Joseph Medill was a powerhouse in 19th century journalism who made no attempt to conceal his bias when it came to political writing. He also had a fascinating second career due to a tragedy, when he became a politician.

Research:
Anderson, Jeffrey Justin. “JOSEPH MEDILL: HOW ONE MAN INFLUENCED THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION OF 1860.” Thesis. Roosevelt University. 2011. https://www.proquest.com/openview/6c0d810b769e5f18c08a028835deba88/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
Britannica Editors. "Joseph Medill". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Medill
Britannica Editors. "Chicago Tribune". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Aug. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chicago-Tribune
“Chicago History.” Chicago.gov. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/about/history.html#:~:text=Incorporated%20as%20a%20city%20in,Hare%20and%20Midway%20International%20airports.
Hughes, Frank. “Lincoln and the Tribune: A Great American and a Great Paper to Mold U.S. History.” Chicago Tribune. June 10, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/169275545/
“Joseph Medill, Giant of Journalism.” Chicago Tribune. June 10, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/370685102/?match=1&terms=Joseph%20Medill
“Joseph Medill Is Dead.” Chicago Tribune. March. 17, 1899. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/355009623/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM1NTAwOTYyMywiaWF0IjoxNzY1MjUwOTIxLCJleHAiOjE3NjUzMzczMjF9.T6Xs_g5fD6JZTwZSYECT73-0gILoXji25OQ_fIX1MI4
McKinney, Megan. “The Magnificent Medills: America's Royal Family of Journalism During a Century of Turbulent Splendor.” Harper Collins. 2011.
Medill, Joseph. “Mayor Joseph Medill Inaugural Address, 1871.” https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-joseph-medill-inaugural-address-1871/
Moses, John. “Biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of the representative men of the United States : Illinois volume.” Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. 1896. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/biographicaldi1271mose/page/12/mode/2up
Smith, Richard Norton. “The Colonel: The Life and Legend of Robert R. McCormick 1880-1955.” Houghton Mifflin. 1997.

Joseph Medill was a powerhouse in 19th century journalism who made no attempt to conceal his bias when it came to political writing. He also had a fascinating second career due to a tragedy, when he became a politician.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Anderson, Jeffrey Justin. &ldquo;JOSEPH MEDILL: HOW ONE MAN INFLUENCED THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION OF 1860.&rdquo; Thesis. Roosevelt University. 2011. https://www.proquest.com/openview/6c0d810b769e5f18c08a028835deba88/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&amp;cbl=18750</li>
<li>Britannica Editors. "Joseph Medill".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Medill</li>
<li>Britannica Editors. "Chicago Tribune".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Aug. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chicago-Tribune</li>
<li>&ldquo;Chicago History.&rdquo; Chicago.gov. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/about/history.html#:~:text=Incorporated%20as%20a%20city%20in,Hare%20and%20Midway%20International%20airports.</li>
<li>Hughes, Frank. &ldquo;Lincoln and the Tribune: A Great American and a Great Paper to Mold U.S. History.&rdquo; Chicago Tribune. June 10, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/169275545/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Joseph Medill, Giant of Journalism.&rdquo; Chicago Tribune. June 10, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/370685102/?match=1&amp;terms=Joseph%20Medill</li>
<li>&ldquo;Joseph Medill Is Dead.&rdquo; Chicago Tribune. March. 17, 1899. https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/355009623/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM1NTAwOTYyMywiaWF0IjoxNzY1MjUwOTIxLCJleHAiOjE3NjUzMzczMjF9.T6Xs_g5fD6JZTwZSYECT73-0gILoXji25OQ_fIX1MI4</li>
<li>McKinney, Megan. &ldquo;The Magnificent Medills:&nbsp;America's Royal Family of Journalism During a Century of Turbulent Splendor.&rdquo; Harper Collins. 2011.</li>
<li>Medill, Joseph. &ldquo;Mayor Joseph Medill Inaugural Address, 1871.&rdquo; https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-joseph-medill-inaugural-address-1871/</li>
<li>Moses, John. &ldquo;Biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of the representative men of the United States : Illinois volume.&rdquo; Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. 1896. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/biographicaldi1271mose/page/12/mode/2up</li>
<li>Smith, Richard Norton. &ldquo;The Colonel: The Life and Legend of Robert R. McCormick 1880-1955.&rdquo; Houghton Mifflin. 1997.</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

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

Joseph Medill was a powerhouse in 19th century journalism who made no attempt to conceal his bias when it came to political writing. He also had a fascinating second career due to a tragedy, when he became a politician.

