This 2021 episode covers Washington Irving, who is often associated with Halloween. But his writing had a significant influence on the way Christmas is celebrated in the U.S.

This 2021 episode covers Washington Irving, who is often associated with Halloween. But his writing had a significant influence on the way Christmas is celebrated in the U.S.

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

SYMHC Classics: Washington Irving

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9a5f297f-28d3-48db-b31f-b3b1011039d8/transcript

William Sandys was an antiquarian who published a collection of Christmas carols in the 19th century that turned out to be really influential.

Research:
Archambo, Shelley Batt. “The Development of the English Carol Through the Fifteenth Century.” The Choral Journal, OCTOBER 1986, Vol. 27, No. 3. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23547224REFERENCES
Brain, Jessica. “History of Christmas Carols.” Historic UK. 12/13/2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/History-Christmas-Carols/
“Carol, N.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1684298837.
Carter, Michael. “The origins of Christmas carols.” English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/origins-of-christmas-carols/
Cartwright, Mark. "The History of Christmas Carols." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 05 Dec 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2339/the-history-of-christmas-carols/. Web. 03 Dec 2025.
Davey, Henry, and Elizabeth Baigent. "Sandys, William (1792–1874), writer on music and antiquary." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 23, 2004. Oxford University Press. Date of access 3 Dec. 2025, https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-24654
Ditchfield, Peter Hampson. “Old English customs extant at the present time; an account of local observances.” London, G. Redway. 1896. https://archive.org/details/studentshistoryo00gardrich
Dreamer, Percy R. et al. “The Oxford Book Of Carols.” Oxford University Press. 1928.
English Heritage. “A Brief History of Christmas Carols.” https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/members-magazine/podcast-extras/history-of-carols/
Sandys, William. “Christmas carols, ancient and modern; including the most popular in the west of England, and the airs to which they are sung. Also specimens of French provincial carols. With an introduction and notes.” London, R. Beckley. 1833. https://archive.org/details/christmascarolsa00sandrich/mode/1up
Sandys, William. “Christmastide: Its History, Festivities and Carols.” London: John Russell Smith. 1860. https://archive.org/details/christmastideits00sandrich/
The Law Bod Blog. “Heading towards Christmas.” 12/2/2013. https://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/lawbod/2013/12/02/heading-towards-christmas/
Huxtable, Sally-Anne. “Wassailing: ritual and revelry.” National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/art-collections/wassailing-ritual-and-revelry

William Sandys was an antiquarian who published a collection of Christmas carols in the 19th century that turned out to be really influential.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Archambo, Shelley Batt. &ldquo;The Development of the English Carol Through the Fifteenth Century.&rdquo; The Choral Journal, OCTOBER 1986, Vol. 27, No. 3. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23547224REFERENCES</li>
<li>Brain, Jessica. &ldquo;History of Christmas Carols.&rdquo; Historic UK. 12/13/2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/History-Christmas-Carols/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Carol, N.&rdquo; Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1684298837.</li>
<li>Carter, Michael. &ldquo;The origins of Christmas carols.&rdquo; English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/origins-of-christmas-carols/</li>
<li>Cartwright, Mark. "The History of Christmas Carols." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 05 Dec 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2339/the-history-of-christmas-carols/. Web. 03 Dec 2025.</li>
<li>Davey, Henry, and Elizabeth Baigent. "Sandys, William (1792&ndash;1874), writer on music and antiquary." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 23, 2004. Oxford University Press. Date of access 3 Dec. 2025, https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-24654</li>
<li>Ditchfield, Peter Hampson. &ldquo;Old English customs extant at the present time; an account of local observances.&rdquo; London, G. Redway. 1896. https://archive.org/details/studentshistoryo00gardrich</li>
<li>Dreamer, Percy R. et al. &ldquo;The Oxford Book Of Carols.&rdquo; Oxford University Press. 1928.</li>
<li>English Heritage. &ldquo;A Brief History of Christmas Carols.&rdquo; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/members-magazine/podcast-extras/history-of-carols/</li>
<li>Sandys, William. &ldquo;Christmas carols, ancient and modern; including the most popular in the west of England, and the airs to which they are sung. Also specimens of French provincial carols. With an introduction and notes.&rdquo; London, R. Beckley. 1833. https://archive.org/details/christmascarolsa00sandrich/mode/1up</li>
<li>Sandys, William. &ldquo;Christmastide: Its History, Festivities and Carols.&rdquo; London: John Russell Smith. 1860. https://archive.org/details/christmastideits00sandrich/</li>
<li>The Law Bod Blog. &ldquo;Heading towards Christmas.&rdquo; 12/2/2013. https://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/lawbod/2013/12/02/heading-towards-christmas/</li>
<li>Huxtable, Sally-Anne. &ldquo;Wassailing: ritual and revelry.&rdquo; National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/art-collections/wassailing-ritual-and-revelry</li>
</ul>

William Sandys was an antiquarian who published a collection of Christmas carols in the 19th century that turned out to be really influential.

William Sandys & English Christmas Carols

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b10bf1f3-48b1-4a35-8005-b3bc0169ad98/transcript

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>

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

This 2018 episode covers the sinking of the SS Princess Sophia, a massive tragedy for both Canada and the United States. But it was also really overshadowed by the end of World War I and the flu pandemic. 

 

This 2018 episode covers the sinking of the SS Princess Sophia, a massive tragedy for both Canada and the United States. But it was also really overshadowed by the end of World War I and the flu pandemic.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

SYMHC Classics: SS Princess Sophia 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2a86e696-3246-4b07-8a6f-b3b8017cd965/transcript

SYMHC Classics: Washington Irving

Stuff You Missed in History Class

In 1 playlist(s)

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips