Six Impossible Episodes: Listener Requests III

Dec 2, 2024

Delve into six lesser-known stories requested by listeners, celebrating remarkable figures like Nellie Cashman, a mining pioneer and philanthropist, and Ela of Salisbury, a 13th-century abbess with powerful influence. Learn about Teenie Harris, whose photography captured Black life in Pittsburgh, and Jane Gauguin, an innovator in knitting literature. Discover Edward A. Carter Jr.'s military journey, navigating racial injustice, and gain insights into the strong women who shaped their communities against societal norms.

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ANECDOTE

Nellie Cashman's Early Life

Nellie Cashman, born Ellen O'Kassane in Ireland around 1844-1845, emigrated to the U.S. during the Great Famine.
She became a businesswoman, prospector, and philanthropist, known for her resilience and charitable work.

ANECDOTE

Nellie Cashman's Career

Nellie Cashman followed gold and silver rushes across North America, opening businesses and grubstaking miners.
She was a successful prospector and miner, often one of the few women in male-dominated environments.

ANECDOTE

Nellie Cashman's Philanthropy

Nellie Cashman aided miners during harsh winters, provided spiritual counsel to condemned criminals, and even tore down a hanging grandstand.
In 1912, she became the first woman known to vote in Alaska, a year before it was legal for non-Indigenous women.

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The castle of Otranto

Horace Walpole

Published in 1764, 'The Castle of Otranto' is considered the first Gothic novel. The story revolves around Manfred, the lord of the Castle of Otranto, whose son Conrad is killed by a giant helmet on the day of his wedding to Isabella. This event triggers a series of supernatural occurrences and human tragedies, driven by an ancient prophecy that threatens Manfred's lineage. The novel explores themes of horror, fate, and the fragility of human connections, blending medieval and modern literary motifs. It was initially presented as a translation of an ancient Italian manuscript but was later acknowledged as a modern creation by Walpole[2][4][5].

The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work

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Jane Gaugain

Jane Gaugain's "The Lady's Assistant" is a seminal work in the history of knitting and crochet patterns. Published in 1840, it provided detailed instructions and innovative notations for creating various knitted and crocheted items. The book's success contributed to the growing popularity of these crafts among middle and upper-class women. Gaugain's system of abbreviations and figures was a precursor to modern pattern notation. The book's influence extended beyond its immediate readership, shaping the way knitting and crochet patterns were written and understood for generations to come. Its enduring legacy lies in its contribution to the standardization and accessibility of these popular crafts.

The Knitter's Friend

being a selection of receipts for the most useful and saleable articles

Jane Gaugain

Jane Gaugain's "The Knitter's Friend" is another example of her successful pattern books, focusing on practical and marketable knitting projects. Published sometime after her other works, it likely contained patterns for items with commercial value, reflecting the economic aspects of her craft. The book's introduction highlights Gaugain's satisfaction in providing a livelihood for women through her patterns. Its contents likely included instructions for creating various useful and saleable articles. The book's focus on practicality and marketability further demonstrates Gaugain's entrepreneurial spirit and her contribution to the economic empowerment of women.

Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Crochet

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Jane Gaugain

Jane Gaugain's "Miniature Knitting, Netting, and Crochet" is a notable example of her pattern books, showcasing her skill in designing intricate miniature projects. Published in 1843, it achieved remarkable sales, indicating the popularity of her designs and the growing demand for detailed knitting and crochet instructions. The book likely featured a variety of small-scale projects, reflecting the trends in fashionable crafts of the time. Its success further solidified Gaugain's reputation as a leading authority on knitting and crochet. The book's popularity contributed to the widespread adoption of these crafts as leisure activities.

Mrs. Gauguin's Crochet Doily Book

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Jane Gaugain

Jane Gaugain's "Mrs. Gauguin's Crochet Doily Book" is a specialized pattern book focusing on the creation of doilies, a popular craft item of the time. The book likely featured a variety of doily designs, ranging in complexity and size. Doilies were a common decorative element in homes, and Gaugain's book provided instructions for creating them in various styles. The book's focus on a specific craft item reflects the diverse range of patterns Gaugain produced. Its success contributed to the popularity of crochet and the widespread availability of detailed patterns.

Mrs. Gauguin's Knit Polka Book

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Jane Gaugain

Jane Gaugain's "Mrs. Gauguin's Knit Polka Book" is a specialized pattern book focusing on knitting polka designs, a popular style of the time. The book likely featured various patterns incorporating the polka motif, reflecting the fashion trends of the era. Polka dots were a common design element in clothing and other textiles, and Gaugain's book provided instructions for knitting them into various items. The book's focus on a specific design style demonstrates Gaugain's ability to adapt to changing fashion trends. Its success contributed to the popularity of knitting and the availability of diverse pattern designs.

Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe

The novel follows Robinson Crusoe, a young and impulsive Englishman, who ignores his parents' advice and sets out to sea. After a series of misadventures, including being captured by pirates and sold into slavery, he is eventually shipwrecked on a deserted island near the coast of Venezuela. There, he spends 28 years surviving against incredible odds, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers. The story is influenced by real-life castaways such as Alexander Selkirk and blends elements of Puritan spiritual autobiography, travel literature, and adventure stories. It is considered one of the first modern novels in the English language and explores themes of ambition, self-reliance, civilization, and power.

This episode includes six stories requested by listeners that wouldn't quite work as standalone episodes. The topics include: Nellie Cashman, Ela of Salisbury, Charles "Teenie" Harris, Jane Gaugain, Edward A. Carter Jr., and Alice Ball.

Research:

· National Parks Service. “Nellie Cashman.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/nellie-cashman.htm Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame. “Nellie Cashman.” https://www.azwhf.org/copy-of-pauline-bates-brown-2

· Backhouse, Frances. “Angel of the Cassiar.” British Columbia Magazine. Winter 2014.

· Hawley, Charles C. and Thomas K. Bundtzen. “Ellen (Nellie) Cashman.” Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation. https://alaskamininghalloffame.org/inductees/cashman.php

· Clum, John P. “Nellie Cashman.” Arizona Historical Review. Vol. 3, No. 4. January 1931.

· Porsild, Charlene. “Cashman, Ellen.” Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. XV (1921-1930). https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cashman_ellen_15E.html

· Ward, Jennifer C. "Ela, suo jure countess of Salisbury (b. in or after 1190, d. 1261), magnate and abbess." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. October 08, 2009. Oxford University Press. Date of access 30 Oct. 2024, https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-47205

· McConnell, Ally. “The life of Ela, Countess of Salisbury.” Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre. https://wshc.org.uk/the-life-of-ela-countess-of-salisbury/ Order fo Medieval Women. “Ela, Countess of Sudbury.” https://www.medievalwomen.org/ela-countess-of-salisbury.html. Charles “Teenie” Harris Archive. Carnegie Museum of Art. https://carnegieart.org/art/charles-teenie-harris-archive/

· National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Photojournalist, Charles “Teenie” Harris.” https://nmaahc.si.edu/photojournalist-charles-teenie-harris

· O'Driscoll, Bill. “Historical marker honors famed Pittsburgh photographer Teenie Harris.” WESA. 9/30/2024. https://www.wesa.fm/arts-sports-culture/2024-09-30/historical-charles-teenie-harris-pittsburgh-photography

· Kinzer, Stephen. “Black Life, In Black And White; Court Ruling Frees the Legacy Of a Tireless News Photographer.” New York Times. 2/7/2001. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/07/arts/black-life-black-white-court-ruling-frees-legacy-tireless-photographer.html

· Hulse, Lynn. "Gaugain [née Alison], Jane [Jean] (1804–1860), author, knitter, and fancy needleworker." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. August 08, 2024. Oxford University Press. Date of access 30 Oct. 2024, https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-90000382575

· "Edward A. Carter, Jr." Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 104, Gale, 2013. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1606005739/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=77e0beae. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

· National WWII Museum. “Staff Sergeant Edward A. Carter Jr's Medal of Honor.” 2/15/2021. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/staff-sergeant-edward-carter-jr-medal-of-honor

· Lange, Katie. “Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. 1st Class Edward Carter Jr.” U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3347931/medal-of-honor-monday-army-sgt-1st-class-edward-carter-jr/

· National Parks Service. “Edward Carter Jr.” Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. https://www.nps.gov/people/edwardcarterjr.htm

· Dwyer, Mitchell K. “A Woman Who Changed the World.” University of Hawaii Foundation. https://www.uhfoundation.org/impact/students/woman-who-changed-world

· University of Washington School of Pharmacy. “UWSOP alumni legend Alice Ball, Class of 1914, solved leprosy therapy riddle.” https://sop.washington.edu/uwsop-alumni-legend-alice-ball-class-of-1914-solved-leprosy-riddle/

· Ricks, Delthia. “Overlooked No More: Alice Ball, Chemist Who Created a Treatment for Leprosy.” 5/8/2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/08/obituaries/alice-ball-overlooked.html

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