Roundhouse Crosstalk: Recent Episodes
CSRM
Roundhouse Crosstalk is a Podcast hosted by the California State Railroad Museum located in Sacramento California. Our lives are made of railroad stories, and we tell the stories of the railroad through the stories of people. Roundhouse Crosstalk amplifies the stories of people whose jobs, experiences, and legacy intersect with the history of the railroad.
Join us for Roundhouse Crosstalk! In this episode we look at how the development of the intellectual disability system and the expansion of railroad networks intertwined. For this discussion we sit down with Elliott Simon author of "Hellbound Train: The Beginning of The Pennsylvania State Institutional System or People with Intellectual Disabilities" (https://muse.jhu.edu/article/862856).
Join us for another episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk as we explore the influence of Pullman Porters on the development of the popular card game, Bid Whist and discover the intersection of history, culture, and card games.
In this episode we interview Lamont Jones author of "The Gist of Bid Whist" available now: https://www.amazon.com/Gist-Bid-Whist-Culturally-Rich-America/dp/B0CN319X34
Join us for Roundhouse Crosstalk!
In this episode, we interview Edward Segal, author of the new book, 'Whistle Stop Politics.' We delve into anecdotes from some of the most famous campaign trains, the relationship between the press and candidates, and how the unique nature of railroad travel influenced political campaigns. Whistle Stop Politics releases on 2/13/2024.
Pre-Order Whistle Stop Politics: https://www.amazon.com/Whistle-Stop-Politics-Campaign-Reporters-Covered-ebook/dp/B0CDJV4XTV
In this week's episode new podcast co-host Summer sits down with Suzette Mayr author of The Sleeping Car Porter, a historical fiction novel about Baxter a queer black Pullman Porter. Mayr's work helps audiences explore the role of the Sleeping Car Porters through the story of one fictionalized experience.
The Sleeping Car Porter: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61354631
Join us as we sit down with Mia Bay, author of "Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance", to explore the experiences, struggles, and resilience of Black individuals as they navigated through a landscape marked by discrimination and adversity. Bay’s new book uncovers stories that have long been overlooked, shedding light on the enduring legacy of Black travelers and their significant impact on America's transportation history. Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on a crucial part of our nation's past.
To learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Black-Story-Race-Resistance/dp/0674979966
In this episode we sit down with LaDonna DiCamillo the Southern California Regional Director for the California High Speed Rail Authority. We discuss updates on the construction process, what the agency is doing to minimize environmental harm, how the agency works with community partners, and what goals the agency has in building the nation’s first high speed rail.
Learn more:
Website:https://hsr.ca.gov/
Updates: https://hsr.ca.gov/communications-outreach/newsroom/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/CAHighSpeedRail
In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, we sit down with Julia Sizek to delve into the profound impact of the railroad checkerboard on the California Desert, its Ingenious communities, and modern water use rights. Julia's dissertation serves as the foundation for our exploration as we uncover how this historical pattern of land ownership continues to shape the desert today.
To learn more about Dr. Sizek's work: http://www.juliasizek.org/
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk where we interview Sarah Federman about her book Last Train to Auschwitz! In this episode we discuss the historical impact of the French railways during the Holocaust. Uncover the complex role the SNCF played as Holocaust collaborators, resistance fighters, and as victims throughout World War II. We'll also explore the complex legal battles surrounding compensation for Holocaust victims and their families and a push for the SNCF to acknowledge its role and open its archival material for scholar.
To learn more about this topic we encourage you to check out Dr. Federman's book: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Auschwitz-National-Accountability/dp/0299331709
Join us for this Week's Episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk where we explore the connection between Southern California's citrus industry and the development of the railroad. For this episode we interview Benjamin Jenkins whose new book, The Octopuses Garden, deep dives into this topic.
To learn more about these connections check out The Octopuses Garden: https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700634712/
Join us for this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk as we explore the Colorado-Kansas Railroad. This little-known railway had big dreams of providing electricity to parts of Kansas and consisting of over 300 miles of electric track. Though this line never succeeded in its ambitious goals, it made a lasting impact on the region through its unintended involvement in local politics that is still felt today.
To learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Steel-Stone-Colorado-Kansas-Enterprise/dp/1646421272
In this week’s episode H. Roger Grant, professor and prolific railroad author, jumps back on the podcast to discuss the role of the railroad in dreams of utopia. For this podcast we focused on farmers hoping to establish their own community railroads in the late 1800s as a form of self-help and community building. We'll explore the challenges faced by farmers, their grievances against unfair shipping rates and discriminatory practices, and their determination to create a fair and efficient transportation system that would benefit rural communities.
To learn more about H. Roger Grant’s books: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/552738.H_Roger_Grant
In our newest episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk “Chasing Trains and Capturing Time: The Railroad Photography of Phil Hasting” we sit down with Tony Reevy to discuss his newest book The Railroad Photography of Phil Hastings. Get ready for an inspiring journey that will transport you to a realm where steel meets artistry, and where trains become more than mere modes of transportation.
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! In this week's episode high school senior Miles Rankins sits down with former Roundhouse Crosstalk co-host Amanda De Fazio and long time museum docent Helen Ornellas to discuss the influence of jazz and the railroad. Musicians traveled from city to city on the trains, playing in clubs and venues across the country. The rhythms of the railroad, the clacking of wheels on tracks, and the sounds of the whistle became part of the musical language of jazz. For his senior project Miles researched the connection between the railroad and jazz music, recorded both interviews, edited, and produced this podcast. The Roundhouse Crosstalk team thanks Miles for his hard work in bringing this story to life!
To learn more: https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2017/01/19/trains-jazz
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode we sit down with museum docent and guest curator Chris Pifer-Foote to discuss her exciting research on Anna Judah.
Anna Judah was influential in building the Transcontinental Railroad. She joined her husband Theodore Judah while he hiked, surveyed, and found the route through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. While his achievements have been long known and recognized, Chris Pifer-Foote uncovered Anna's crucial role in these expeditions. She often joined him on these trips and painted beautiful water color paintings, sketched the surveyed lands, and complied rare plants into two herbariums. These resources were eventually used to help convince congress to fund the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. This podcast dives into her life, legacy, and offers a glimpse into the research process that led to the California State Railroad Museum's newest exhibit!
To learn more about Anna Judah come and visit her new exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum! The exhibit opens in early May. Follow us for more details coming soon!
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! In this episode we sit down with Anthony Dawson to learn about the very early days of railroad. What were these first steam engines like? Why were they built? How did the public respond? And what lasting impact do these trains have on the UK system today? Find out the answers to all of these questions and more!
To learn more watch Anthony Dawson's YouTube videos, Follow his Facebook page, and Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/OnHistoricalLines/?locale=fo_FO, .
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anthony-L.-Dawson/e/B0034OTMXK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
https://www.youtube.com/@AnthonyDawsonHistory/videos
Join us for this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! In this podcast we sit down with our long time docent and station master Paul Self to learn about Hospital Trains in the past and the present. These trains have been instrumental throughout history in saving lives both in battle and now for humanitarian causes.
In this week’s episode we interview James Zimmerman about his new book The Peking Express: The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China about the Lincheng Outrage. On May 5, 1923 1200 bandits derailed the Peking Express and took 25 hostages from several European countries as well as the United States. This quickly became an international incident that impacted the newly created Republic of China and influenced media throughout the world. These events (adapted for a popular audience) were eventually turned into the movie: The Shanghai Express. Tune in to learn about the true events that created this award winning film!
Pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Peking-Express-Bandits-Stunned-Republic/dp/1541701704
Learn more about book events here: https://thepekingexpress.com
Join us for this week’s edition of Roundhouse Crosstalk! In this week’s episode we interview H. Rodger Grant about his new book The Station Agent and the American Railroad Experience. We highlight the legacy of the Railroad Station Agent, how they rose to leaders in their communities, and how the decline of railroading in the mid-twentieth century impacted these agents.
The Station Agent and the American Railroad Experience is available now!: https://www.amazon.com/Station-American-Railroad-Experience-Railroads/dp/0253064341For more of H. Rodger Grant’s railroad books: https://www.clemson.edu/caah/about/facultybio.html?id=246
Join us for this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode we sit down with Jessamyn Abel, author of Dream Super-Express: A Cultural History of the World’s First Bullet Train which focuses on the competing historical memories of Japan’s first Bullet Train. We’ll discuss how it was constructed, how it connected to images of Imperial Japan, and how it has continued to symbolize economic progress and technological innovation in Japan.
