On today's casual Friday talk, Tracy and Holly talk about the surprising level of recognition Joan Curran got from male contemporaries, war debris, and the skeevier aspects of the "Tale of Genji."

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On today's casual Friday talk, Tracy and Holly talk about the surprising level of recognition Joan Curran got from male contemporaries, war debris, and the skeevier aspects of the "Tale of Genji." Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Behind the Scenes Minis: Joan Curran and  Murasaki Shikibu

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a7af10a3-2577-4b8c-b29e-ae280035b217/transcript

Screaming skull lore is something that is unique to Britain, though specific skull lore varies. The first episode has roots in the English Civil war, and the second is tied to colonialism in the Caribbean and the slave trade. 

Research:
Berry, Helen. “Exclusion Crisis: Challenging James II’s Right to Rule.” History Today. May 5, 2026. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/exclusion-crisis-challenging-james-iis-right-rule
“The Bettiscombe Skull – Pinney Family.” Bridport and Lyme Regis News. March 25, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1325106358/?match=18&terms=Azariah%20Pinney%20&search-id=f74cfd16-6d86-49a4-a9db-d190c38e3250&search-rank=1
Collinson, John. “The history and antiquities of the county of Somerset, collected from authentick records, and an actual survey made by the late Mr. Edmund Rack. Adorned with a map of the county and engravings of Roman and other reliques, town seals, baths, churches and gentlemen’s seats.” Vo. II. Bath. R. Crutwell. 1791. https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-history-and-antiquit_collinson-john_1791_2/page/n1/mode/2up?q=horrid
Cooper, W.J. “Bridport’s Most Exciting Day 280 Years Ago.” Bridport and Lyme Regis News. June 11, 1965. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1325206100/?match=2&terms=Azariah%20Pinney%20&search-id=f74cfd16-6d86-49a4-a9db-d190c38e3250&search-rank=2
Davey, Tim. “A Slave to History.” Evening Post. Sept. 28, 1999. https://www.newspapers.com/image/909493603/?match=7&terms=Azariah%20Pinney%20&search-id=f74cfd16-6d86-49a4-a9db-d190c38e3250&search-rank=10
Frere, Sheppard Sunderland, et al. "United Kingdom". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Sep. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom
“Higher Farmhouse.” Historic England. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1296177?section=official-list-entry
Hubbard, Vincent K. “Swords, Ships & Sugar: History of Nevis to 1900.” Premiere Editions. 1996. 
Ingram, John H. “The Haunted Homes and Family Traditions of Great Britain.” London.Gibbings. 1901. https://archive.org/details/hauntedhomesand01ingrgoog
Kelly’s Directory of Liverpool & Birkenhead, 1894. [Part 2: Birkenhead and Trade & Court Directories]. Kelly & Co. Ltd, 1894. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.30135909
Prickett, Katy. “The Macabre Tale of Oliver Cromwell’s Head.” BBC. Nov. 17, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j8vn2ne70o
“Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe.” Dorset Echo. Aug. 14, 1963. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1325267462/?match=1&terms=Bettiscombe%20skull&search-id=0ee431ba-ab8d-4d60-a29c-7ac53b535399&search-rank=1
Thiselton-Dyer, T. F. “Strange Pages from Family Papers.” LONDON. SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY. 1895. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17050/pg17050-images.html#CHAPTER_II
Underwood, Peter. “Ghosts of Somerset.” Bossiness Books. 2011.
Weaver, Frederic William, M.A., ed. “Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset. Vol. II.” Sherbourne. J.C. and A.T. Sawtell. 1891. https://archive.org/details/notesqueriesfors02brid/page/n3/mode/2up
“A West Dorset Legend.” Dorset Echo. July 24, 1953. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1194417076/?match=7&terms=Bettiscombe%20Skull&search-id=f5da8122-4471-4f76-bbb5-a9d54fce9cc6&search-rank=11
West, John. “Britain’s Haunted Skulls.” Psychic News. October 2021. https://pocketmags.com/us/psychic-news-magazine/october-2021/articles/britain-s-haunted-skulls?srsltid=AU7gw4XzpYKPL3Gr5erHXG9udfTa62VhFURg_DaM9wBGEqMGPwm4YI-G

