What was in the Whole Earth Catalog? How did a program called est give people inner peace while keeping them out of the bathroom? And why was everyone in the past putting gross stuff in Jell-O? Find out the answers to these questions and more as we explore 20th century American life.
We dug deep for this one. Sorry. Had to do it.
Sources:
“About Us | The Historic Chinese American Cemetery.” Historic Chinese American Cemetery, https://www.chinesehistoriccemetery.org/about-us (https://www.chinesehistoriccemetery.org/about-us).
“Chinese Cemetery.” Auburn Joss House, https://www.auburnjosshouse.org/chinese-cemetery (https://www.auburnjosshouse.org/chinese-cemetery).
Custer, Jane. “History of Cemeteries in America.” Storymaps, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/044e810b748f44e495ae9309c5d0933a (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/044e810b748f44e495ae9309c5d0933a).
D'Angona, Michael. “Death in the Old West – Old West Undertakers.” Athlon Outdoors, https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/death-in-the-old-west/ (https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/death-in-the-old-west/).
Greenfield, Rebecca. “Our First Public Parks: The Forgotten History of Cemeteries.” The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/03/our-first-public-parks-the-forgotten-history-of-cemeteries/71818/ (https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/03/our-first-public-parks-the-forgotten-history-of-cemeteries/71818/).
“Native American Funeral Traditions.” Honor You, 28 February 2025, https://www.honoryou.com/native-american-funeral-traditions/?srsltid=AU7gw4UwxBNlflOF5al0_4gMyaTrLeEp0HEkrFgnycbEPfZTZHKkstON (https://www.honoryou.com/native-american-funeral-traditions/?srsltid=AU7gw4UwxBNlflOF5al0_4gMyaTrLeEp0HEkrFgnycbEPfZTZHKkstON).
Pinsky, Paul. “History in Jewish Cemeteries.” Moment Magazine, https://momentmag.com/jewish-geography-six-feet-under/ (https://momentmag.com/jewish-geography-six-feet-under/).
Sanders, Laurie. “The Potential of Our Decay: Cemeteries That Save the American Landscape.” Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/cemeteries-burials-american-landscape (https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/cemeteries-burials-american-landscape).
“Seekers of Forgotten Burial Grounds: Rediscovering History.” Legacy Headstones, https://legacyheadstones.com/blogs/articles/seekers-of-forgotten-burial-grounds-rediscovering-history-and-family (https://legacyheadstones.com/blogs/articles/seekers-of-forgotten-burial-grounds-rediscovering-history-and-family).
Stoddard, JA. “History of National Cemeteries (U.S.” National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/national-cemeteries-history.htm (https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/national-cemeteries-history.htm).
12 Oct 2026
E139: Spontaneous Human Combustion
We will attempt to answer the big question: Is it real?
Sources:
Conradt, Stacy. “7 Cases of Alleged Spontaneous Human Combustion.” Mental Floss, 11 April 2025, https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/quick-7-seven-cases-spontaneous-human-combustion (https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/quick-7-seven-cases-spontaneous-human-combustion).
History Staff. “Is Spontaneous Human Combustion Real?” History, 27 May 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real (https://www.history.com/articles/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real).
“Is Spontaneous Human Combustion Real?” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/story/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real (https://www.britannica.com/story/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real).
5 Oct 2026
E138: Radioactive Products
Why we used these products and which ones survive in antique stores today
Sources:
Buchholz, MA, and M. Cervera. “Radium Historical Items Catalog - Final Report.” Nuclear Regulatory Commission, August 2008, https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ml1008/ml100840118.pdf (https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ml1008/ml100840118.pdf).
Daugherty, Greg. “Radium: The Deadly Health Fad of the Early 1900s | HISTORY.” History.com (http://history.com/), 29 October 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/radium-cures-health-fad-early-20th-century (https://www.history.com/articles/radium-cures-health-fad-early-20th-century).
“The History of Radiation | Mirion.” Mirion Technologies, https://www.mirion.com/discover/knowledge-hub/articles/education/the-history-of-radiation (https://www.mirion.com/discover/knowledge-hub/articles/education/the-history-of-radiation).
“Radioactivity in Antiques | US EPA.” EPA, https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radioactivity-antiques (https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radioactivity-antiques).
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