To learn more: https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=29947
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! This week we interview CSRM intern Desun Oka about his work on a digital exhibit about the White Train Movement. The White Train Movement was instrumental in the fight for nuclear disarmament during the Cold War Era. In this podcast we learn about their tactics, government response, and what the activists did after the end of the Cold War.
Digital Exhibit: https://express.adobe.com/page/E5nxBSyx4ZQP3/
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk where we dive into the role of the railroad in the Crimean War. Throughout our program we've looked at the railroad as a force for rapid technological change and as a symbol for modernity. This episode showcases this concept in a global setting, in what our interviewee Anthony Dawson terms the first modern war.
Anthony Dawson's book: https://www.amazon.com/Railway-that-Helped-win-Crimean-ebook/dp/B0B19551DP/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=anthony+dawson+crimea&qid=1673632463&sr=8-3
Anthony Dawson's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AnthonyDawsonHistory
Have you ever wondered how railroad tracks are maintained and serviced after they're built? In the Southwest this work is often done by Navajo maintenance of way workers. In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we look at the history of these workers, what their experience is like today, and how their cultural beliefs and attitudes impact their work for the railroad.
To learn more check out Jay Youngdahl's book: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Railroad-Walking-Beauty-Navajos/dp/0874218535
Have you ever wondered what it was like to travel on a bullet train in Japan? One important aspect to all types of long distance travel is food! In this week's episode we dive into the food culture onboard Japanese railroads. Learn about how the unique Ekiben boxes available at railroad stations across Japan reflect a local food cultures and how they've impacted Japanese travel.
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. We often talk about how the railroad has shaped our communities, but we don't often get to dive into real world examples of this phenomenon. In this episode Amanda sits down with Derek Whaley to discuss how the railroad helped shape Santa Cruz California.
Derek Whaley's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Santa-Cruz-Trains-Railroads-Mountains/dp/1508570736/ref=asc_df_1508570736/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312126490544&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2513460548026114491&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032523&hvtargid=pla-571153649988&psc=1
In this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we sit down with Dr. Kevin Waite to learn about his new book West of Slavery The Southern Dream of a Transcontinental Empire. We discuss the South's vision for expansion westward, their desire for a transcontinental railroad, and what the South's connection to the West says about our past.
Learn more about Dr. Waite's book: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469663197/west-of-slavery/
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this Halloween Special we sit down with Tony Reevy to learn about the history of ghost stories and the railroad.
To learn more read Tony Reevy's book: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Train-American-Railroad-Legends/dp/1883089417
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this bonus episode we commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning more about the railroads' role in the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century.
For this topic we interviewed Desun Oka about his new digital exhibit for the museum available here: https://express.adobe.com/page/EZberU5iy1oNE/
Join us for this week's episode to Roundhouse Crosstalk! In this week's episode we sit down with Dr. Ethan Blue, a professor at the University of Western Australia, to learn about the connection between deportation and the railroad in the 19th century.
For more information about this topic, you can read Dr. Blue's new book The Deportation Express: https://www.amazon.com/Deportation-Express-History-American-Crossroads/dp/0520304446
Join us for this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, a podcast hosted by the California State Railroad Museum. Today we’ll be hearing from Professor Scott Huffard about the spread of Yellow Fever, traditionally common in port towns, to inland towns after the construction of the railroad. How did people react to these outbreaks and did they understand its causes? What does can disease teach us about a society’s politics, infrastructure, and scientific knowledge? Stay tuned to find out!
You can follow Professor Huffard on twitter here: https://twitter.com/shuffard
You can access Professor Huffard's website here: https://scotthuffard.wordpress.com/
You can find Professor Huffard’s book here: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469652818/engines-of-redemption/
What do the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Women’s Suffrage movement, and the golden age of Hollywood have in common? The Central Pacific Commissioner’s Car was there for them all! Tune in to this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, a podcast hosted by the California State Railroad Museum. The Commissioner’s Car, now over 150 years old, is one of the newest additions to the museum’s collection of locomotives and train cars. Join us as we talk to Wendell Huffman, the previous curator at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, about the history of the Commissioner’s Car and its significance today.
