Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Episode #23-Ghosts!



If there's something strange
In your English manor
Who you gonna call?
Podcasters!

This week’s episode is a co-production between History, Bitches and the Renaissance English History podcast. So, grab a blanket and flashlight because it’s about to get spooky. Tune-in as co-host Heather and I talk about Anne Boleyn’s headless specter, the tortured spirit of Lady Jane Grey, and lots more!


Monday, October 26, 2015

Episode #23-Ghosts! (Show Notes)

The show-notes below relate to the ghosts I discussed in the episode. To learn more about the ghosts discussed by Heather, check-out the show-notes on her website!

Anne Boleyn ( 1501? – May 19, 1536), the unfortunate 2nd wife of king/tyrant Henry VIII, is rumored to haunt Blickling Hall, the Boleyn’s ancestral home. For more, check-out:


A biography of Anne Boleyn


The ‘Anne Boleyn Files’ is a breath-taking number of articles relating to Anne and Tudor England


The National Trust’s webpage for Blickling Hall


Spook spotters turn out to see Anne Boleyn's ghost (ITV article + video)


Hampton Court, a royal residence favored by Henry VIII. is supposedly haunted by the king’s favorite wife, Jane Seymour (1508? – 24 October 1537) , and Sybil Penn (a.k.a. the Grey Lady), a domestic servant. For more, check-out:


A biography of Jane Seymour


Ghosts at Hampton Court Palace (by Historic Royal Palaces )


Eek! There are ghosts in my royal palace: After this eerie photo of Hampton Court's Grey Lady, the building's curator says it's jam-packed with spooks (Daily Mail article)


Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s 6th wife, is said to haunt Sudeley Castle, the site of her death and final resting place. For more information, check-out:


A biography of Catherine Parr


Catherine Parr’s Ghost At Sudeley Castle (article on the Tudors Weekly blog + video)


Sudeley Castle website


The restless ghost of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s much-wronged 1st wife, is reported to haunt Kimbolton Castle, the dreary palace to which she was banished after her marriage ended. For more information, check-out:


A biography of Catherine of Aragon


Catherine of Aragon's Ghost (article on the Times of the Tudors website)


Kimbolton Castle (now Kimbolton School) website


For more information about Henry’s VIII’s six wives or Tudor England, check-out:


Henry VIII & His Six Ghosts (History in the (Re)Making article)


The Ghosts of Henry VIII’s Queens (nerdalicious article)


On the Tudor Trail website


The Six Wives of Henry VIII (PBS miniseries website)


The Wives of Henry VIII (Renaissance English History Podcast episode)


This episode is a co-production between myself and Heather at the Renaissance English History Podcast. So, please check-out Heather’s podcast and website!

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Episode #22-Theodosia Burr


The Encyclopedia of Women in American History described her ‘one of the best educated women of her generation,’ while America’s 3rd Vice President regarded her as his most trusted confidante. The daughter of (in)famous Founding Father Aaron Burr, Theodosia’s life was characterized by public scandals and private tragedies including her own mysterious disappearance at age 29. Tune-in to this week’s Halloween-inspired episode to learn more!


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Episode #22: Theodosia Burr (Show Notes)

Frustratingly, there are few sources  which focus on Theodosia’s life exclusively.  The majority of information about her life is from books about her father, 3rd U.S. Vice President, Aaron Burr.  Here are some of the texts I used  when researching the podcast:


Biographies of Theodosia Burr

Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy
By Richard N. Côté 

Theodosia, the First Gentlewoman of Her Time

By C.M. Clark 

Notable American Women, 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 1 (entry for Burr, Theodosia)


Encyclopedia of Women in American History (entry for Alston, Theodosia Burr)



Biographies of Aaron Burr


Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr

By Nancy Isenberg

American Emperor: Aaron Burr's Challenge to Jefferson's America

By David O. Stewart

Duel: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Future of America

By Thomas J. Fleming


For further information regarding Theodosia’s family:


This website provides a treasure-trove of information about the Burr-Hamilton duel and the Burr Conspiracy:


The American Experience: The Duel


Further information regarding Theodosia’s parents from the Hermitage Museum:


Theodosia Prevost and Aaron Burr


For more information about Theodosia’s disappearance and purported sitings of her ghost, check-out:




History: Disappearance of Theodosia Burr a source of speculation for 200 years (article from Coastal Observer newspaper)

Photographs of the Alston family memorial 


Information concerning the Nag’s Head portrait and other paintings of Theodosia:


Portrait of Nag’s Head (article from Antique Trader magazine)


Old Painting Gives Clews to the Fate of Theodosia Burr Alston (article from San Francisco Call, June 1906)


Gibbes Museum’s entry for 1811 portrait of Theodosia


Blogpost of John Wesley Jarvis’ portrait of Theodosia



Theodosia’s has also been featured in historical fiction novels and, most recently, a broadway musical:

My Theodosia
By Anya Seton

Burr

By Gore Vidal

Hamilton (links to the cast recording for the broadway musical)