early-release-prison/.

“Killer in Murder of Dartmouth Professors Withdraws Bid for Early Release .” Valley News, 19 July 2019, https://vtdigger.org/2019/06/19/killer-in-murder-of-dartmouth-professors-withdraws-bid-for-early-release/.

Lehr, Dick and Mitchell Zuckoff. Judgement Ridge: The True Story Behind the Dartmouth Murders. Harper, 2003.

Meek, James. “'It Was Dangerous. That Was the Point'.” The Guardian, 4 June 2001, https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/jun/04/highereducation.news.

Weber, Harry R. “Robert Tulloch: Formative Years.” The Barre Montpelier Times Argus, 29 June 2002, https://www.timesargus.com/news/robert-tulloch-formative-years/article_142305f9-4fa8-5f48-9307-92c44202dfd8.html.

Strange Country Episode 109: Evelyn Nesbit

If only Evelyn Nesbit were alive today, she may have really appreciated the Me Too movement, good therapy, and the songs of Aimee Mann. But her life happened during the turn of the Century- not this one- the last one. And guess what? She also was part of the first actual Trial of the Century! Full of misogyny, murder, and velvet red swings. Beth and Kelly of the century’s most famous Strange Country podcast love that term - Trial of the Century-and use it rather loosely. But in today’s episode we tightened things up, researched our brains out, like always, and bring to you a story from the past you are sure to enjoy. Read on listeners. Or listen on readers.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite Your Sources Dude:

Bellafonte, Ginia. “The 100 Foot Gibson Girl.” New York Times, 10 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/10/nyregion/evelyn-nesbit-stanford-white.html.

“Evelyn Nesbit.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 July 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Nesbit.

“Harry Kendall Thaw.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Aug. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kendall_Thaw.

Phillips, Mark, and Aryn Z. Phillips. Trials of the Century a Decade-by-Decade Look at Ten of America's Most Sensational Crimes. Prometheus Books, 2016.

“Trial of the Century.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Aug. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_the_century.

Strange Country Episode 108: Hossack Murder

Around midnight on Dec. 6, someone took an ax to John Hossack's head twice. Ten hours later the farmer and father of nine was dead. His wife Margaret claimed she heard an intruder, but she and the children were immediately viewed with suspicion. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly discuss another "trial of the century" that took place in Iowa in 1900 that rattled the notion of what women were capable of.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite your sources:

Bryan, Patricia L., et al. Midnight Assassin: a Murder in Americas Heartland. Notable Trials Library, 2007.

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Strange Country Ep. 107: Papa Pilgrim

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Papa Pilgrim brought his giant family to McCarthy, AK to live a simple life, love the lord and escape vice and sin. Or that's what he told the residents who eagerly embraced this new, strange family. What he did in the isolated wilderness was much, much worse. Another gross one for Strange Country fans.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite Your Sources:

Kirby, Mark. “Papa Pilgrim's Progress.” Outside Online, 29 July 2019, https://www.outsideonline.com/1928141/papa-pilgrims-progress-dark-tale-alaskan-frontiersman.

Kizzia, Tom. Pilgrims Wilderness: a True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier. Broadway Books, 2014.

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Strange Country Ep. 34: Radium Girls

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Radium was beautiful to Marie Curie even though it killed her, and radium made the teens and young women employed at United States Radium Corp. shine in the night. They put their radium coated paintbrushes in their mouths like they'd been trained, and ingested the deadly substance. Strange Country Co-hosts Beth and Kelly talk about the ramifications, the workers' struggle and their plans to open a different type of food truck in ep. 34.

Cite Your Sources:

“All Radium Plants in Federal Inquiry.” The New York Times, 21 June 1925, pp. 18–18, www.nytimes.com/1925/06/21/archives/all-radium-plants-in-federal-inquiry-labor-department-starts-search.html.

“Begin Wide Inquiry into Radium Deaths.” The New York Times, 20 June 1925, timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1925/06/20/101669830.html?pageNumber=1.