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! This week we sit down with Dominique Bregent-Heald an associate professor at Memorial University to discuss how railroad films helped create the modern idea of tourism and helped with the conservationist movement in both the United States and Canada.
In this very special bonus episode we swap places with @The Roundhouse Podcast hosted by Nick Ozorak to learn about Railroads Online, a new immersive video game about 19th century railroading.
Listen to more of @The Roundhouse Podcast here: https://theroundhousepodcast.com/2022/03/15/kelly-lynch-fort-wayne-fmw-solutions/
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! This week we sit down with Nick Ozorak from The Roundhouse Podcast to discuss his love of railroading, what he's learned as a railroad podcaster, and learn about railroad simulators.
The Roundhouse Podcast: https://theroundhousepodcast.com/2022/03/15/kelly-lynch-fort-wayne-fmw-solutions/
Join us for this week’s very special bonus episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, where Jake Jennerjohn, Amanda DeFazio, and Alex Clark discuss the new action film Bullet Train starring Brad Pitt. Is this movie an accurate and enjoyable representation of Japanese bullet trains? How many beloved train tropes does it include? Do we give it a California State Railroad Museum stamp of approval? Stay tuned to find out!
In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we interview Lev Grossman and Sam Sedgman, two bestselling children's book authors, about how they use the railroad in their stories and what the railroad means to them. For more Roundhouse Crosstalk follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more please visit our website: https://anchor.fm/california-state-railroad
For more information about the books discussed in this podcast please visit: https://levgrossman.com & https://samsedgman.com
Join us for this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, where we trace the changing relationship between the American South and the railroad through song. Both the railroad and the South have become symbols of the past in the American psyche. How did this association come to be and what can music teach us about it? Stay tuned to find out!
You can read Professor Huffard’s article, “Ten Train Songs that Tell the Story of the South,” here: https://bittersoutherner.com/ten-train-songs-that-tell-the-story-of-the-south
You can follow Professor Huffard on twitter here: https://twitter.com/shuffard
You can access Professor Huffard's website here: https://scotthuffard.wordpress.com/
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, where we interview Leann S. Taagepera a student in the California State University Sonoma Cultural Resources Management Program. The California State Railroad Museum has partnered with California State Universities to provide students with a platform to create and showcase digital exhibits for our museum. This episode looks at the Solano Train Ferry and its unique place in local and regional history. It offers us a chance to look at how communities interact and respond to technological change.
Solano Train Ferry Digital Exhibit: https://express.adobe.com/page/PYBA6LKpCYnAi/
More Student Digital Exhibits: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/education/laboratory-of-learning-1/student-exhibits
Join us for this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! Have you ever wondered how timezones got their shape? Or if time was always so important to people? Were cavemen running around worried about being late? Well, in this week's episode we speak with Dr. Scott Johnston about his new book The Clocks Are Telling Lies. We discuss the invention of standard time and its connection to railroad history as well as look at different proposed models of universal time keeping.
The Clocks Are Telling Lies: https://www.amazon.com/Clocks-are-Telling-Lies-Construction/dp/0228008433
Tune in to this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, where we talk about the history of Kansas City’s music scene in relation to its development as a railroad town with Dr. Gabriella Roderer. What happens to the music scene when the railroad comes to town? And what can the changes in Kansas City tell us about the rest of America?
You can find Dr. Roderer's website here: https://www.gabriellaroderer.com/
Welcome to Roundhouse Crosstalk! June is Pride Month, so for this week’s episode we talk with Tony Reevy, author of The Railroad Photography of Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, about Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, owners of the Gold Coast private rail car we have right here at the museum. Beebe and Clegg were not only influential train photographers, but also icons of high society and some of the earliest and most famous gay men to live openly in American history. Stay tuned to find out more about Lucius Beebe’s celebrity lifestyle as well as his influence on railroad photography.
You can find Tony Reevy’s book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-railroad-photography-of-lucius-beebe-and-charles-clegg-tony-reevy/1127691228
Join us for this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we talk once again with Dr. Jeff Ferrell, a professor emeritus of Sociology at Texas Christian University, about how the desires for autonomy, adventure, and authenticity combine in train hopping.
