Underwear Chronicles Eight: Amelia Bloomer

Underwear Chronicles Eight: Amelia Bloomer

Author: Mick Sullivan June 16, 2022 Duration: 15:20
Despite being the namesake of an article of clothing that we commonly think of as underwear, Amelia Bloomer did not invent bloomers. To further the cause of Women’s Rights and to fight for the right to vote (in addition to prohibition), Amelia Bloomer ran a newspaper called The Lily.  When one of her friends showed up for a visit in a new outfit one day, history was made. Tired of the restrictive and oppressive clothing women were expected to wear in the 1800s, Amelia fell head over heels for the “tunic and pantalette combo,” as it was known. When she published the instructions to make them in The Lily, her subscriptions went through the roof.   Soon, the knee-length skirt and leg coverings underneath allowed for a new range of motion and freedom for women all over. One of the most remarkable things this allowed women to do was ride bicycles, which Susan B Anthony herself said, did “more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world.” Bloomers didn’t lead directly to the 19th Amendment, but the underwear played a strong supporting role.

The Past and The Curious: A History Podcast for Kids and Families is a lively audio adventure hosted by Mick Sullivan, designed to bring the past to life for curious minds of all ages. This podcast digs into the surprising, funny, and inspiring corners of history, proving that stories from long ago are anything but boring. Each themed episode is packed with tales of spies, peculiar foods, and the unexpected missteps of figures like George Washington, alongside explorations of early animation and the daring days of ballooning. The production is rich with original music and songs that make every historical journey memorable and engaging. It’s a show where learning feels like play, crafted to captivate kids while earning the trust of parents and teachers. By weaving narrative with sound, the podcast creates a shared family experience that makes history feel immediate and relevant. Listeners will find themselves immersed in episodes that are as educational as they are entertaining, all delivered with a sense of wonder and a professional touch. The goal is simple: to spark curiosity and conversations, making the past a delightful place to visit together.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Past and The Curious: A History Podcast for Kids and Families
Podcast Episodes
Episode 63: More Accidents, More Toys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Chance has given us some great toys. Explore the accident that led to Silly Putty, the chance repurposing that led to Silly Putty, a few men who stumbled upon them, and two women who figured out what the substances shoul…
Underwear Chronicles Two: Marie Antoinette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:58
The famed Queen of France had several run-ins with underwear. She also had run-ins with smallpox, ladies-in-waiting, an awkward young prince, catty couriers, and ultimately, the guillotine. If nothing else, this episode…
Episode 62: Chance Encounters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
Train stations are busy places and two notable men had very remarkable (and dramatic)encounters in stations during the 1860s. Thomas Edison met a mentor, and Robert Lincoln met a Shakespearean actor named Booth. Also fea…
Underwear Chronicles 1: Up, Up, and Away With Their Clothes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:11
Jean-Pierre Blanchard (1753-1809) and John Jeffries (1744-1819) Aeronauts, International Record Setters, Nearly Naked Travelers In the first release from our monthly true tale of underwear history, we meet two early aero…
Episode 61: A Queen and Some Witches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
Marina Raskova set world flying records, survived an epic plane crash, and was a trailblazer for generations of female pilots in Russia. With her help, The Night Witches became the most feared fliers of World War 2. Adel…
Episode 60 Big Ideas: Professor TSC Lowe and John Cleves Symmes Jr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
Professor TSC Lowe (who was not a professor at all) had visions for a transatlantic balloon flight. He never succeeded in that but he did wind up as the Chief Aeronaut of the Balloon Corps during the American Civil War.…
Episode 59: Safety with Books [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
The 1939 World's Fair brought a special visitor from England: an original copy of Magna Carta, but with World War II in full swing, America couldn't send it back. So the had to babysit the priceless document, which got m…
Episode 58 Origin Stories And Gold Medals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:28
Origin stories, comic mis-starts, and medal-winning moments are highlighted in this episode featuring two unlikely international star athletes. Canada's Bobbie Rosenfeld overcame, among other things, small pox and very l…
Bonus Episode! Knox Says Yes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:19
Henry Knox is a name not many people know, but he was a pretty amazing bookseller turned soldier during the Revolutionary War. Released in honor of July 4th - but you can listen anywhere and anytime - still a good story…
Episode 57: On Horseback! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:21
This episode tells the stories of Sibyl Ludington and Charley Willis. Sybil's well-known story is amazing, yet it lacks a lot of primary sources, and we use that as a way to introduce thinking about the past with a criti…