Joseph Medill

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ee0bb8b8-5f93-41d4-b4d6-b3bb00433c47/transcript

Holly and Tracy talk about how frequently the U.S. Post Office has stopped criminals, and about E. Virgil Neal using his intellect for shady business dealings.

Holly and Tracy talk about how frequently the U.S. Post Office has stopped criminals, and about E. Virgil Neal using his intellect for shady business dealings.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Piece of Work

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5dcc5609-22c2-434b-8949-b46500431d4f/transcript

In the early 20th century, Neal's company Force of Life was investigated for fraud. But somehow, Neal managed to get through the scandal and went on to found a cosmetics company that became very successful. 

Research:
“Can’t Find E. Virgil Neal.” New York Times. January 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496816.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“Claimed to Raise the Dead.” Kansas City Star. Jan. 13, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/653825670/?match=1&terms=%22Claimed%20to%20raise%20the%20dead%22
Conroy, Mary Schaeffer. “The Cosmetics Baron You’ve Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon.” Third Edition. Altus History Publishing. 2014.
“E. Virgil Neal Passes Away at Geneva June 30.” The Sedalia Democrat. July 3, 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sedalia-democrat-e-virgil-neal-obit/185827307/
“False Advertising Chief ‘Stimulant’ in Nixated Iron.” New York Tribune. Dec. 16,1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/894241833/?terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Force of Life Charges Dismissed.” Buffalo News. April 24, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/329115069/
“FORCE OF LIFE'S WIND-UP.; E. Virgil Neal Still Missing, but Offices Are Being Dismantled.” New York Times. Jan. 17, 1906. https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/17/archives/force-of-lifes-windup-e-virgil-neal-still-missing-but-offices-are.html
“Force of Lifers Sent Many Decoy Letters.” New York Times. February 7, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/02/07/101765677.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“Here’s a Hyopnotic Bank.” New York Sun. March 3, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/207217198/?match=1&terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy
“How Force of Lifers Did a Rush Business.” New York Times. Jan. 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496815.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“James R. O’Beirne.” Fordham University. Office of the President. https://www.fordham.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/administrative-offices/office-of-the-president/about/hall-of-honor/james-r-obeirne/
“Jury Disagrees Cartilage Case.” Buffalo Courier Express. May 5, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/352806300/?match=1&terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Medical Mail-order Frauds.” American Medical Association. 1915. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=Cyq6AAAAIAAJ&vq=neal&source=gbs_navlinks_s
“Medicine: From Sedalia.” Time Magazine. Dec. 25, 1933. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,746617-1,00.html
“A Message to the Sick.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Feb. 9, 1900. https://www.newspapers.com/image/135238292/?match=1&terms=vitaopathy
“Most Beautiful Woman in Paris.” The Times-Union. October 6, 1909. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1278623430/?match=6&terms=To-Kalon
Neal, E. Virgil and John H. Moore. “Modern Illustrative Banking.” American Book Company. 1904. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/modernillustrati00neal/modernillustrati00neal/
Neal, E. Virgil and C.T. Craig. “Modern Illustrative Bookkeeping.” American Book Company 1901. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/illustratimodern00nealrich/page/16/mode/2up
“Neal, of ‘Nuxated Iron’ Fame, Held on Fraud Charge.” Times-Transcript. April 15, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106273916/?match=1&terms=%22Neal%20of%20Nuxated%20Iron%22
“Neal Returns for Business.” Post-Standard. April 30, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091107180/
Bennet, James. “Tokalon.” Cosmetics and Skin. Jan. 26, 2025. https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/tokalon.php
“Gigantic Swindle Probably Bared.” Nebraska City Weekly. Jan. 16, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/728074626
“In Force of Life Case.” Houston Post. Jan 13, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/94975109
“Nuxated Iron Sellers in Libel Suit.” The Times-Transcript. June 10, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106285753/?match=1&terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Part I: The 1906 Food and Drugs Act and Its Enforcement.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/changes-science-law-and-regulatory-authorities/part-i-1906-food-and-drugs-act-and-its-enforcement
“Personal Magnetism.” San Francisco Examiner. March 8, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/457762995/?match=1&terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy
“Pope Receives O’Beirne.” New York Times. Sept 25, 1910. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20505640/?match=1&terms=%22pope%20receives%20o%27beirne%22
Schwarcz, Joe, PhD. “The Prince of Quackery.” McGill Office for Science and Society. July 16, 2025. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience-history/prince-quackery
“Thought Waves Between ‘Em.” New York Sun. April 12, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-and-the-a/185828789/
“Tribune’s Answer in Libel Suit Calls E. Virgil Neal a Quck.” New York Tribune. June 23, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/469171423/?match=1&terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Vain Search for Neal.” New York Times. January 16, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/16/101763032.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“WORRIED ABOUT NEAL & CO.: Depositors, You See, Don’t Like Hypnotism in Banking.” New York Sun. March 4, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-hypnotic/176427712/