Screaming skull lore is something that is unique to Britain, though specific skull lore varies. The first episode has roots in the English Civil war, and the second is tied to colonialism in the Caribbean and the slave trade.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Berry, Helen. &ldquo;Exclusion Crisis: Challenging James II&rsquo;s Right to Rule.&rdquo; History Today. May 5, 2026. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/exclusion-crisis-challenging-james-iis-right-rule</li>
<li>&ldquo;The Bettiscombe Skull &ndash; Pinney Family.&rdquo; Bridport and Lyme Regis News. March 25, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1325106358/?match=18&amp;terms=Azariah%20Pinney%20&amp;search-id=f74cfd16-6d86-49a4-a9db-d190c38e3250&amp;search-rank=1</li>
<li>Collinson, John. &ldquo;The history and antiquities of the county of Somerset, collected from authentick records, and an actual survey made by the late Mr. Edmund Rack. Adorned with a map of the county and engravings of Roman and other reliques, town seals, baths, churches and gentlemen&rsquo;s seats.&rdquo; Vo. II. Bath. R. Crutwell. 1791. https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-history-and-antiquit_collinson-john_1791_2/page/n1/mode/2up?q=horrid</li>
<li>Cooper, W.J. &ldquo;Bridport&rsquo;s Most Exciting Day 280 Years Ago.&rdquo; Bridport and Lyme Regis News. June 11, 1965. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1325206100/?match=2&amp;terms=Azariah%20Pinney%20&amp;search-id=f74cfd16-6d86-49a4-a9db-d190c38e3250&amp;search-rank=2</li>
<li>Davey, Tim. &ldquo;A Slave to History.&rdquo; Evening Post. Sept. 28, 1999. https://www.newspapers.com/image/909493603/?match=7&amp;terms=Azariah%20Pinney%20&amp;search-id=f74cfd16-6d86-49a4-a9db-d190c38e3250&amp;search-rank=10</li>
<li>Frere, Sheppard Sunderland, et al. "United Kingdom". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Sep. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom</li>
<li>&ldquo;Higher Farmhouse.&rdquo; Historic England. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1296177?section=official-list-entry</li>
<li>Hubbard, Vincent K. &ldquo;Swords, Ships &amp; Sugar: History of Nevis to 1900.&rdquo; Premiere Editions. 1996.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Ingram, John H. &ldquo;The Haunted Homes and Family Traditions of Great Britain.&rdquo; London.Gibbings. 1901. https://archive.org/details/hauntedhomesand01ingrgoog</li>
<li>Kelly&rsquo;s Directory of Liverpool &amp; Birkenhead, 1894. [Part 2: Birkenhead and Trade &amp; Court Directories]. Kelly &amp; Co. Ltd, 1894. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.30135909</li>
<li>Prickett, Katy. &ldquo;The Macabre Tale of Oliver Cromwell&rsquo;s Head.&rdquo; BBC. Nov. 17, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j8vn2ne70o</li>
<li>&ldquo;Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe.&rdquo; Dorset Echo. Aug. 14, 1963. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1325267462/?match=1&amp;terms=Bettiscombe%20skull&amp;search-id=0ee431ba-ab8d-4d60-a29c-7ac53b535399&amp;search-rank=1</li>
<li>Thiselton-Dyer, T. F. &ldquo;Strange Pages from Family Papers.&rdquo; LONDON. SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON &amp; COMPANY. 1895. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17050/pg17050-images.html#CHAPTER_II</li>
<li>Underwood, Peter. &ldquo;Ghosts of Somerset.&rdquo; Bossiness Books. 2011.</li>
<li>Weaver, Frederic William, M.A., ed. &ldquo;Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset. Vol. II.&rdquo; Sherbourne. J.C. and A.T. Sawtell. 1891. https://archive.org/details/notesqueriesfors02brid/page/n3/mode/2up</li>
<li>&ldquo;A West Dorset Legend.&rdquo; Dorset Echo. July 24, 1953. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1194417076/?match=7&amp;terms=Bettiscombe%20Skull&amp;search-id=f5da8122-4471-4f76-bbb5-a9d54fce9cc6&amp;search-rank=11</li>
<li>West, John. &ldquo;Britain&rsquo;s Haunted Skulls.&rdquo; Psychic News. October 2021. https://pocketmags.com/us/psychic-news-magazine/october-2021/articles/britain-s-haunted-skulls?srsltid=AU7gw4XzpYKPL3Gr5erHXG9udfTa62VhFURg_DaM9wBGEqMGPwm4YI-G</li>
</ul>

Screaming skull lore is something that is unique to Britain, though specific skull lore varies. The first episode has roots in the English Civil war, and the second is tied to colonialism in the Caribbean and the slave trade. 

Two Screaming Skulls

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/908e7815-ae47-466e-a77d-b4d8017ea7f4/transcript

Sara Weiss wrote a lengthy account of life and afterlife on Mars, a place she said she visited through psychic travels starting in 1892. 

Research:
Calanchi, A. (2024). “Renewed in health”: Meeting Giordano Bruno on planet Mars. Between, 14(27), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.13125/2039-6597/5444
Crossley, Robert. “Mars and the Paranormal.” Science Fiction Studies , Nov., 2008, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Nov., 2008). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25475179
Daly, Liza. “Journeys to the Planet Mars (1903).” 2/23/2022. https://lizadaly.com/utopian-novels/journeys-to-the-planet-mars/
Daly, Liza. “Sara Ditto Weiss.” https://ayonmuya.org/21-biography.html
Dickey, Colin. “Sara Weiss’ Journeys to the Planet Mars (1903).” The Public Domain Review. 2/3/2026. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/journeys-to-the-planet-mars/
“Funeral of Mrs. S. Weiss.” The St. Louis Republic (St. Louis, Mo.), March 25, 1904. Page 14.
Hennesy, Roger. “The Martian Century.” History Today. 7/7/1998. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/martian-century
Hyslop, James H. “Journeys to the Planet Mars.” Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. Vol. 7, Issue 5. 1913.
Lane, K. Maria D. “Mapping the Mars Canal Mania: Cartographic Projection and the Creation of a Popular Icon.” Imago Mundi, 2006, Vol. 58, No. 2 (2006). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40234145
Mason, Brian D. “The Navy’s Greatest Refractor Turns 150.” Astronomy. February 2023.
“Mrs. Sara Weiss Passes Away.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Page 1. 3/23/1904.
Myers, F.W.H. “The Subliminal Self.” Chapter VIII. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research. Vol. 11. 1895. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Proceedings_of_the_Society_for_Psychical/iuZAAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. “26-inch ‘Great Equatorial’ telescope.” https://www.cnmoc.usff.navy.mil/Our-Commands/United-States-Naval-Observatory/Our-Telescopes/The-26-inch-Great-Equatorial-telescope/
Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. “Our Telescopes.” https://www.cnmoc.usff.navy.mil/Our-Commands/United-States-Naval-Observatory/Our-Telescopes/
“Romance, Philosophy, Morals.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Page 11. 1/15/1904.
“Spirit Bands In Mars.” Boston Evening Transcript. January 06, 1904. Page 16.
Louis Post-Dispatch. “A St. Louis Woman’s Journey to Mars.” Page 52. Dec 20, 1903.
Louis Post-Dispatch. “St. Louis Woman Draws Under Spirit Influence.” 6/2/1901.
The St Louis Republic. “What the Spirits Say of Mars.” Page 41. 4/9/1899.
The St. Louis Republic. (Saint Louis, MO) 12 Dec. 1903, p. 10. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn84020274/1903-12-12/ed-1/.
The St. Louis Republic. (Saint Louis, MO) 25 Mar. 1904, p. 10. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn84020274/1904-03-25/ed-1/.
“The ‘Weiss’ Books.” Reason. August 1910.
“WEISS.” Obituary. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Page 7. 3/24/1904.
Weiss, Sara. “Journeys to the planet Mars, or, Our mission to Ento.” The Bradford Press. 1903.