Blum, Deborah. “The Radium Girls.” Wired, Conde Nast, 3 June 2017, www.wired.com/2011/03/the-radium-girls/.

The Case of the Living Dead Women - The Radium Dial Case in the newspapers - The Case of the Living Dead Women - The Radium Dial Case in the newspapers, www.lgrossman.com/pics/radium/index.html.

Fergusson, Maggie. “The Radium Girls - still glowing in their coffins.” The Spectator, 8 May 2017, www.spectator.co.uk/2016/06/the-radium-girls-still-glowing-in-their-coffins/.

Hersher, Rebecca. “Mae Keane, One Of The Last 'Radium Girls,' Dies At 107.” NPR, NPR, 28 Dec. 2014, www.npr.org/2014/12/28/373510029/saved-by-a-bad-taste-one-of-the-last-radium-girls-dies-at-107.

Kang, Lydia, and Nate Pedersen. Quackery: a brief history of the worst ways to cure everything. Workman Publishing, 2017.

Moore, Kate. The radium girls: the dark story of Americas shining women. Sourcebooks, 2017.

“The Radium Girls.” Medical Bag, 15 June 2016, www.medicalbag.com/profile-in-rare-diseases/the-radium-girls/article/472385/.

“They paid with their lives.” THE GIRLS - theradiumgirls, www.theradiumgirls.com/the-girls/4593781028.

Zhang, Sarah. “A Century Later, the Factory that Poisoned the 'Radium Girls' Still a Superfund Site.” The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/notes/2017/03/radium-superfund-legacy/519408/.

Zhang, Sarah. “The Girls With Radioactive Bones.” The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/03/radium-girls-kate-moore/515685/.

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Strange Country Ep. 37: Ota Benga

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In September 1906, the Bronx Zoo unveiled its latest exhibit--a Congolese man named Ota Benga. His cage was right next to the orangutans in the monkey house. This was the brain child of the "civilized" people who proclaimed to be great masters of science, but in reality showed the darkest sides of themselves. Listen to Strange Country Episode 37 as it explores this sad, sordid tale.

Cite your sources (it makes you look smart):

“African Pygmy's Fate Is Still Undecided.” The New York Times, 18 Sept. 1906, pp. 9–9, www.nytimes.com/1906/09/18/archives/african-pygmys-fate-is-still-undecided-director-hornaday-of-the.html.

“Bushman Shares a Cage with Bronx Park Apes: Some Laugh Over His Antics, but Many Are Not Pleased. .” The New York Times, 9 Sept. 1906, pp. 17–17, timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/09/09/101796670.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=ArticleEndCTA®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article&pageNumber=17.

“The Hidden Holocaust.” The Guardian, 12 May 1999, www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/may/13/features11.g22.

Keller, Mitch. “The Scandal at the Zoo.” The New York Times, 6 Aug. 2006, www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/nyregion/thecity/06zoo.html.

“King Leopold II of Belgium Takes the Congo | History Channel on Foxtel.” History Channel, 9 June 2017, www.historychannel.com.au/articles/king-leopold-ii-of-belgium-takes-the-congo/.

“Man and Monkey Show Disapproved by Clergy.” The New York Times, 10 Sept. 1906, pp. 1–2, www.nytimes.com/1906/09/10/archives/man-and-monkey-show-disapproved-by-clergy-the-rev-dr-macarthur.html.

Newkirk, Pamela. “The Man Who Was Caged in Zoo.” The Guardian, 3 June 2015, www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/03/the-man-who-was-caged-in-a-zoo.

Newkirk, Pamela. Spectacle: the Astonishing Life of Ota Benga. Amistad, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2016.

“Ota Benga, Pygmy, Tired of America.” The New York Times, 16 July 1916, p. 12, www.nytimes.com/1916/07/16/archives/ota-benga-pygmy-tired-of-america-the-strange-little-african-finally.html.

Parkinson, Justin. “The Significance of Sarah Baartman.” BBC News, 7 Jan. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35240987.

“Send Him Back to the Woods.” The New York Times, 11 Sept. 1906, www.nytimes.com/1906/09/11/archives/topics-of-the-times.html.