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>

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

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

Braid is known for his work in hypnotism. But he was also a surgeon with a reputation for pioneering new treatments before he became fascinated with the scientific underpinnings of mesmerism.

Research:
Braid, James, and Arthur Edward Waite, ed. “Braid on hypnotism. Neurypnology; or, The rationale of nervous sleep considered in relation to animal magnetism or mesmerism and illustrated by numerous cases of its successful application in the relief and cure of disease.” London. George Redway. 1899. https://archive.org/details/braidonhypnotism00brai/page/n7/mode/2up
“Clubfoot.” Cleveland Clinic. July 6, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16889-clubfoot
Crabtree A. “1784: The Marquis de Puységur and the psychological turn in the west.” J Hist Behav Sci.2019;55:199–215. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhbs.21974
Fletcher, George. “James Braid Of Manchester.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3590, 1929, pp. 776–77. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25334090
Hull, Clark L. “Hypnotism in Scientific Perspective.” The Scientific Monthly, vol. 29, no. 2, 1929, pp. 154–62. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/14677
“Hypnotism.” Yorkville Enquirer. Feb. 23, 1860. https://www.newspapers.com/image/339341468/?match=1&terms=James%20Braid
Lafontaine’s Third Conversazione on Mesmerism.” The Manchester Times and Manchester and Salford Advertiser and Chronicle. Nov. 20, 1841. https://www.newspapers.com/image/406088965/?match=1&terms=lafontaine
Loudon, I. “Why are (male) surgeons still addressed as Mr?.” BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 321,7276 (2000): 1589-91. doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7276.1589
Macklis, R M. “Magnetic healing, quackery, and the debate about the health effects of electromagnetic fields.” Annals of internal medicine 118,5 (1993): 376-83. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-118-5-199303010-00009
Martin, Christy. “Mesmerized.” Science History Institute. Dec. 6, 2011. https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/mesmerized/
Bramwell, J. Milne. “Hypnotism and treatment by suggestion.” New York. Da Capo Press. 1982. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/hypnotismandtre00bramgoog/page/n6/mode/1up
Rouse, Tyler. “The brief and strange history of mesmerism and surgery.” Hektoen International. Winter 2019. https://hekint.org/2018/12/24/the-brief-and-strange-history-of-mesmerism-and-surgery/
Sandby, George. “Mesmerism and its opponents.” London. Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans. 1848. https://archive.org/details/mesmerismandits01sandgoog
“Sudden Death of Mr. James Braid, Surgeon.” The Guardian. March 26, 1860. https://www.newspapers.com/image/257847287/?match=1&terms=James%20Braid
Weidow, Brandy, M.S. “James Braid.” Ebsco. 2024. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/james-braid
Yeates, Lindsay Bertram. “James Braid: Surgeon, Gentleman Scientist, and Hypnotist.” University of New South Wales, Sydney. 2013. https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/publication/7573cb34-ceb9-41bb-a8b1-0951e93fdd10

 

 

