In 17th century France a group of nuns described some unsettling visitations at their convent, which developed into a story of possession, political intrigue, and a moment in time that was rife with social tensions.

Research:
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Wars of Religion". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Wars-of-Religion
“Hawthorn.” National Institute of Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hawthorn
Cameron, Teagan. “A Diabolical Martyrdom: Urbain Grandier, the Transgressive Outsider, and the Surrogate Victim in The Possession at Loudun.” Constellations. Vol. 13, no. 2. Aug. 2022, doi:10.29173/cons29475
deCerteau, Michel. “The Possession at Loudun.” University of Chicago Press. 2000.
Dumas, Alexandre, Pere. “Urbain Grandier – 1634.” 1910. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2746/2746-h/2746-h.html
Ferber, Sarah. “Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern France.” Routledge. 2013.
Hunter, Mary Kate. “Loudun Possessions: Witchcraft Trials at The Jacob Burns Law Library.” Newsletter of the Legal History & Rare Books Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries. Volume 16 Number 3. Hallowe’en 2010. https://www.aallnet.org/lhrbsis/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/lhrb-16-3.pdf
Huxley, Aldous. “The Devils of Loudun.” London. Chatto & Windus. 1952. Accessed online: https://ia601400.us.archive.org/3/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.469712/2015.469712.The-Devils_text.pdf
Niau, Des and Edmund Goldsmith (tr.) “The history of the devils of Loudun; the alleged possession of the Ursuline nuns, and the trial and execution of Urbain Grandier, told by an eye-witness.” Edinburgh. Private Printing. 1887. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/historyofdevilso00desn/page/n31/mode/2up
Sluhovsky, Moshe. “The Devil in the Convent.” The American Historical Review , Vol. 107, No. 5 (December 2002), pp. 1379-1411. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Historical Association. https://.www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/532851
Soth, Amelia. “A Mother Superior’s Demons.” JSTOR Daily. Oct. 31, 2024. https://daily.jstor.org/a-mother-superiors-demons/

In 17th century France a group of nuns described some unsettling visitations at their convent, which developed into a story of possession, political intrigue, and a moment in time that was rife with social tensions.
Research:
<ul>
<li>The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Wars of Religion".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Wars-of-Religion</li>
<li>&ldquo;Hawthorn.&rdquo; National Institute of Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hawthorn</li>
<li>Cameron, Teagan. &ldquo;A Diabolical Martyrdom: Urbain Grandier, the Transgressive Outsider, and the Surrogate Victim in The Possession at Loudun.&rdquo;&nbsp;Constellations. Vol. 13, no. 2. Aug. 2022, doi:10.29173/cons29475</li>
<li>deCerteau, Michel. &ldquo;The Possession at Loudun.&rdquo; University of Chicago Press. 2000.</li>
<li>Dumas, Alexandre, Pere. &ldquo;Urbain Grandier &ndash; 1634.&rdquo; 1910. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2746/2746-h/2746-h.html</li>
<li>Ferber, Sarah. &ldquo;Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern France.&rdquo; Routledge. 2013.</li>
<li>Hunter, Mary Kate. &ldquo;Loudun Possessions: Witchcraft Trials at The Jacob Burns Law Library.&rdquo; Newsletter of the Legal History &amp; Rare Books Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries. Volume 16 Number 3. Hallowe&rsquo;en 2010. https://www.aallnet.org/lhrbsis/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/01/lhrb-16-3.pdf</li>
<li>Huxley, Aldous. &ldquo;The Devils of Loudun.&rdquo; London. Chatto &amp; Windus. 1952. Accessed online: https://ia601400.us.archive.org/3/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.469712/2015.469712.The-Devils_text.pdf</li>
<li>Niau, Des and Edmund Goldsmith (tr.) &ldquo;The history of the devils of Loudun; the alleged possession of the Ursuline nuns, and the trial and execution of Urbain Grandier, told by an eye-witness.&rdquo; Edinburgh. Private Printing. 1887. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/historyofdevilso00desn/page/n31/mode/2up</li>
<li>Sluhovsky, Moshe. &ldquo;The Devil in the Convent.&rdquo; The American Historical Review , Vol. 107, No. 5 (December 2002), pp. 1379-1411. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Historical Association. https://.www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/532851</li>
<li>Soth, Amelia. &ldquo;A Mother Superior&rsquo;s Demons.&rdquo; JSTOR Daily. Oct. 31, 2024. https://daily.jstor.org/a-mother-superiors-demons/</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

In 17th century France a group of nuns described some unsettling visitations at their convent, which developed into a story of possession, political intrigue, and a moment in time that was rife with social tensions.

