Civics & Coffee

Mary Eliza Mahoney broke the gender and racial barrier when she became the first Black woman to earn her nursing license in 1879. Although Black women had long been performing the work of nurses, Mahoney's successful completion of a rigorous licensing programming demonstrated that African American women were capable of succeeding in medicine. But just who was Mary Eliza Mahoney? Tu

Not much is known about the first recorded drag queen in the United States, William Dorsey Swann. A man who was born into slavery in Maryland just ahead of the Civil War, Swann eventually moved to Washington, D.C. where he held parties celebrating a different form of expression. Tune in this week as I chat about William Dorsey Swann and how his actions are considered by some to be

Joining me this week is Dr. Robin Bernstein. She is a historian, professor, and author whose latest book Freeman's Challenge: The Murder That Shook America's Original Prison for Profit investigates the origins of penal capitalism. To buy yourself a copy of the Freeman's Challenge, be sure to head over to the University of Chicago Press' website here. And to learn more about Dr. Ber

In the nineteenth century, social norms dictated that proper ladies stayed in the domestic space, leaving the home for waged work only under desperate circumstances. As the federal government expanded during the Civil War, the need for labor intensified and administrators quickly realized they had an untapped source: women. Join me this week as I dive into the history of women work

Born to a wealthy Black family, Charlotte Forten enjoyed a level of privilege uncommon for Black Americans of the period. She spent her life dedicated to the uplift of her fellow countrymen by pursuing a teaching career. So just who was Charlotte Forten Grimke? Tune in to find out. To subscribe to the newly launched newsletter, be sure to head over to civicsandcoffee.substack.com

In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln authorized the execution of 38 Dakota warriors. His decision to execute, and the reasons used to justify the action remain a black mark on Lincoln's legacy. Join me this week as I dive into the latest listener request and explore what prompted the mass execution of Indigenous Americans and why it remains one of the most troub

Born into slavery in 1818, Elizabeth Keckly learned a trade that would lead to her freedom and place her into the upper echelons of white society: sewing. Join me as I dive into the life of the woman who was known as "Madam Elizabeth" by her famous employers. Where did Elizabeth learn how to sew? How did she buy her freedom? And what caused her rift with First Lady Mary Todd Lincol

Joining me this week is historian and author Justin McHenry. In this episode we discuss his latest effort, Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place, which tells the story of the fictional Lemuria. Justin dives into how Lemuria is tied to Atlantis, how Mt. Shasta is involved, and what it tells us about alternative narratives. To learn more about Justin, be sure to check out his website

One of the topics you all wanted me to cover was the impact of the war on the home front. Join me this week as I cover the impacts of a "total war" on local residents and how home front experiences changed depending on race, location, and economic status. For show notes, source material, and ways you can support the show, visit the website at www.civicsandcoffee.com

Edwin Stanton is perhaps best known as the man who oversaw the hunt for President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The lawyer turned Secretary of War dealt with his fair share of heartache and uncertainty, but as I will cover in this episode, he was the right man at the right time. For show notes, source material, or ways you can support the show, head over to the web