Braid is known for his work in hypnotism. But he was also a surgeon with a reputation for pioneering new treatments before he became fascinated with the scientific underpinnings of mesmerism.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Braid, James, and Arthur Edward Waite, ed. &ldquo;Braid on hypnotism. Neurypnology; or, The rationale of nervous sleep considered in relation to animal magnetism or mesmerism and illustrated by numerous cases of its successful application in the relief and cure of disease.&rdquo; London. George Redway. 1899. https://archive.org/details/braidonhypnotism00brai/page/n7/mode/2up</li>
<li>&ldquo;Clubfoot.&rdquo; Cleveland Clinic. July 6, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16889-clubfoot</li>
<li>Crabtree&nbsp;A. &ldquo;1784: The Marquis de Puys&eacute;gur and the psychological turn in the west.&rdquo; J Hist Behav Sci.2019;55:199&ndash;215.&nbsp;https://doi.org/10.1002/jhbs.21974</li>
<li>Fletcher, George. &ldquo;James Braid Of Manchester.&rdquo; The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3590, 1929, pp. 776&ndash;77. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25334090</li>
<li>Hull, Clark L. &ldquo;Hypnotism in Scientific Perspective.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Scientific Monthly, vol. 29, no. 2, 1929, pp. 154&ndash;62.&nbsp;JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/14677</li>
<li>&ldquo;Hypnotism.&rdquo; Yorkville Enquirer. Feb. 23, 1860. https://www.newspapers.com/image/339341468/?match=1&amp;terms=James%20Braid</li>
<li>Lafontaine&rsquo;s Third Conversazione on Mesmerism.&rdquo; The Manchester Times and Manchester and Salford Advertiser and Chronicle. Nov. 20, 1841. https://www.newspapers.com/image/406088965/?match=1&amp;terms=lafontaine</li>
<li>Loudon, I. &ldquo;Why are (male) surgeons still addressed as Mr?.&rdquo;&nbsp;BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 321,7276 (2000): 1589-91. doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7276.1589</li>
<li>Macklis, R M. &ldquo;Magnetic healing, quackery, and the debate about the health effects of electromagnetic fields.&rdquo;&nbsp;Annals of internal medicine 118,5 (1993): 376-83. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-118-5-199303010-00009</li>
<li>Martin, Christy. &ldquo;Mesmerized.&rdquo; Science History Institute. Dec. 6, 2011. https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/mesmerized/</li>
<li>Bramwell, J. Milne. &ldquo;Hypnotism and treatment by suggestion.&rdquo; New York. Da Capo Press. 1982. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/hypnotismandtre00bramgoog/page/n6/mode/1up</li>
<li>Rouse, Tyler. &ldquo;The brief and strange history of mesmerism and surgery.&rdquo; Hektoen International. Winter 2019. https://hekint.org/2018/12/24/the-brief-and-strange-history-of-mesmerism-and-surgery/</li>
<li>Sandby, George. &ldquo;Mesmerism and its opponents.&rdquo; London. Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans. 1848. https://archive.org/details/mesmerismandits01sandgoog</li>
<li>&ldquo;Sudden Death of Mr. James Braid, Surgeon.&rdquo; The Guardian. March 26, 1860. https://www.newspapers.com/image/257847287/?match=1&amp;terms=James%20Braid</li>
<li>Weidow, Brandy, M.S. &ldquo;James Braid.&rdquo; Ebsco. 2024. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/james-braid</li>
<li>Yeates, Lindsay Bertram. &ldquo;James Braid: Surgeon, Gentleman Scientist, and Hypnotist.&rdquo; University of New South Wales, Sydney. 2013. https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/publication/7573cb34-ceb9-41bb-a8b1-0951e93fdd10</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Braid is known for his work in hypnotism. But he was also a surgeon with a reputation for pioneering new treatments before he became fascinated with the scientific underpinnings of mesmerism.

James Braid, Surgeon and Father of Hypnotism

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c4aa40e7-9127-42d2-98a1-b426007319da/transcript

Gladys Bentley was a part of the Harlem Renaissance as a performer – she played piano and sang in ways that drew huge crowds starting in the 1920s, and she was completely out as a lesbian. But her story takes some surprising turns.