Loudun Possessions

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1bc6d45e-0400-4531-9c4a-b36d00035a13/transcript

Mary Golda Ross was the first Indigenous woman in the U.S. known to have become an engineer. Her impact on the field of aerospace engineering is hard to quantify, because much of her work is still classified.

Research:
Agnew, Brad. “Cherokee engineer a space exploration pioneer.” Tahlequah Daily Press. 3/27/2016. https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/golda-ross-left-teaching-to-support-war-effort/article_c500cbc4-eeba-11e5-9b57-2b127651fcb5.html
Agnew, Brad. “Golda’ Ross left teaching to support war effort.” Tahlequah Daily Press. 3/20/2016. https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/golda-ross-left-teaching-to-support-war-effort/article_c500cbc4-eeba-11e5-9b57-2b127651fcb5.html
Brewer, Graham Lee. “Rocket Woman.” Oklahoma Today. July/August 2018.
Cochran, Wendell. “Cherokee Tear Dress Facts.” The People’s Paths. https://www.thepeoplespaths.net/Cherokee/WendellCochran/WCochran0102TearDressFacts.htm
Hogner-Weavel, Tonia. “History of the Cherokee Tear Dress.” Cherokee Nation. Via YouTube. 9/15/2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90V5fM0DiMk
Lake, Timothy. "Mary Golda Ross". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Golda-Ross. Accessed 21 October 2025.
Margolis, Emily. A. “Mary Golda Ross: Aerospace Engineer, Educator, and Advocate.” Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/mary-g-ross-aerospace-engineer
Museum of Native American History. “Historic Trailblazer: Mary Golda Ross.” Via YouTube. 12/17/2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzC14hGbPug
National Park Service. “Mary G. Ross.” https://www.nps.gov/people/mary-g-ross.htm
New Mexico Museum of Space History. “Mary Golda Ross: First Native American Aerospace Engineer.” Via YouTube. 3/31/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT9r5trwZEs
Oklahoma Hall of Fame. “Mary Golda Ross Induction Ceremony Video.” 11/22/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bovabx6ITW4
Rosengren, Paul Lief. “Mary Golda Ross: She Reached for the Stars.” IEEE-USA and Paul Lief Rosengren. 2025.
Schroeder, Mildred. “A Far-out Cherokee Chick.” San Francisco Examiner. 4/16/1961.
Smith, Betty. “Pure Cherokee Gold.” Tahlequah Daily Press. 6/26/2008. https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/archives/pure-cherokee-gold/article_44c0a25a-94e2-53d8-b80c-be1ff86305e7.html
Viola, Herman. “Mary Golda Ross: She Reached for the Stars.” American Indian: Magazine of Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Vol. 19, No. 4. Winter 2018. https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/story/mary-golda-ross-she-reached-stars
Wallace, Rob. “Mary Golda Ross and the Skunk Works.” National World War II Museum. 11/19/2021. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/mary-golda-ross-and-skunk-works
Watts, Jennifer. “John Ross: Principal Chief of the Cherokee People.” Tennessee State Museum. https://tnmuseum.org/junior-curators/posts/john-ross-principal-chief-of-the-cherokee-people
Yang, John. “The cutting-edge work of Native American aerospace engineer Mary Golda Ross.” 11/26/2023. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-cutting-edge-work-of-native-american-aerospace-engineer-mary-golda-ross
Zhorov, Irina. “Years Later, Miss Indian America Pageant Winners Reuniteg.” NPR Code Switch. 7/12/2013. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/07/12/201537264/Years-Later-Miss-Indian-America-Pageant-Winners-Reunite

 