In the early 20th century, Neal's company Force of Life was investigated for fraud. But somehow, Neal managed to get through the scandal and went on to found a cosmetics company that became very successful.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;Can&rsquo;t Find E. Virgil Neal.&rdquo; New York Times. January 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496816.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;Claimed to Raise the Dead.&rdquo; Kansas City Star. Jan. 13, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/653825670/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Claimed%20to%20raise%20the%20dead%22</li>
<li>Conroy, Mary Schaeffer. &ldquo;The Cosmetics Baron You&rsquo;ve Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon.&rdquo; Third Edition. Altus History Publishing. 2014.</li>
<li>&ldquo;E. Virgil Neal Passes Away at Geneva June 30.&rdquo; The Sedalia Democrat. July 3, 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sedalia-democrat-e-virgil-neal-obit/185827307/</li>
<li>&ldquo;False Advertising Chief &lsquo;Stimulant&rsquo; in Nixated Iron.&rdquo; New York Tribune. Dec. 16,1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/894241833/?terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Force of Life Charges Dismissed.&rdquo; Buffalo News. April 24, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/329115069/</li>
<li>&ldquo;FORCE OF LIFE'S WIND-UP.; E. Virgil Neal Still Missing, but Offices Are Being Dismantled.&rdquo; New York Times. Jan. 17, 1906. https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/17/archives/force-of-lifes-windup-e-virgil-neal-still-missing-but-offices-are.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;Force of Lifers Sent Many Decoy Letters.&rdquo; New York Times. February 7, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/02/07/101765677.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s a Hyopnotic Bank.&rdquo; New York Sun. March 3, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/207217198/?match=1&amp;terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy</li>
<li>&ldquo;How Force of Lifers Did a Rush Business.&rdquo; New York Times. Jan. 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496815.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;James R. O&rsquo;Beirne.&rdquo; Fordham University. Office of the President. https://www.fordham.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/administrative-offices/office-of-the-president/about/hall-of-honor/james-r-obeirne/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Jury Disagrees Cartilage Case.&rdquo; Buffalo Courier Express. May 5, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/352806300/?match=1&amp;terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Medical Mail-order Frauds.&rdquo; American Medical Association. 1915. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=Cyq6AAAAIAAJ&amp;vq=neal&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s</li>
<li>&ldquo;Medicine: From Sedalia.&rdquo; Time Magazine. Dec. 25, 1933. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,746617-1,00.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;A Message to the Sick.&rdquo; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Feb. 9, 1900. https://www.newspapers.com/image/135238292/?match=1&amp;terms=vitaopathy</li>
<li>&ldquo;Most Beautiful Woman in Paris.&rdquo; The Times-Union. October 6, 1909. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1278623430/?match=6&amp;terms=To-Kalon</li>
<li>Neal, E. Virgil and John H. Moore. &ldquo;Modern Illustrative Banking.&rdquo; American Book Company. 1904. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/modernillustrati00neal/modernillustrati00neal/</li>
<li>Neal, E. Virgil and C.T. Craig. &ldquo;Modern Illustrative Bookkeeping.&rdquo; American Book Company 1901. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/illustratimodern00nealrich/page/16/mode/2up</li>
<li>&ldquo;Neal, of &lsquo;Nuxated Iron&rsquo; Fame, Held on Fraud Charge.&rdquo; Times-Transcript. April 15, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106273916/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Neal%20of%20Nuxated%20Iron%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Neal Returns for Business.&rdquo; Post-Standard. April 30, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091107180/</li>
<li>Bennet, James. &ldquo;Tokalon.&rdquo; Cosmetics and Skin. Jan. 26, 2025. https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/tokalon.php</li>
<li>&ldquo;Gigantic Swindle Probably Bared.&rdquo; Nebraska City Weekly. Jan. 16, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/728074626</li>
<li>&ldquo;In Force of Life Case.&rdquo; Houston Post. Jan 13, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/94975109</li>
<li>&ldquo;Nuxated Iron Sellers in Libel Suit.&rdquo; The Times-Transcript. June 10, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106285753/?match=1&amp;terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Part I: The 1906 Food and Drugs Act and Its Enforcement.&rdquo; U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/changes-science-law-and-regulatory-authorities/part-i-1906-food-and-drugs-act-and-its-enforcement</li>
<li>&ldquo;Personal Magnetism.&rdquo; San Francisco Examiner. March 8, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/457762995/?match=1&amp;terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy</li>
<li>&ldquo;Pope Receives O&rsquo;Beirne.&rdquo; New York Times. Sept 25, 1910. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20505640/?match=1&amp;terms=%22pope%20receives%20o%27beirne%22</li>
<li>Schwarcz, Joe, PhD. &ldquo;The Prince of Quackery.&rdquo; McGill Office for Science and Society. July 16, 2025. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience-history/prince-quackery</li>
<li>&ldquo;Thought Waves Between &lsquo;Em.&rdquo; New York Sun. April 12, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-and-the-a/185828789/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Tribune&rsquo;s Answer in Libel Suit Calls E. Virgil Neal a Quck.&rdquo; New York Tribune. June 23, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/469171423/?match=1&amp;terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Vain Search for Neal.&rdquo; New York Times. January 16, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/16/101763032.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;WORRIED ABOUT NEAL &amp; CO.: Depositors, You See, Don&rsquo;t Like Hypnotism in Banking.&rdquo; New York Sun. March 4, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-hypnotic/176427712/</li>
</ul>