Research:
Adkins, Judith. “These People Are Frightened to Death.” Prologue Magazine. National Archives. Summer 2016. Vol. 48, No. 2. https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/summer/lavender.html
Britannica Editors. "rent party". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Nov. 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/rent-party
Chase, Bill. “House Rent Parties Were an Institution.” New York Age. Oct. 29, 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/image/40993834/?match=1&terms=Gladys%20Bentley
Church, Moira Mahoney. “If This Be Sin: Gladys Bentley And The Performance Of Identity.” University of South Carolia. (Theses and Dissertations.) 2018. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5705&context=etd
“Colored Detective Lieutenant Acquitted of Murder Charge.” Philadelphia Tribune. Aug. 4, 1927. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1135383911/?match=1&terms=Maceo%20Sheffield
The Doll House advertisement. Dec. 12, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/580248504/?match=1&terms=Gladys%20Bentley
“Gladys Bentley, Entertainer, Dies.” Alabama Tribune. Montgomery, Alabama. February 12, 1960. https://www.newspapers.com/image/554602763/?clipping_id=66402293
“Harlem’s Gladys Alberta Bentley, Friend Of Cary Grant, Stanwyck, And Others, Way ‘Out’ Ahead Of Her Time.” Harlem World. June 24, 2023 https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-gladys-alberta-bentley-friend-of-cary-grant-stanwyck-and-others-way-out-ahead-of-her-time/
“J.T. Gipson Dead.” California Eagle. July 17, 1952. https://www.newspapers.com/image/693556889/?clipping_id=172230200
Levette, Harry. “Movie Lots Gossip.” The Call. Aug, 22, 1952. https://www.newspapers.com/image/957555211/?match=1&terms=%22Never%20Married%20to%20Gladys%20Bentley%22
Moses, Alvin. “Alvin Moses Says.” Chicago Defender. Dec. 30, 1944. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1135809373/?match=1&terms=Gladys%20Bentley
“New York Police Launch Drive on Harlem Cafes.” The Chicago Defender. March 17, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1136311398/?match=1&terms=Gladys%20bentley
Onion, Rebecca. “An Affectionate 1932 Illustrated Map of Harlem Nightlife.” Slate. April 15, 2016. https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/04/e-simms-campbell-s-1932-illustrated-map-of-harlem-nightlife.html
Roy, Rob. “’8 to the Bar,’ Style Gladys Bentley Made Famous, a World Favorite Today.” The Chicago Defender. May 14, 1955. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1135895140/?match=1&terms=Gladys%20Bentley
Russonello, Giovanni. “Gladys Bentley.” New York Times. Overlooked. 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/obituaries/gladys-bentley-overlooked.html
Shah, Haleema. “The Great Blues Singer Gladys Bentley Broke All the Rules.” Smithsonian. March 14, 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/great-blues-singer-gladys-bentley-broke-rules-180971708/
“Wales Padlock Law Censors Risque Theater.” EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/wales-padlock-law-censors-risque-theater
Wilson, James F. “Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies PERFORMANCE, RACE, AND SEXUALITY IN THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.” University of Michigan Press. 2010.
Winchell, Walter. “On Broadway.” Evening Courier. Feb. 6, 1933. https://www.newspapers.com/image/480106281/?match=1&terms=%22Gladys%20Bentley%22
Yaeger, Patricia. “Editor’s Note: Bulldagger Sings the Blues.” PMLA, vol. 124, no. 3, 2009, pp. 721–26. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25614318

