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Peter D. Thomas: Ex-slave, Civil War veteran, and coroner
As a former resident of Racine County and a person interested in mortuary sciences, history, and human rights I have always been surprised about the important tidbits of Racine history I have never heard of. Many years ago, when I had been working at a museum in Racine for five or so years I first…
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The Nazi Blindfold: Nazi Propaganda in Germany
It is the year 1933 and Germany is doing great once again. The Nazis have held true to their promise of repairing both Germany’s economy as well as their national pride. It seems like everything is going well despite the impending war. Although it looks that way evil is lurking behind the scenes of everyday…
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“Food Will Win the War”: Food in the Military During WWI
“Food will win the war.” Was Herbert Hoover’s rallying cry while in charge of the United States Food Administration during World War One.[1] This statement, although an oversimplification often made on all sides of the war, had an element of truth to it.[2] All powers involved in World War One had to deal with the…
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“The Most Solitary of Afflictions and the Most Social of Maladies”: Britain’s Attitude Toward Madness and Its Effect on Bedlam Asylum
Historians have a unique task of explaining the past, rather than simply relaying facts and figures to the public. This is because history is more complicated than simply recounting facts. The context of events, places, and peoples of the past must be explained in order to understand them. Historians explain that context. Similarly, sociologists often…
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SECOR: The Story of Racine’s Most Colorful & Controversial Character
Martin Mathias Secor—it’s a name that may not ring a bell to you, dear reader, but I assure you in all my research I have done, this man stands apart from the crowd. M.M. Secor was a Bohemian immigrant with a motto— “Anything worth doing at all is worth doing right.”[1] He was a character,…
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Hiatus
Unconventional Historian will be going on a brief hiatus this week and will be returning on November 17th with an article about M.M. Secor, one of Racine’s most colorful and controversial characters and one of our most prolific mayors.
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Paranormal Points of Racine County Volume II: The Orphanage
“Orphanage”. The word brings to mind images of miserable unwanted children and rampant abuse. In Racine however, those that know of the Taylor Home Orphanage think of hundreds of happy children and the dedicated charitable hearts of its founding couple, the Taylors. The Taylor Home was a beloved place and many who lived there recall…
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Mound Cemetery: Home of the Dead
Humans have had a long history of both honoring and burying their dead leading some historians to recognize cemeteries as some of the first permanent human settlements. [1] Cemeteries are where we gather the remains of our loved ones and send them on to their next life, whatever it may be. Together, our ancestors inhabit…
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Paranormal Points of Racine County Volume I: Burial Grounds
Cemeteries and other burial grounds have a long history of being considered sacred sites to humankind. The places where we put our loved ones to rest hold deep significance to our funerary rituals and beliefs in the afterlife. Unfortunately, these sites can be forgotten or deteriorate as time goes on and they are forgotten. They…
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Top 5 Historical Disasters of Racine County
Racine County was once one of the most populated towns in Wisconsin. It was the center of manufacturing, shipping, inventing, scientific advancements, and leisurely activities. Back in the days of old, so to speak, Racine was filled with things to do, places to go, and sites to see. Still, this did not stop Racine’s residents…
Unconventional Historian
The truth is stranger than fiction.
Unconventional Historian 