In the early 20th century, Neal's company Force of Life was investigated for fraud. But somehow, Neal managed to get through the scandal and went on to found a cosmetics company that became very successful. 

E. Virgil Neal: Hypnotist, Fraudster, Tycoon, Part 2

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/503f54b0-cfc5-4bec-a424-b463006a7029/transcript

E. Virgil Neal’s career started out with writing successful textbooks, but then took a turn into being a stage hypnotist and then a series of dicey mail-order businesses.

Research:
“Can’t Find E. Virgil Neal.” New York Times. January 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496816.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“Claimed to Raise the Dead.” Kansas City Star. Jan. 13, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/653825670/?match=1&terms=%22Claimed%20to%20raise%20the%20dead%22
Conroy, Mary Schaeffer. “The Cosmetics Baron You’ve Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon.” Third Edition. Altus History Publishing. 2014.
“E. Virgil Neal Passes Away at Geneva June 30.” The Sedalia Democrat. July 3, 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sedalia-democrat-e-virgil-neal-obit/185827307/
“False Advertising Chief ‘Stimulant’ in Nixated Iron.” New York Tribune. Dec. 16,1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/894241833/?terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Force of Life Charges Dismissed.” Buffalo News. April 24, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/329115069/
“FORCE OF LIFE'S WIND-UP.; E. Virgil Neal Still Missing, but Offices Are Being Dismantled.” New York Times. Jan. 17, 1906. https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/17/archives/force-of-lifes-windup-e-virgil-neal-still-missing-but-offices-are.html
“Force of Lifers Sent Many Decoy Letters.” New York Times. February 7, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/02/07/101765677.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“Here’s a Hyopnotic Bank.” New York Sun. March 3, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/207217198/?match=1&terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy
“How Force of Lifers Did a Rush Business.” New York Times. Jan. 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496815.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“James R. O’Beirne.” Fordham University. Office of the President. https://www.fordham.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/administrative-offices/office-of-the-president/about/hall-of-honor/james-r-obeirne/
“Jury Disagrees Cartilage Case.” Buffalo Courier Express. May 5, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/352806300/?match=1&terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Medical Mail-order Frauds.” American Medical Association. 1915. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=Cyq6AAAAIAAJ&vq=neal&source=gbs_navlinks_s
“Medicine: From Sedalia.” Time Magazine. Dec. 25, 1933. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,746617-1,00.html
“A Message to the Sick.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Feb. 9, 1900. https://www.newspapers.com/image/135238292/?match=1&terms=vitaopathy
“Most Beautiful Woman in Paris.” The Times-Union. October 6, 1909. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1278623430/?match=6&terms=To-Kalon
Neal, E. Virgil and John H. Moore. “Modern Illustrative Banking.” American Book Company. 1904. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/modernillustrati00neal/modernillustrati00neal/
Neal, E. Virgil and C.T. Craig. “Modern Illustrative Bookkeeping.” American Book Company 1901. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/illustratimodern00nealrich/page/16/mode/2up
“Neal, of ‘Nuxated Iron’ Fame, Held on Fraud Charge.” Times-Transcript. April 15, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106273916/?match=1&terms=%22Neal%20of%20Nuxated%20Iron%22
“Neal Returns for Business.” Post-Standard. April 30, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091107180/
Bennet, James. “Tokalon.” Cosmetics and Skin. Jan. 26, 2025. https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/tokalon.php
“Gigantic Swindle Probably Bared.” Nebraska City Weekly. Jan. 16, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/728074626
“In Force of Life Case.” Houston Post. Jan 13, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/94975109
“Nuxated Iron Sellers in Libel Suit.” The Times-Transcript. June 10, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106285753/?match=1&terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Part I: The 1906 Food and Drugs Act and Its Enforcement.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/changes-science-law-and-regulatory-authorities/part-i-1906-food-and-drugs-act-and-its-enforcement
“Personal Magnetism.” San Francisco Examiner. March 8, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/457762995/?match=1&terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy
“Pope Receives O’Beirne.” New York Times. Sept 25, 1910. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20505640/?match=1&terms=%22pope%20receives%20o%27beirne%22
Schwarcz, Joe, PhD. “The Prince of Quackery.” McGill Office for Science and Society. July 16, 2025. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience-history/prince-quackery
“Thought Waves Between ‘Em.” New York Sun. April 12, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-and-the-a/185828789/
“Tribune’s Answer in Libel Suit Calls E. Virgil Neal a Quck.” New York Tribune. June 23, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/469171423/?match=1&terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22
“Vain Search for Neal.” New York Times. January 16, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/16/101763032.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
“WORRIED ABOUT NEAL & CO.: Depositors, You See, Don’t Like Hypnotism in Banking.” New York Sun. March 4, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-hypnotic/176427712/