Gladys Bentley was a part of the Harlem Renaissance as a performer &ndash; she played piano and sang in ways that drew huge crowds starting in the 1920s, and she was completely out as a lesbian. But her story takes some surprising turns.
Research:
<ul>
<li>Adkins, Judith. &ldquo;These People Are Frightened to Death.&rdquo; Prologue Magazine. National Archives. Summer 2016. Vol. 48, No. 2. https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/summer/lavender.html</li>
<li>Britannica Editors. "rent party".&nbsp;Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Nov. 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/rent-party</li>
<li>Chase, Bill. &ldquo;House Rent Parties Were an Institution.&rdquo; New York Age. Oct. 29, 1949. https://www.newspapers.com/image/40993834/?match=1&amp;terms=Gladys%20Bentley</li>
<li>Church, Moira Mahoney. &ldquo;If This Be Sin: Gladys Bentley And The Performance Of Identity.&rdquo; University of South Carolia. (Theses and Dissertations.) 2018. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5705&amp;context=etd</li>
<li>&ldquo;Colored Detective Lieutenant Acquitted of Murder Charge.&rdquo; Philadelphia Tribune. Aug. 4, 1927. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1135383911/?match=1&amp;terms=Maceo%20Sheffield</li>
<li>The Doll House advertisement. Dec. 12, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/580248504/?match=1&amp;terms=Gladys%20Bentley</li>
<li>&ldquo;Gladys Bentley, Entertainer, Dies.&rdquo; Alabama Tribune. Montgomery, Alabama. February 12, 1960. https://www.newspapers.com/image/554602763/?clipping_id=66402293</li>
<li>&ldquo;Harlem&rsquo;s Gladys Alberta Bentley, Friend Of Cary Grant, Stanwyck, And Others, Way &lsquo;Out&rsquo; Ahead Of Her Time.&rdquo; Harlem World. June 24, 2023 https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-gladys-alberta-bentley-friend-of-cary-grant-stanwyck-and-others-way-out-ahead-of-her-time/</li>
<li>&ldquo;J.T. Gipson Dead.&rdquo; California Eagle. July 17, 1952. https://www.newspapers.com/image/693556889/?clipping_id=172230200</li>
<li>Levette, Harry. &ldquo;Movie Lots Gossip.&rdquo; The Call. Aug, 22, 1952. https://www.newspapers.com/image/957555211/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Never%20Married%20to%20Gladys%20Bentley%22</li>
<li>Moses, Alvin. &ldquo;Alvin Moses Says.&rdquo; Chicago Defender. Dec. 30, 1944. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1135809373/?match=1&amp;terms=Gladys%20Bentley</li>
<li>&ldquo;New York Police Launch Drive on Harlem Cafes.&rdquo; The Chicago Defender. March 17, 1934. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1136311398/?match=1&amp;terms=Gladys%20bentley</li>
<li>Onion, Rebecca. &ldquo;An Affectionate 1932 Illustrated Map of Harlem Nightlife.&rdquo; Slate. April 15, 2016. https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/04/e-simms-campbell-s-1932-illustrated-map-of-harlem-nightlife.html</li>
<li>Roy, Rob. &ldquo;&rsquo;8 to the Bar,&rsquo; Style Gladys Bentley Made Famous, a World Favorite Today.&rdquo; The Chicago Defender. May 14, 1955. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1135895140/?match=1&amp;terms=Gladys%20Bentley</li>
<li>Russonello, Giovanni. &ldquo;Gladys Bentley.&rdquo; New York Times. Overlooked. 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/obituaries/gladys-bentley-overlooked.html</li>
<li>Shah, Haleema. &ldquo;The Great Blues Singer Gladys Bentley Broke All the Rules.&rdquo; Smithsonian. March 14, 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/great-blues-singer-gladys-bentley-broke-rules-180971708/</li>
<li>&ldquo;Wales Padlock Law Censors Risque Theater.&rdquo; EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/wales-padlock-law-censors-risque-theater</li>
<li>Wilson, James F. &ldquo;Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies PERFORMANCE, RACE, AND SEXUALITY IN THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.&rdquo; University of Michigan Press. 2010.</li>
<li>Winchell, Walter. &ldquo;On Broadway.&rdquo; Evening Courier. Feb. 6, 1933. https://www.newspapers.com/image/480106281/?match=1&amp;terms=%22Gladys%20Bentley%22</li>
<li>Yaeger, Patricia. &ldquo;Editor&rsquo;s Note: Bulldagger Sings the Blues.&rdquo;&nbsp;PMLA, vol. 124, no. 3, 2009, pp. 721&ndash;26.&nbsp;JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25614318</li>
</ul>

Gladys Bentley was a part of the Harlem Renaissance as a performer – she played piano and sang in ways that drew huge crowds starting in the 1920s, and she was completely out as a lesbian. But her story takes some surprising turns.

Gladys Bentley

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d563878e-65c5-40a7-9dd5-b4240085831a/transcript

This 2022 episode covers Moms Mabley, whose career lasted more than six decades. She was hugely influential, and inspired so many comedians and other performers who came after her.

This 2022 episode covers Moms Mabley, whose career lasted more than six decades. She was hugely influential, and inspired so many comedians and other performers who came after her.

SYMHC Classics: Moms Mabley

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dc7d5bf6-1469-4641-a51d-b4220008e451/transcript

William Sandys & English Christmas Carols

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