Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told
"Flower in the River" podcast, inspired by my book of the same name, explores the 1915 Eastland Disaster in Chicago and its enduring impact, particularly on my family's history. We'll explore the intertwining narratives of others impacted by this tragedy as well, and we'll dive into writing and genealogy and uncover the surprising supernatural elements that surface in family history research. Come along with me on this journey of discovery.
Podcasting since 2023 • 158 episodes
Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told
Latest Episodes
Bolts & Bylines: Frankenstein’s Ghost in the Eastland Story
A missing citation can erase a life twice: once from the pages of history, and again from the digital world. Highlights: RootsTech 2026 recap: Actor and keynote presenter, Marlee Matlin, urged us to honor ...
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Season 4
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Episode 157
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31:03
Rescuers in the Shadows: A Milestone, a Mystery Photo, and the Brothers Petroskey
This week, we pull back the curtain on the Eastland disaster’s historiography and bring two overlooked rescuers to the forefront: Great Lakes captains Walter and Emil Petroskey. The Petroskey brothers manned a lifeboat and saved lives when the ...
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Season 4
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Episode 156
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40:31
A Beautiful Magazine and a Missing Hero - Selective History at Work
A glossy company history can sparkle—and still leave a hole big enough to hide a tragedy. We open a 1981 Western Electric centennial magazine that celebrates a century of innovation yet steps neatly over 1915, the year the Eastland capsized by ...
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Season 4
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Episode 155
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28:13
From the Iroquois to the Eastland: One Firefighter, Two Catastrophes
A single obituary opened a door to two of Chicago’s most haunting tragedies: the Iroquois Theatre Fire (1903) and the Eastland Disaster (1915). We trace the life of Charles C. Morgan, a Chicago Fire Department truckman who assisted with both tr...
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Season 4
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Episode 154
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27:37
Checklist History vs. a Life Remembered
Our story opens with a puzzle: an independent researcher uncovers a sparse, single-source biography of an Eastland hero that reads more like a checklist than a life. They reach out to me and pose a challenge, “Surely, there is more to this pers...
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Season 4
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Episode 153
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29:59