Mary Golda Ross was the first Indigenous woman in the U.S. known to have become an engineer. Her impact on the field of aerospace engineering is hard to quantify, because much of her work is still classified.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Agnew, Brad. &ldquo;Cherokee engineer a space exploration pioneer.&rdquo; Tahlequah Daily Press. 3/27/2016. https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/golda-ross-left-teaching-to-support-war-effort/article_c500cbc4-eeba-11e5-9b57-2b127651fcb5.html</li>
<li>Agnew, Brad. &ldquo;Golda&rsquo; Ross left teaching to support war effort.&rdquo; Tahlequah Daily Press. 3/20/2016. https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/golda-ross-left-teaching-to-support-war-effort/article_c500cbc4-eeba-11e5-9b57-2b127651fcb5.html</li>
<li>Brewer, Graham Lee. &ldquo;Rocket Woman.&rdquo; Oklahoma Today. July/August 2018.</li>
<li>Cochran, Wendell. &ldquo;Cherokee Tear Dress Facts.&rdquo; The People&rsquo;s Paths. https://www.thepeoplespaths.net/Cherokee/WendellCochran/WCochran0102TearDressFacts.htm</li>
<li>Hogner-Weavel, Tonia. &ldquo;History of the Cherokee Tear Dress.&rdquo; Cherokee Nation. Via YouTube. 9/15/2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90V5fM0DiMk</li>
<li>Lake, Timothy. "Mary Golda Ross". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Golda-Ross. Accessed 21 October 2025.</li>
<li>Margolis, Emily. A. &ldquo;Mary Golda Ross: Aerospace Engineer, Educator, and Advocate.&rdquo; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/mary-g-ross-aerospace-engineer</li>
<li>Museum of Native American History. &ldquo;Historic Trailblazer: Mary Golda Ross.&rdquo; Via YouTube. 12/17/2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzC14hGbPug</li>
<li>National Park Service. &ldquo;Mary G. Ross.&rdquo; https://www.nps.gov/people/mary-g-ross.htm</li>
<li>New Mexico Museum of Space History. &ldquo;Mary Golda Ross: First Native American Aerospace Engineer.&rdquo; Via YouTube. 3/31/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT9r5trwZEs</li>
<li>Oklahoma Hall of Fame. &ldquo;Mary Golda Ross Induction Ceremony Video.&rdquo; 11/22/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bovabx6ITW4</li>
<li>Rosengren, Paul Lief. &ldquo;Mary Golda Ross: She Reached for the Stars.&rdquo; IEEE-USA and Paul Lief Rosengren. 2025.</li>
<li>Schroeder, Mildred. &ldquo;A Far-out Cherokee Chick.&rdquo; San Francisco Examiner. 4/16/1961.</li>
<li>Smith, Betty. &ldquo;Pure Cherokee Gold.&rdquo; Tahlequah Daily Press. 6/26/2008. https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/archives/pure-cherokee-gold/article_44c0a25a-94e2-53d8-b80c-be1ff86305e7.html</li>
<li>Viola, Herman. &ldquo;Mary Golda Ross: She Reached for the Stars.&rdquo; American Indian: Magazine of Smithsonian&rsquo;s National Museum of the American Indian. Vol. 19, No. 4. Winter 2018. https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/story/mary-golda-ross-she-reached-stars</li>
<li>Wallace, Rob. &ldquo;Mary Golda Ross and the Skunk Works.&rdquo; National World War II Museum. 11/19/2021. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/mary-golda-ross-and-skunk-works</li>
<li>Watts, Jennifer. &ldquo;John Ross: Principal Chief of the Cherokee People.&rdquo; Tennessee State Museum. https://tnmuseum.org/junior-curators/posts/john-ross-principal-chief-of-the-cherokee-people</li>
<li>Yang, John. &ldquo;The cutting-edge work of Native American aerospace engineer Mary Golda Ross.&rdquo; 11/26/2023. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-cutting-edge-work-of-native-american-aerospace-engineer-mary-golda-ross</li>
<li>Zhorov, Irina. &ldquo;Years Later, Miss Indian America Pageant Winners Reuniteg.&rdquo; NPR Code Switch. 7/12/2013. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/07/12/201537264/Years-Later-Miss-Indian-America-Pageant-Winners-Reunite</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Mary Golda Ross was the first Indigenous woman in the U.S. known to have become an engineer. Her impact on the field of aerospace engineering is hard to quantify, because much of her work is still classified.

Mary Golda Ross

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/99e6218e-8519-47c3-8285-b38b0058847a/transcript

This 2019 episode covers Alexandre Dumas, who wrote hundreds and hundreds of works, including “The Three Musketeers,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,”  and even a dictionary of cuisine.

This 2019 episode covers Alexandre Dumas, who wrote hundreds and hundreds of works, including &ldquo;The Three Musketeers,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Count of Monte Cristo,&rdquo; &nbsp;and even a dictionary of cuisine.

SYMHC Classics: Alexandre Dumas Pere

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/250eba46-dc21-4c28-a2fa-b38a0177d601/transcript

Tracy discusses the challenge of parsing all the nuance of the French Revolution. Holly talks about how little Clarence Birdseye shared of his interior thoughts.

Tracy discusses the challenge of parsing all the nuance of the French Revolution. Holly talks about how little Clarence Birdseye shared of his interior thoughts.

Behind the Scenes Minis: French Fear and Frozen Food

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ab86df3f-2ab2-4b47-8cb1-b38a0177ca29/transcript

Loudun Possessions

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