Story-loving historians Brad Argent and Dr. Michala Hulme gather around the newspapers of two of the messier stories from history. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Story-loving historians Brad Argent and Dr. Michala Hulme gather around the newspapers of old for their first two spooky stories from history. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Your favorite story-loving historians Brad Argent and Dr. Michala Hulme are back! Join us as we gather 'round the newspapers of old and return for Season 4 of Behind the Headlines of History, this Thursday October 30th. The wait is over at long last! Behind the Headlines of History is a podcast series from Ancestry and ⁠⁠⁠Newspapers.com⁠⁠⁠ that explores intriguing news stories from the past, hosted by historian and genealogist Michala Hulme and Ancestry’s Brad Argent.

This episode of "Behind the Headlines of History" untangles two historical tales where nothing is quite as it seems. First, a sea captain vanishes from his vessel in the middle of a storm in the unforgiving Alaskan waters. Was it a tragic accident, or did something more mysterious happen on board? The answer may lie in his incredibly unusual name. Then, journey to the front lines of the Boer War, where two inseparable best friends enlist side-by-side. When a telegram arrives announcing one has been killed in action, it devastates their families back home. But a shocking twist reveals a case of mistaken identity so profound, it forces one wife to deliver an impossible, life-altering message to her grieving neighbor. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

What happens when a promise to marry is broken? What if the lawsuit for "seduction" is filed against the man's estate after his death, and the woman bringing the suit has already found a new husband? This episode opens a scandalous 1850s court file filled with love poems and questionable motives. Then, we take to the skies for the baffling mystery of a Member of Parliament whose balloon adventure turns into a terrifying disappearance over the English Channel. And finally, discover exactly how much chaos one very intoxicated monkey can unleash on a New York bar when it's denied another cocktail. 

This episode of "Behind the Headlines of History" delves into two curious tales from the past. An 1840 newspaper report on a tragic construction accident seems straightforward enough, but it holds a shocking secret. Follow a genealogical trail that uncovers an unbelievable link between one of the injured workers and a modern-day Hollywood A-lister you would never expect. Then, step into the curious world of Victorian spiritualism, where a con-artist's séance goes disastrously wrong. When the "spectral visitor" makes its grand entrance, the results are more comical than cosmic. Finally, stick around for a jaw-dropping "news in brief" involving a baby, a coffin (just trust us), and a cry that defied all logic! All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

This episode of "Behind the Headlines of History" delves into two intriguing historical crimes. First, Michala retraces the tragic story of Michael Joseph Goldsmith, a Birmingham jeweler who was robbed of a fortune in diamonds and gold in Manchester in 1892. His story ends with a shocking twist, rich with dramatic irony. Brad's story recounts the amusing 1896 case of John and Margaret Inchley, a fashionable Melbourne couple caught smuggling goods by wearing them through customs. See how lavishly they lived– and if they got away with it in the end. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

In this episode of "Behind the Headlines of History," hosts Brad Argent and Mikaela Hume delve into two intriguing historical newspaper stories. The first story recounts the grim tale of a murderous brush-maker who, in 1875, murdered his mistress and got caught in the act. The second story, from 1880, details a police raid on a fancy dress ball in Manchester, where 47 men were arrested for "immoral" behavior, with 22 found dressed as women, offering a rare glimpse into 19th-century LGBTQ+ history. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Of course! Here is a more tantalizing version of the summary designed to pique curiosity: Prepare for a journey into the bizarre and the macabre as we uncover two astonishing tales from history. First, discover the peculiar story of a 19th-century criminal whose daring escape plan involved shedding every last piece of his clothing. What could possibly motivate a man to flee naked into the cold November night? Then, delve into a truly chilling mystery that sent an entire city into a riot. When a grieving grandfather demands to see his young grandson one last time, the opening of the coffin reveals a horrifying and unnatural substitution that taps into the era's deepest fears of body snatchers. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, in this episode our stories explore different experiences and achievements of women throughout history – from the incredible story of a no-nonsense suffragist who travelled from the USA to London to investigate her two-timing husband (as reported in The Chicago Tribune, 24 August 1911) and her moment of activism recorded in the 1911 census, to the death of a Cornish ‘witch’ (The Courier and Argus, 27 January 1880). And listen to the end of the episode for some fitting NiBs – one highlighting a woman’s achievements in longevity, and the other dipping into the pay negotiations for female bus conductors during WWI. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