Sara Weiss wrote a lengthy account of life and afterlife on Mars, a place she said she visited through psychic travels starting in 1892.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Calanchi, A. (2024). &ldquo;Renewed in health&rdquo;: Meeting Giordano Bruno on planet Mars. Between, 14(27), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.13125/2039-6597/5444</li>
<li>Crossley, Robert. &ldquo;Mars and the Paranormal.&rdquo; Science Fiction Studies , Nov., 2008, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Nov., 2008). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25475179</li>
<li>Daly, Liza. &ldquo;Journeys to the Planet Mars (1903).&rdquo; 2/23/2022. https://lizadaly.com/utopian-novels/journeys-to-the-planet-mars/</li>
<li>Daly, Liza. &ldquo;Sara Ditto Weiss.&rdquo; https://ayonmuya.org/21-biography.html</li>
<li>Dickey, Colin. &ldquo;Sara Weiss&rsquo; Journeys to the Planet Mars (1903).&rdquo; The Public Domain Review. 2/3/2026. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/journeys-to-the-planet-mars/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Funeral of Mrs. S. Weiss.&rdquo; The St. Louis Republic (St. Louis, Mo.), March 25, 1904. Page 14.</li>
<li>Hennesy, Roger. &ldquo;The Martian Century.&rdquo; History Today. 7/7/1998. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/martian-century</li>
<li>Hyslop, James H. &ldquo;Journeys to the Planet Mars.&rdquo; Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. Vol. 7, Issue 5. 1913.</li>
<li>Lane, K. Maria D. &ldquo;Mapping the Mars Canal Mania: Cartographic Projection and the Creation of a Popular Icon.&rdquo; Imago Mundi, 2006, Vol. 58, No. 2 (2006). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40234145</li>
<li>Mason, Brian D. &ldquo;The Navy&rsquo;s Greatest Refractor Turns 150.&rdquo; Astronomy. February 2023.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Mrs. Sara Weiss Passes Away.&rdquo; St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Page 1. 3/23/1904.</li>
<li>Myers, F.W.H. &ldquo;The Subliminal Self.&rdquo; Chapter VIII. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research. Vol. 11. 1895. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Proceedings_of_the_Society_for_Psychical/iuZAAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=0</li>
<li>Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. &ldquo;26-inch &lsquo;Great Equatorial&rsquo; telescope.&rdquo; https://www.cnmoc.usff.navy.mil/Our-Commands/United-States-Naval-Observatory/Our-Telescopes/The-26-inch-Great-Equatorial-telescope/</li>
<li>Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. &ldquo;Our Telescopes.&rdquo; https://www.cnmoc.usff.navy.mil/Our-Commands/United-States-Naval-Observatory/Our-Telescopes/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Romance, Philosophy, Morals.&rdquo; St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Page 11. 1/15/1904.</li>
<li>&ldquo;Spirit Bands In Mars.&rdquo; Boston Evening Transcript. January 06, 1904. Page 16.</li>
<li>Louis Post-Dispatch. &ldquo;A St. Louis Woman&rsquo;s Journey to Mars.&rdquo; Page 52. Dec 20, 1903.</li>
<li>Louis Post-Dispatch. &ldquo;St. Louis Woman Draws Under Spirit Influence.&rdquo; 6/2/1901.</li>
<li>The St Louis Republic. &ldquo;What the Spirits Say of Mars.&rdquo; Page 41. 4/9/1899.</li>
<li>The St. Louis Republic. (Saint Louis, MO) 12 Dec. 1903, p. 10. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn84020274/1903-12-12/ed-1/.</li>
<li>The St. Louis Republic. (Saint Louis, MO) 25 Mar. 1904, p. 10. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn84020274/1904-03-25/ed-1/.</li>
<li>&ldquo;The &lsquo;Weiss&rsquo; Books.&rdquo; Reason. August 1910.</li>
<li>&ldquo;WEISS.&rdquo; Obituary. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Page 7. 3/24/1904.</li>
<li>Weiss, Sara. &ldquo;Journeys to the planet Mars, or, Our mission to Ento.&rdquo; The Bradford Press. 1903.</li>
</ul>

Sara Weiss wrote a lengthy account of life and afterlife on Mars, a place she said she visited through psychic travels starting in 1892. 

Sara Weiss’s Journeys to the Planet Mars

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6d64ca83-78f8-433f-8278-b4d70163bf2f/transcript

This 2021 episode covers Colchester, who claimed to be psychic and may have warned President Abraham Lincoln that he was going to be assassinated. 

This 2021 episode covers Colchester, who claimed to be psychic and may have warned President Abraham Lincoln that he was going to be assassinated.&nbsp;

SYMHC Classics: Charles Colchester

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2373482e-1530-4462-b92c-b4d601856879/transcript

Behind the Scenes Minis: Joan Curran and Murasaki Shikibu

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