John Jacob Astor came to the U.S. from Germany not long after the colonies gained their independence as a nation. He made his first fortune in the fur trade, and then diversified his income and built a legendary fortune.

Research:
Irving, Washington. “Astoria, Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains.” G.P. Putnams Sons. 1861. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Astoria/DAzBRmfcZloC?hl=en&gbpv=0
“ROMANCE OF THE HISTORIC EDEN FARM OWNED BY ASTOR FAMILY SINCE 1803.” New York Times. Feb. 29, 1920. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/02/29/118265256.html?pageNumber=80
Shachtman, Tom. “The Founding Fortunes: How the Wealthy Paid for and Profited from America's Revolution.” St. Martin's Press. 2020.
“John Jay’s Treaty, 1794–95.” U.S. Department of State. Office of the Historian. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/jay-treaty
Youngman, Anna. “The Fortune of John Jacob Astor.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 16, no. 6, 1908, pp. 345–68. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1820664
Youngman, Anna. “The Fortune of John Jacob Astor: II.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 16, no. 7, 1908, pp. 436–41. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1820843
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "John Jacob Astor". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Jul. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Jacob-Astor-American-businessman-1763-1848
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "American Fur Company". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Dec. 2018, https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Fur-Company
Ziak, Rex. “The Astor Dynasty.” The Astorian. Dec. 7, 2018. https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/the-astor-dynasty/article_d9163297-dfb7-5c77-83d8-3db1340017f7.html
Madsen, Axel. “John Jacob Astor: America's First Multimillionaire.” Wiley. 2001.

John Jacob Astor came to the U.S. from Germany not long after the colonies gained their independence as a nation. He made his first fortune in the fur trade, and then diversified his income and built a legendary fortune.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Irving, Washington. “Astoria, Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains.” G.P. Putnams Sons. 1861. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Astoria/DAzBRmfcZloC?hl=en&amp;gbpv=0</li>
<li>“ROMANCE OF THE HISTORIC EDEN FARM OWNED BY ASTOR FAMILY SINCE 1803.” New York Times. Feb. 29, 1920. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/02/29/118265256.html?pageNumber=80</li>
<li>Shachtman, Tom. “The Founding Fortunes: How the Wealthy Paid for and Profited from America's Revolution.” St. Martin's Press. 2020.</li>
<li>“John Jay’s Treaty, 1794–95.” U.S. Department of State. Office of the Historian. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/jay-treaty</li>
<li>Youngman, Anna. “The Fortune of John Jacob Astor.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 16, no. 6, 1908, pp. 345–68. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1820664</li>
<li>Youngman, Anna. “The Fortune of John Jacob Astor: II.” Journal of Political Economy, vol. 16, no. 7, 1908, pp. 436–41. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1820843</li>
<li>Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "John Jacob Astor". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Jul. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Jacob-Astor-American-businessman-1763-1848</li>
<li>Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "American Fur Company". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Dec. 2018, https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Fur-Company</li>
<li>Ziak, Rex. “The Astor Dynasty.” The Astorian. Dec. 7, 2018. https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/the-astor-dynasty/article_d9163297-dfb7-5c77-83d8-3db1340017f7.html</li>
<li>Madsen, Axel. “John Jacob Astor: America's First Multimillionaire.” Wiley. 2001.</li>
</ul>

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

John Jacob Astor came to the U.S. from Germany not long after the colonies gained their independence as a nation. He made his first fortune in the fur trade, and then diversified his income and built a legendary fortune.

John Jacob Astor

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4de686fe-a895-4169-b5bd-af6b0059093e/transcript

This 2021 episode covers a period of time when the milk supply in New York was anything but appetizing and wholesome – it was often deadly. But efforts to address the problem were blocked by corrupt officials.

This 2021 episode covers a period of time when the milk supply in New York was anything but appetizing and wholesome &ndash; it was often deadly. But efforts to address the problem were blocked by corrupt officials.

SYMHC Classics: Swill Milk

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4016d6e6-4a83-48e9-9d7f-b4b1015cc0b8/transcript

Tracy shares a story of looking for an article in the wrong historical journal. Holly reads a section of the U.S. flag code, and waxes rhapsodic about toys.

Tracy shares a story of looking for an article in the wrong historical journal. Holly reads a section of the U.S. flag code, and waxes rhapsodic about toys.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Mary, Beulah, Baby Alive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2189beac-5612-4af1-9eea-b4b1015c8da5/transcript

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York. 

Research:
Bengtson, Harlan H. “Beulah Louise Henry.” EBSCO. 2021. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/beulah-louise-henry
“Beulah Louise Henry.” National Inventors Hall of Fame. https://www.invent.org/inductees/beulah-louise-henry
Dick, Gerry. “Beulah henry Sits in Chiffon Laboratory Inventing Almost Everything But Excuses.” The Rockford Argus. April 8. 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/531344097/?match=1&terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&search-id=22e1b59c-1edb-4d9c-895d-9454b6343852&search-rank=7
Hart, Alicia. “Meet Beulah henry, the Inventor.” The Salisbury Post. Sept. 1, 1955. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026874682/?match=1&terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&search-id=be53d62d-90f0-4084-8868-9b0e0a4dbb37&search-rank=3
Henry, B.L. “DOUBLE CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.” April 21, 1936. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2037901-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “DUPLICATING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS.” Aug. 30, 1932. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/e7/a5/7d/a7e3bbcd163f09/US1874749.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Hand Bag.” U.S. Patent Office. May 27, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0a/6d/16/4d8139d4025580/US1063031.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Ice Cream Freezer.” U.S. Patent Office. Sept. 3, 1912. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/dc/d8/5c/1c61ca65b0339b/US1037762.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Indicator Top.” U.S. Patent Office. March 2, 1926. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1575264-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “Parasol.” U.S. Patent Office. Nov. 18, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6e/fe/25/726c19533c2b0f/US1079240.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Parasol.” U.S. Patent Office. May 6, 1924. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/5c/ad/88/868b750b1d9c44/US1492725.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Radio Doll.” U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 8, 1925. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1565145-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJhMTUwM2E5YS04MzYzLTRmYTgtYjRmOS1lZDU5OGIyMDllNGEiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MjZkN2M5OS05OGVkLTQzY2EtOGE2YS02NTU2ZWIzYzY0MzgiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “SEAM AND METHOD OF FORMING SEAMS.” U.S. Patent Office. Feb 4. 1941. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2230896-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9
Henry, B.L. “Simulated Dispensing Device.” U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 11, 1951. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6d/80/75/d6a9df36c75df0/US2577849.pdf
Henry, B.L. “Water Sport Apparatus.” U.S. Patent Office. August 16, 1927. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1639607-A?source=USPAT&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9
Jones, Stacy. “A Single Unit Serves for Mailing and Also Returning.” New York Times. Jan. 27, 1962. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/01/27/90129637.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
LaRiccia, Dante. “Electricity Consumption: Culture, Gender and Power.” Energy History Online. Yale University. https://energyhistory.yale.edu/electricity-consumption-culture-gender-and-power/
Mydans, Seth. “Overlooked No More: Beulah Henry, Inventor With an Endless Imagination.” New York Times. March 14, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/obituaries/beulah-henry-overlooked.html
“Synesthesia.” Cleveland Clinic. May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24995-synesthesia
“"There's a better way of doing that." USPTO. https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/historical-stories/theres-better-way-doing

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Bengtson, Harlan H. &ldquo;Beulah Louise Henry.&rdquo; EBSCO. 2021. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/beulah-louise-henry</li>
<li>&ldquo;Beulah Louise Henry.&rdquo; National Inventors Hall of Fame. https://www.invent.org/inductees/beulah-louise-henry</li>
<li>Dick, Gerry. &ldquo;Beulah henry Sits in Chiffon Laboratory Inventing Almost Everything But Excuses.&rdquo; The Rockford Argus. April 8. 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/531344097/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&amp;search-id=22e1b59c-1edb-4d9c-895d-9454b6343852&amp;search-rank=7</li>
<li>Hart, Alicia. &ldquo;Meet Beulah henry, the Inventor.&rdquo; The Salisbury Post. Sept. 1, 1955. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026874682/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Beulah%20Henry%22&amp;search-id=be53d62d-90f0-4084-8868-9b0e0a4dbb37&amp;search-rank=3</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;DOUBLE CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.&rdquo; April 21, 1936. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2037901-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;DUPLICATING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS.&rdquo; Aug. 30, 1932. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/e7/a5/7d/a7e3bbcd163f09/US1874749.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Hand Bag.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. May 27, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0a/6d/16/4d8139d4025580/US1063031.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Ice Cream Freezer.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Sept. 3, 1912. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/dc/d8/5c/1c61ca65b0339b/US1037762.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Indicator Top.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. March 2, 1926. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1575264-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Parasol.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Nov. 18, 1913. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6e/fe/25/726c19533c2b0f/US1079240.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Parasol.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. May 6, 1924. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/5c/ad/88/868b750b1d9c44/US1492725.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Radio Doll.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 8, 1925. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1565145-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJhMTUwM2E5YS04MzYzLTRmYTgtYjRmOS1lZDU5OGIyMDllNGEiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MjZkN2M5OS05OGVkLTQzY2EtOGE2YS02NTU2ZWIzYzY0MzgiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;SEAM AND METHOD OF FORMING SEAMS.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Feb 4. 1941. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-2230896-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiI4NTA2NjMxNi1kZTRmLTRlNzQtOGJhYS1kYTRjMzhhMGZkNmYiLCJ2ZXIiOiJjY2M5MGE0NS02ZGRhLTQ5YTAtOTQzZS1lOTIyMzBhMjI0MjEiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Simulated Dispensing Device.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. Dec. 11, 1951. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6d/80/75/d6a9df36c75df0/US2577849.pdf</li>
<li>Henry, B.L. &ldquo;Water Sport Apparatus.&rdquo; U.S. Patent Office. August 16, 1927. https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/US-1639607-A?source=USPAT&amp;requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIxMzU2NTdlNi03OWNkLTQyZGUtYTgwNi0yYzRhYmM3OGU5OGIiLCJ2ZXIiOiI2MzIxNTg0Yy1iOTZjLTRhYmItOTZhNC04OGUxNTI3ODY3NjUiLCJleHAiOjB9</li>
<li>Jones, Stacy. &ldquo;A Single Unit Serves for Mailing and Also Returning.&rdquo; New York Times. Jan. 27, 1962. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/01/27/90129637.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>LaRiccia, Dante. &ldquo;Electricity Consumption: Culture, Gender and Power.&rdquo; Energy History Online. Yale University. https://energyhistory.yale.edu/electricity-consumption-culture-gender-and-power/</li>
<li>Mydans, Seth. &ldquo;Overlooked No More: Beulah Henry, Inventor With an Endless Imagination.&rdquo; New York Times. March 14, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/obituaries/beulah-henry-overlooked.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;Synesthesia.&rdquo; Cleveland Clinic. May 3, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24995-synesthesia</li>
<li>&ldquo;"There's a better way of doing that." USPTO. https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/journeys-innovation/historical-stories/theres-better-way-doing</li>
</ul>

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York. 

Beulah Louise Henry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/672c2068-677e-4442-b1d6-b4b0013873f7/transcript

John Jacob Astor

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