There’s a little Antipodean flavour to some of this week’s stories – Michala takes us from a highway robbery in Bradford, England (reported in the Leeds Mercury, 30th December 1843) across the seas to Australia, tracing the fate of two men called Abraham. Not to be outdone, Brad takes the robbery theme and runs with it – all the way to New Jersey, where he picks up the story of a one armed bandit (of sorts) – from the The Courier-News, 6th February 1899. Then for this episode’s News In Briefs, Michala brings to the table an extraordinary tale of a disruptive theatre-goer and Brad’s unearthed an amusing Letter To Editor on the evolution of the Australian accent. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Sensitive ears (and noses!) beware – Brad’s opening story in this episode is a bit of a stinker, involving a dispute over pig manure in Ireland (reported in the Nationalist and Leinster Times, 2nd January, 1886). Thankfully Michala is on hand to cleanse your auditory palettes with a tale about beer in Manchester…but before you take a sip, watch out, it’s poisoned! (Story from the Guardian, 18th January, 1901). To round the episode off, this week’s News In Briefs feature a big appetite, and a peculiar theft on someone’s front doorstep. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Michala transports us back to the world of 1920s Birmingham gangland this week, and if you’re a Peaky Blinders fan, some of the names in her newspaper article (from The Times, 28 April 1921) may be familiar…Then, not to be outdone, Brad unpicks the eye-opening headline ‘Man Aged 130 has son 4 And a Wife in Her Twenties’ (from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 27 July 1919). Then kick back and indulge in this episodes’ News In Briefs – one featuring a lecture on…Scottish love songs (there’s our nod to Valentine’s Day) and another highlighting the ingenuity of a 19th century Texan animal lover. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

We’re hopping across the Atlantic for this week’s episode – that’s right, all our stories this week are sourced from newspapers in the USA. And there are some corkers hidden in that American newsprint. Whilst Brad doesn’t believe in ghosts, the subject of his story – Mr. Frank Swulius – certainly did; the spooky actions of his cursed dead mother are reported in The Chicago Tribune on 14 Dec 1902. And Michala’s found a robbery with a twist; why did ten men cause pandemonium at the house of one Mrs. Olive Whedon (as reported in The New York Times on 24 Oct 1885)? Listen to find out! And our News in Briefs involve a toothbrush fire, and a rather peculiar discovery in someone’s pocket… All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

This year marks a number of notable World War II (WWII) anniversaries, most significantly, the 75th anniversary of VE Day – when combat ended in Europe. With this in mind, all our stories in this episode are WWII themed – giving insight into the lives of not just those that served but also the impact of war for the people at home in Britain, and how this was reported in the press at the time. Michala starts the episode with the sadly tragic story of the first civilian casualty of WWII, James Isbister (as reported in The Guardian on 18 March 1940), and Brad’s headline ‘Missing Reporter Safe: Plane’s Crash Landing’ pulls us into a tale of ‘aerial mend and make do’, and what happened to the plane – and one of the men involved (The Guardian, 23rd September, 1944). Rounding off the episode as always with our News In Briefs, Michala has a little nugget of dental advice for children during the war and Brad unearths a picture story of war-weary graffiti on a Norwegian street. Note – At around 16 mins 40 seconds into this episode, Brad mentions how living veterans of the ‘First World War’ are a good source of data. He did of course mean ‘Second World War’. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Our hosts have served up a couple of Victorian chancers for your listening pleasure in today’s episode. Brad’s headline ‘Alleged Frauds on Ladies’ (from the Daily News, 5th October 1897) takes us into the world of fraudster who scammed Winston Churchill’s mother, and Michala’s story (reported in Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 6th January 1850) follows the exploits of a prison breaker. Then we have some audacious and dramatic News In Briefs, one involving a hair-raising street crime and another demonstrating the occupational hazards of lion tamin. All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Behind The Headlines of History is back for another season – and we couldn’t be more delighted to be sharing more weird and wonderful tales from the newstands of history with you! Michala is kicking off season two with a grisly story of the first private hanging (from the Liverpool Mercury, 15th August 1858) but it’s the executioner, Mr Calcraft, that she’s interrogating with her genealogy prowess. Then speaking of grisly (and things that go bump in the night) Brad brings to the table a tale of a murder revealed by…a ghost (from the Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser, 19 January 1861). And do you want to hear about a floury incident at a wedding, or a narrow escape from a bottle of lemonade? Then stick around until the end of the episode where as usual, we’ll be sharing our News In Briefs! All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

We’re back in your ears for a Christmas special of Behind The Headlines of History! All our stories in this episode have a seasonal slant, although perhaps not in the way you’d expect… Take a listen to discover the festive resonance of Brad’s headline: ‘Alleged Mock Marriage’ (from the Western Mail on December 24th, 1890) and to learn about Michala’s tale of ‘A Christmas Day Robbery’ – featuring a rather magnificent coat. (from the Yorkshire Herald and York Herald – 31st December 1887). For our festive News In Briefs, Brad shares a child’s letter to Santa requesting – amongst other things – a rag monkey and a cinematograph (from The Observer, 26th December 1909), followed by Michala painting a picture of Christmas Day in the workhouse with her article (from the Lancaster Gazette, 29th December, 1888). All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

It’s the last episode of our inaugural season of Behind The Headlines of History, and this week we’re marking Remembrance Day with stories related to the lives of people during WWI. Michala starts the episode with the incredible tale of Sapper Dorothy Lawrence – the ambitious female war correspondent who dressed as a man to make it to the British front line (from The Observer, 21st September 1919) and Brad’s uncovered an intriguing story of an officer in a POW camp reprimanded for having a kickabout with a loaf of bread (reported in The Times, 20th May 1915). And perhaps Brad and Michala were hungry when researching this week’s NiBs as both coincidentally both take a food-related theme (one more tragic than the other). All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.

Live from Rootstech London! All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.