E. Virgil Neal&rsquo;s career started out with writing successful textbooks, but then took a turn into being a stage hypnotist and then a series of dicey mail-order businesses.
Research:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;Can&rsquo;t Find E. Virgil Neal.&rdquo; New York Times. January 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496816.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;Claimed to Raise the Dead.&rdquo; Kansas City Star. Jan. 13, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/653825670/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Claimed%20to%20raise%20the%20dead%22</li>
<li>Conroy, Mary Schaeffer. &ldquo;The Cosmetics Baron You&rsquo;ve Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon.&rdquo; Third Edition. Altus History Publishing. 2014.</li>
<li>&ldquo;E. Virgil Neal Passes Away at Geneva June 30.&rdquo; The Sedalia Democrat. July 3, 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sedalia-democrat-e-virgil-neal-obit/185827307/</li>
<li>&ldquo;False Advertising Chief &lsquo;Stimulant&rsquo; in Nixated Iron.&rdquo; New York Tribune. Dec. 16,1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/894241833/?terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Force of Life Charges Dismissed.&rdquo; Buffalo News. April 24, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/329115069/</li>
<li>&ldquo;FORCE OF LIFE'S WIND-UP.; E. Virgil Neal Still Missing, but Offices Are Being Dismantled.&rdquo; New York Times. Jan. 17, 1906. https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/17/archives/force-of-lifes-windup-e-virgil-neal-still-missing-but-offices-are.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;Force of Lifers Sent Many Decoy Letters.&rdquo; New York Times. February 7, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/02/07/101765677.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s a Hyopnotic Bank.&rdquo; New York Sun. March 3, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/207217198/?match=1&amp;terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy</li>
<li>&ldquo;How Force of Lifers Did a Rush Business.&rdquo; New York Times. Jan. 15, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/15/100496815.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;James R. O&rsquo;Beirne.&rdquo; Fordham University. Office of the President. https://www.fordham.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/administrative-offices/office-of-the-president/about/hall-of-honor/james-r-obeirne/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Jury Disagrees Cartilage Case.&rdquo; Buffalo Courier Express. May 5, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/352806300/?match=1&amp;terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Medical Mail-order Frauds.&rdquo; American Medical Association. 1915. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=Cyq6AAAAIAAJ&amp;vq=neal&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s</li>
<li>&ldquo;Medicine: From Sedalia.&rdquo; Time Magazine. Dec. 25, 1933. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,746617-1,00.html</li>
<li>&ldquo;A Message to the Sick.&rdquo; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Feb. 9, 1900. https://www.newspapers.com/image/135238292/?match=1&amp;terms=vitaopathy</li>
<li>&ldquo;Most Beautiful Woman in Paris.&rdquo; The Times-Union. October 6, 1909. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1278623430/?match=6&amp;terms=To-Kalon</li>
