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@Alice_Iceflower Oh that is so cool; I should use that poison in a story…too bad there is an antidote but then again who would want to drink or use something that is blue inK?

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My thing is the early 1900s and the 1950s. Mostly American since I did extra research on that cause it's hard to find, but I know basic UK info too. Also, the American Civil War. Not battles and stuff, but things like lifestyle.

Oh, and tuberculosis and sociopaths/psychosis.

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@BirdyEdwards As terrible as it sounds; sociopaths are something that pop up in my stories very often. What is one of the most interesting cases you’ve learned about?

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Well, Albert Fish was a sociopath and my favorite serial killer, but some other really interesting ones are Eric Harris (although he was probably more of a psychopath) and Theresa Knorr (who was just flat out nuts). @IsadoraFier

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@BirdyEdwards lol. Theresa Knoor first; what did she do?

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@IsadoraFier Well, thallium was only discovered and separated from the minerals it is found in, around the 1860s. So it would be available to more non-scientists a while after that (as a rat poison). So unless you're writing fantasy (with a mineral-obsessed scientist), you can only use it in a limited time frame.

I do think 'rat poison' (likely thallium) was mentioned in Downton Abbey as a poison... And that's 1912-1920. Very interesting time, though.

And I am tempted to use it too, sometime... when I get to writing something around WWI.

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@Alice_Iceflower lol. So I probably can't use it then unless maybe mixing it with other poison?......hmmm

Why as 1912-1920 interesting?

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What is this amazing thread? History? really?

Sweatness >:D

Donner Party: 1846-1847

Who knows anything about them? :D

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@figgyfan Never heard about it. Can you tell me. and yes sweetness indeed lol

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@IsadoraFier They are a group of people that were traveling to California via the Oregon trail. Around that time a man named Lansford Hastings wrote a book glorifying California and the Hastings trail he named after himself to get there. It was supposed to cut about 400 miles off the journey. The Donner-Reed Party decided to take his short cut, but what they didn't know was that Hastings had never taken the trail himself. The way was almost impassible for wagon trains and even seasoned mountain men warned against taking it.

On top of all that, the Party started out late. they traveled through dense forest, over the great Salt desert and eventually got to the Siera Mounts. Unfortunately they were beat down and an early snowstorm hit, trapping them there in two different camps for the winter. They had almost no food, makshift shelters and by febuary were living off of burnt bones, the hides covering their roof and some even ate the bodies of the people who had died from starvation.

Out of the 81 members stuck in the mountains 47 survived.

I can go into greater detail if you want. I read a book on it and am researching it for a paper right now so my head is full of all this stuffs.

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I found it quite amusing - and flattering - that I made it on the Historian list. Ready to join in on the discussion! Anyone know what kind of bricks they used for schoolhouses in the 1800s? And are they flammable? :)

I tend to research random periods of interest (though when I'll ever use that knowledge, I'll never know, ha-ha), but I guess I'm particularly fond of the Tudors and Greek Mythology (more specifically, Titanomarchy).

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@figgyfan Yes please do. Sounds like a disaster; I'm surprised more didn't die. How the heck did they survive?

@Praeciarus :P What's titanomarchy?

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@figgyfan Ever hear of the Sawney Beane tale? Incestuous AND cannibalistic family in Scotland. I've always found it more interesting than the Donner Party, but I'm a little biased since I am writing a paper on the Beane tale. -G

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Hi everyone: I just joined this group. I am desperately searching for detailed information about the South Dakota area in the 1860's. I only need the Yankton/ Fort Randall area, as that is where part of my book, A Bride for the Asking, is set. I am particularly interested in the distance between the two locations, the terrain, the type of animal husbandry and common crops grown would be. Also any local tales that are common knowledge to the present-day people who live there that happened back then. Any abnormal weather conditions that might have occurred during 1868. If someone could just point out where to search, I would be so grateful.

My story might be classed as a historical romance, but I want it as historically accurate as possible. I am sure you understand. Thanks, Alora

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History Questions from @alorasilverleaf.

@KiplingKat @Praeciarus seem the most qualified to answer this one.

********************************************************************************************** @GMSoban What are your specialties in history?

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@GMSoban Incest and cannibalism............Who were they?

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@alorasilverleaf Well, distances and terrain you can work out with a topographical map (and the scale in the map key). When looking at unknown terrain, I try a Google Image Search for national and state parks in the area to get an idea of what it was like before urbanization. A simple search for species of plants and animals native to the areas help as well.

For unusual weather, hrm. Check with the national weather service website for historical records. They were keeping weather records back that far, though they might not have them for more obscure areas. Then see if you can find the website for the town clerk's offices or local historical societies. Shoot them an e-mail asking if there were any unusual weather patterns/events for that year. The local historical society is a better bet for local lore. Town clerks are great for census info, taxes, businesses, birth/death records, etc.

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@alorasilverleaf The local historical society would also be able to tell you about farming and ranching in the area. If they are really nice, they may even share some pictures with you.

Be polite, explain what you are doing, why you picked the area (be complimentary, these are people who are proud of their home). Start by asking concise questions they can answer easily to gauge how willing they are to help you. Be patient. A lot of local historical societies are run by volunteers, so it may take them a week or two to respond. And don't be afraid of a phone call, you will get a lot more local flavor in a conversation than you would in a e-mail exchange.

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Killed her daughters in crazy ways. One she beat and shot and handcuffed to the bathtub, then told her other kids that one was possessed by Satan so they burned her alive. The other she locked in a closet. @IsadoraFier

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@Praeciarus Probably just regular bricks. I don't think brick itself burns. The schoolhouse, if it was little, would probably be wood. A big institution would be brick, but the floors and beams and skeleton would be wood. That would burn and then the brick would probably crumble.

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"Why was 1912-1920 interesting?"

WWI, for one. @IsadoraFier

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I spent my semester abroad sailing a 135 ft brigantine around the Carribean with stops in Jaimaca and the Dominican Republic. In the DR, we spent an afternoon at the house of a woman decended from a colony of escaped American ex-slaves. In Jamaica, the group visited the colony of the Maroon people, a group decended from escaped ex-slaves who retreated into the island's mountainous interior during the spanish period, while I interviewed members of the JDF about the history and operations of Jaimaca's relatively young military.

History is living, and there are always people around who are willing, if not downright eager, to share it.

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@BirdyEdwards Most certainly, plus Russian Communist Revolution of 1917, and the influenza pandemic. Most people are not aware of the incredible politucal and cultural impact of WWI. It led diretly to WWII, and then Cold War. And of course out of WWI you have the Lost Generation and Jazz becoming wildly popular. A professor pointed out to me that between the 1910's and 1920's, much of what we consider classic native (as opposed to what we carried over from Europe) American culture took root. One cannot understand 20th century history without understanding that decade.

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@BirdyEdwards lol. I honestly do not know my time period dates/eras. Only the content of them sadly........and that's just madness.

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@KiplingKat What is the Lost Generation?

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