In this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we sit down with Dr. Julia Lee to discuss her new book titled The Racial Railroad, which focuses on the connection between stories about race and stories about the Railroad. In the episode we discuss this interconnection, the many ways railroads are used symbolically in popular media, and the legacy of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Dr. Lee's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Racial-Railroad-Julia-H-Lee/dp/1479812773
We would like to invite you to E.B. Crocker's Birthday Party! In this very special episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we look at the contribution of EB Crocker to Sacramento and California. We look at both his impressive contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad and his continued legacy in Sacramento through the Crocker Art Museum.
Happy Earth Day, everybody! Tune in to this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk where we discuss environmental tourism with Rachel Wolff, a graduate student of Public History at California State University, Sacramento. Rachel has contributed her newly published digital exhibit, Rails to Redwoods, to the California State Railroad Museum.
Enjoyed this episode and want to learn more? You can access Rachel’s exhibit here: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/education/laboratory-of-learning-1/student-exhibits
In this episode we speak with Dr. Rebecca Harrison a lecturer a the Open University in the UK. She primarily focuses on the impact of media and technology on class, gender, and race and is the author of From Steam to Screen: Cinema, the Railways, and Modernity. This episode covers the development of Cinema Trains in the UK, what these trains represented to travelers, and their ultimate legacy.
Dr. Harrison's book: https://www.amazon.com/Steam-Screen-Railways-Modernity-Society/dp/1784539155
Adventure Pass: https://www.parks.ca.gov/adventurepass
In this episode we speak with Dr. Rebecca Harrison a lecturer a the Open University in the UK. She primarily focuses on the impact of media and technology on class, gender, and race and is the author of From Steam to Screen: Cinema, the Railways, and Modernity. Fittingly, this episode looks at the connection between cinema and the railroad during the very late 19th century and the early to mid twentieth century. We’ll discuss how mass media and mass transit helped make modernity, and how people of different classes, races, and genders interacted with these new technologies.
Dr. Harrison's book: https://www.amazon.com/Steam-Screen-Railways-Modernity-Society/dp/1784539155
Adventure Pass: https://www.parks.ca.gov/adventurepass
Have you ever noticed the bright, colorful graffiti on freight cars? Who put it there and why? Join us on this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jeff Ferrell, a professor emeritus of Sociology at Texas Christian University. Listen in as we discuss the world of freight train graffiti and the fascinating overlaps between railroaders and graffiti writers.
This episode is the second part of a two part interview with Miriam Thaggert, a professor at the University at Buffalo about her new book Riding Jane Crow: African American Women in the American Railroad. In part one we discussed how railroad travel was both radicalized and gendered and how African American men and women used train travel as a marker of social progress, or lack thereof. In this episode we look at a few individuals who helped test these racial and gender boundries.
You can preorder Riding Jane Crow at: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=28nsg7gk9780252044526
For more information on women in the railroad visit our digital exhibit Crossing Lines: Women of the American Railroad at https://www.californiarailroad.museum/crossing-lines
Join us on this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this week's episode we speak with Miriam Thaggert, a professor at the University at Buffalo about her new book Riding Jane Crow: African American Women in the American Railroad. We discuss how railroad travel was both radicalized and gendered and how African American men and women used train travel as a marker of social progress, or lack thereof. This is the first of a two part interview.
You can preorder Riding Jane Crow at: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=28nsg7gk9780252044526
For more information on women in the railroad visit our digital exhibit Crossing Lines: Women of the American Railroad at https://www.californiarailroad.museum/crossing-lines
Join us on this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we will continue last episode’s discussion with Dr. John Lennon, an associate professor at the University of South Florida and author of Boxcar Politics: The Hobo in Literature and Culture 1869-1956. This week we will be exploring the hobo mythos and its relationship to race, labor, and politics.
Please note that this episode will contain mentions of sexual assault and discrimination against minority groups. Viewer discretion is advised.
Follow Dr. John Lennon on twitter at @hoboacademic or visit his website at https://drjohnlennon.wordpress.com/.
Join us on this week’s episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we will explore the popular American figure of the hobo with Dr. John Lennon, an associate professor at the University of South Florida and author of Boxcar Politics: The Hobo in Literature and Culture 1869-1956. This is the first episode of two. Keep an eye out for our next episode where we will learn more about hobo culture and its intersections with race and American identity.
Follow Dr. John Lennon on twitter at @hoboacademic or visit his website at https://drjohnlennon.wordpress.com/.
Join us on this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we hear from Will Hodge about his research into Tom Waits and how his music was influenced by the Railroad.
Follow Will Hodge on Twitter for more content: https://twitter.com/will_hodge
Happy Holidays! In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we enjoy three festive stories inspired by the railroad and the museum.
Imagined and written by Emilie DeFazio.
Produced, directed, and edited by Amanda DeFazio.
Performed by Li Garcia, Alex Clark, Jake Jennerjohn, Debbie Hollingsworth, Amanda DeFazio, and Carl Hayes.
Opening music written and performed by Lexi Snyder.
Executive production by Jake Jennerjohn and Jason Rankins.
This episode is for entertainment purposes. All characters and events appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, dead or alive, other real-life entities, or events, past or present, is purely coincidental.
2021 is the 40th anniversary of the California State Railroad Museum. In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk Debbie Hollingsworth, a guide here at the California State Railroad Museum, leads you through the earliest history of the museum with added commentary from Denny Anspach, one of the people most responsible for its location in Sacramento.
In this episode fo Roundhouse Crosstalk we interview Dr. Raymond Chong about his research into his family history. We discuss what his research experience was like, the importance of oral histories, and the story of his ancestor who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad.
The Zhang Clan Odyssey: https://www.mychinaroots.com/samples/zhang-odyssey/
Story of my Ancestors Who Built The Transcontinental Railroad: https://asamnews.com/2018/05/03/apa-heritage-month-story-of-my-ancestors-who-built-the-transcontinental-railroad/
In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we sit down with Paul Self, a long time docent at the California State Railroad Museum, to discuss the Military Railway Service. Join us to hear more about these important service members and how they impacted the United State Military from the Civil War to present day.
In this bonus episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk, Jake Jennerjohn, Alex Clark, and Amanda DeFazio embark on an Old Sac Paranormal Investigation with Lisa Praxel and Susan Voskuil-Starcevich from the Sacramento History Museum.
Sacramento History Museum Website: sachistorymuseum.org
As the investigation delves into the more frightening stories of Old Sacramento, this episode may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.
Happy Halloween from us at the California State Railroad Museum! In this episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk we enjoy three spooky stories inspired by the railroad and the museum.
Imagined and written by Emilie DeFazio.
Performed by Li Garcia, Amanda DeFazio, and Crystal Skaggs.
Produced and edited by Amanda DeFazio.
Opening music written and performed by Lexi Snyder.
Executive production by Jake Jennerjohn and Jason Rankins.
This episode is for entertainment purposes. All characters and events appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, dead or alive, other real-life entities, or events, past or present, is purely coincidental.
Join us on this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we hear from Will Hodge about his research into Johnny Cash and how his music was influenced by the Railroad.
Will Hodge's Twitter: https://twitter.com/will_hodge
Will Hodge's Website: https://willhodge.contently.com/
Join us on this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we hear from California State Railroad Museum Guide Debbie Hollingsworth about the connections between Schenectady, New York and many of the famous railroaders who made the Transcontinental Railroad possible.
Join us on this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk. In this episode, we hear from California State Railroad Museum docent Olga Rosander about her family's immigration story across the Atlantic and subsequent journey on the Transcontinental Railroad.
Have you ever fed an elephant? Have you ever seen a person do tricks while riding a horse? When was the last time you saw a clown or acrobats flip high in the air? Have you ever heard a big band orchestra play? People used to do all of this and so much more in one day at the circus.
The railroad transformed to circus, and the circus transformed American identity. Find out how in our newest podcast.
Join us to learn about John Muir, noted conservationist, and his family connections to the Railroad. In this episode Audrey Lokteff sits down with Interpretive Intern Colette Shaw from the John Muir National Historic Site. To learn more please visit https://www.nps.gov/jomu/index.htm.
In this episode Park Interpretive Specialists Audrey Lokteff and Jacob Jennerjohn sit down with George Cartter, a long-time California State Parks Interpreter, to discuss the influence of the Railroad on music.
Share your railroad story: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story
Podcast topic recommendations: https://forms.gle/dzmU8YQ2HwMKv9Z97
In this week's episode, listen to CSRM staff interview Leroy Wallace Jr. And his son, Leroy Wallace III about their shared story with the railroad. Kept from working as a higher-up because of his race, Leroy’s son has gone on to work on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Hear about their lives and how multiple generations are affected by the railroad in distinct ways.
Share your railroad story: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story
Podcast topic reccomendations: https://forms.gle/dzmU8YQ2HwMKv9Z97
In this podcast Park Interpretive Specialist Audrey Lokteff sits down with Grammy Award Winning Sound Archivist and Curator Jeff Place to discuss the connections between the railroad and music. This episode is dedicated to Art Cort, a docent at the California state railroad museum for 29 years. Art passed away on August 17th, 2020. He will be best remembered as a museum host, welcoming thousands of guests with warm and happy tunes on his harmonica. He was a long-time participant of the Amtrak Interpretive Program where museum docents narrated the history of the Transcontinental Railroad on board the California Zephyr between Sacramento and Reno. Art completed over 9,000 hours as a docent which included 128 trips on Amtrak. The railroad museum sends their condolences to his family and the innumerable others in the community that were positively affected by his dedication, adventurous spirit, kindness, and love of the railroad. We will deeply miss our friend and colleague.
If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to hear more railroad songs selected by Jeff Place you can use this link to view his Anthology of Classic Railroad Songs: https://libcat.bucknell.edu/title/classic-railroad-songs/oclc/1144567715?referer=di&ht=edition.
When you go to a Museum do you see your story reflected in the exhibits and collections? Museums are places that collect and share American Culture, History, and Identity. And like American Culture, History, and Identity, Museums are steeped in echoes of the past. Who is represented in museum collections? Whose stories do we tell? How are we going to move into a shared future? Join Museum Director, Ty Smith, Program & Exhibit Designer, Kim Whitfield, and Museum Curator, Melanie Tran as we tackle these questions with a conversation about American Culture, representation, and shared authority in Museums. There is room for all our stories.
Other Civic season activities: https://www.thecivicseason.com/getstarted/
Share your story: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story
This collaborative program between the California State Railroad Museum and Angel Island State Park travels through California history by examining how Chinese immigration for the Gold Rush and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad led to discriminatory policies in California, which are visible at the Angel Island Immigration Station. This AAPI heritage month, we reflect on California as a gateway to opportunity-- open to some and closed to others.
Full program: https://youtu.be/31oqyTwa-Uw
Book recommendations:
Ghosts of Gold Mountain: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Gold-Mountain-Transcontinental-Railroad/dp/1328618579
Dragon's Gate: https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Gate-Golden-Mountain-Chronicles/dp/0064404897/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dragon%27s+gate&qid=1623176678&s=books&sr=1-1
CSRM Teacher’s guide: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/assets/downloads/2020-Teachers-Guide-Chinese-Railroad-Workers.pdf
Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910-1940: https://www.amazon.com/Island-History-Immigrants-1910-1940-Endowment/dp/029599407X
May 2021 marks 40 years of CSRM! Join us this week for a conversation with our Museum Director and Coordinator of Exhibit & Interpretive Programs as they talk about the Railroad Museum’s mission and philosophy.
Here at the railroad museum, our lives are made of railroad stories. If you would like to share your own railroad story, we would love to hear it! Visit: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story/
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month #AAPImonth and we honor their legacy and contribution to American Culture and the railroad.
This week on Roundhouse Crosstalk Podcast in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Park Interpreter II, Kim Whitfield, talks with Chinese Railroad Worker descendant, film producers, and friends of the Museum, Baldwin Chiu and Larissa Lam about their film documentaries, “Finding Cleveland,” and “Far East Deep South,” and their family history and the history of Chinese immigrants living in the American South during 1800s to mid 1900s.
Their new film documentary, Far East Deep South will be making its TV Broadcast debut on “America ReFramed” on World Channel (PBS) on May 4th. It will also stream on PBS.org the rest of May. You can watch it here: http://bit.ly/ARF_FarEDeepS
You can also follow them on Instagram: @fareastdeepsouth @larissalammusic @onlywonmc and Twitter: @fareastdeepso @larissalam @onlywon
This podcast will focus on Rosina Tucker, a union organizer and a powerful voice in the Civil Rights Movement. She is best known for her work with the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters--the first African American trade union. Rosina fought to improve working conditions for Pullman Porters. Her work lives on here at the California State Railroad Museum in our Crossing Lines exhibit, which focuses on the many contributions of women on the railroad. Today Audrey Lokteff meets with one of the creators of the Crossing Lines exhibit, Debbie Hollingsworth to learn more about Rosina Tucker.
You can find more information of Rosina Tucker and other women railroaders at: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/crossing-lines
This episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk will take an intimate look at the lives of the Black Americans who worked on the railroad. You will hear oral history interviews from the Oregon State Universities African American Railroad Porters Oral History Collection, these interviews provide insight into railroad jobs such as, Red Caps, Porters, Waiters, and Cooks. All of these interviews were recorded in the 1980s by Michael Grice, and are now available online.
Black Americans held many jobs on the railroad, and these oral stories showcase the diversity of job placement. These interviews will give you a firsthand look at the difficulties faced by the black workers, their feelings towards the railroad, and the collective memory of shared community among railroad workers.
Today, Jason Rankins our Guide II Supervisor at the California State Railroad Museum, will be speaking with Natalia Fernandez the Interim Director of the Special Collections and Archives Research Center at Oregon State University. Natalia Fernandez is also the curator of the Oregon Multicultural Archives which documents the oral stories and experiences of porters on the railroad during the first half of the 20th century. If you are interested in listening to the oral history collection you can find it on the Oregon State University Library webpage or access the collection using link provided here: http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/oh29/interviews.html
This episode Jason Rankins, our Guide II Supervisor at the California State Railroad Museum, will be speaking with Dr. Max Geier, an Emeritus Professor of History at Western Oregon University. Dr. Geier is also the author of the book “The Color of Night: Race, Railroaders, and Murder in the Wartime West.” His book focuses on railroad workers in California and Oregon. The book investigates the trial and conviction of Robert Folkes, a labor organizer and civil rights activist who served as a railroad cook during World War II in the Pacific Northwest. Geier’s book makes a compelling exploration of race, class, and privilege in the wartime Northwest. It contributes to a more extensive understanding of the roles, positions, and union affiliations that Black railroad workers held during the early to mid-twentieth century.
If you are interested in reading Dr. Geier’s book, “The Color of the Night: Race, Railroaders, and Murder in the Wartime West” you can purchase his book on Amazon, or from the Oregon State University Press.
Thank you everyone for listening to this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! If you would like to share your story please visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story.
Thank you everyone for listening to this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! If you would like to share your story please visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story.
Thank you everyone for listening to this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! If you would like to share your story please visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story.
Thank you everyone for listening to this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! If you would like to share your story please visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story.
Thank you everyone for listening to this week's episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk! If you would like to share your story please visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story.
This week we have a phone interview with Robin Surmont. If you would like to share your story please visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/my-story.
This week we have a phone interview with Wes Beyer. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we have a phone interview with Matthew Blackburn. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we have a phone interview with John Cockrell. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we have a phone interview with Robert Powell. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we have a phone interview with Alan Swanson. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we have a phone interview with Joann Cole. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we talk to Alan Lew, a volunteer at the California State Railroad Museum, about his lifelong passion for the railroad and his childhood passion for all things train. If you would like to share your story on this platform please contact Jason Rankins.
This week we talk to Peter Norgaard, a volunteer at the California State Railroad Museum, about his lifelong passion for the railroad. If you would like to share your story on this platform please contact Jason Rankins.
This week I speak with Peter to discuss, among other things, his childhood fondness for trains and how his family influenced his lifelong passion for the railroad.
This week we have a phone interview with Ken Dixon. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview. Your story can include vocational experience, fond childhood memories of trains or even a passion model train collecting!
This week we have a phone interview with David Haskell. Among other things we discuss his time working on the railroad, his poetry, and his love for education. If you would like to share your story please email Jason.rankins@parks.ca.gov to set up an interview.
In this weeks episode we sit down with George Palmer to learn about his connection to the railroad.
In our first episode of Roundhouse Crosstalk 2019 Docent of the Year recipient Earl Tobey shares why he volunteers at the California State Railroad Museum, what impact railroads have had on his life, and much more.