<li>Neal, E. Virgil and John H. Moore. &ldquo;Modern Illustrative Banking.&rdquo; American Book Company. 1904. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/modernillustrati00neal/modernillustrati00neal/</li>
<li>Neal, E. Virgil and C.T. Craig. &ldquo;Modern Illustrative Bookkeeping.&rdquo; American Book Company 1901. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/illustratimodern00nealrich/page/16/mode/2up</li>
<li>&ldquo;Neal, of &lsquo;Nuxated Iron&rsquo; Fame, Held on Fraud Charge.&rdquo; Times-Transcript. April 15, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106273916/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Neal%20of%20Nuxated%20Iron%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Neal Returns for Business.&rdquo; Post-Standard. April 30, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1091107180/</li>
<li>Bennet, James. &ldquo;Tokalon.&rdquo; Cosmetics and Skin. Jan. 26, 2025. https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/tokalon.php</li>
<li>&ldquo;Gigantic Swindle Probably Bared.&rdquo; Nebraska City Weekly. Jan. 16, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/728074626</li>
<li>&ldquo;In Force of Life Case.&rdquo; Houston Post. Jan 13, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/94975109</li>
<li>&ldquo;Nuxated Iron Sellers in Libel Suit.&rdquo; The Times-Transcript. June 10, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1106285753/?match=1&amp;terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Part I: The 1906 Food and Drugs Act and Its Enforcement.&rdquo; U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/changes-science-law-and-regulatory-authorities/part-i-1906-food-and-drugs-act-and-its-enforcement</li>
<li>&ldquo;Personal Magnetism.&rdquo; San Francisco Examiner. March 8, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/image/457762995/?match=1&amp;terms=Columbia%20Scientific%20academy</li>
<li>&ldquo;Pope Receives O&rsquo;Beirne.&rdquo; New York Times. Sept 25, 1910. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20505640/?match=1&amp;terms=%22pope%20receives%20o%27beirne%22</li>
<li>Schwarcz, Joe, PhD. &ldquo;The Prince of Quackery.&rdquo; McGill Office for Science and Society. July 16, 2025. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience-history/prince-quackery</li>
<li>&ldquo;Thought Waves Between &lsquo;Em.&rdquo; New York Sun. April 12, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-and-the-a/185828789/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Tribune&rsquo;s Answer in Libel Suit Calls E. Virgil Neal a Quck.&rdquo; New York Tribune. June 23, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/469171423/?match=1&amp;terms=%22e.%20virgil%20neal%22</li>
<li>&ldquo;Vain Search for Neal.&rdquo; New York Times. January 16, 1906. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/16/101763032.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&amp;ip=0</li>
<li>&ldquo;WORRIED ABOUT NEAL &amp; CO.: Depositors, You See, Don&rsquo;t Like Hypnotism in Banking.&rdquo; New York Sun. March 4, 1903. https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-e-virgil-neal-hypnotic/176427712/</li>
</ul>

E. Virgil Neal’s career started out with writing successful textbooks, but then took a turn into being a stage hypnotist and then a series of dicey mail-order businesses.

E. Virgil Neal: Hypnotist, Fraudster, Tycoon - Part 1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4473b6ac-880a-4d49-8c65-b4620057b38c/transcript

Joseph Medill

In 1 playlist(s)

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips