Retell Seller: An Ephemera Podcast
Retell Seller An Ephemera Podcast hosted by Angie, a reseller of 10 years with a love for paper trails. Join in every Wednesday, as she reads from a new, yet old, piece of ephemera. It's not always nostalgia but, it's always human.
Episodes
30 episodes
Facts About Fallout Protection in 1961
An eight-page pamphlet from 1961 explains radioactive fallout, how Americans were told to protect themselves, and what they should have ready for a two-week stay in a shelter. More than 60 years later most of the advice about being prepared sti...
The Last Campaign of Henry F. Schaible
Today's find is an oversized card with a handwritten note from Henry F. Schaible, a longtime Kansas City, Kansas politician. At first glance, it looks like a simple piece of campaign ephemera. But once I read the message and began researching, ...
1950s National Wildlife Federation Postcards - Part 2
This is the second of a two-part series covering 17 unused National Wildlife Federation postcards from the 1950s. Together, we'll learn a bit about birds, mammals, and the artists behind the illustrations as each postcard leads to s...
1950s National Wildlife Federation Postcards - Part 1
This is the first of a two-part series covering 17 unused National Wildlife Federation postcards from the 1950s. Together, we'll learn a bit about birds, mammals, and the artists behind the illustrations as each postcard leads to st...
The Day Mary Sold Lucy
The front of this 1913 postcard wishes someone a happy birthday. The back tells a very different story. Mary writes of illness, moving, and the emotional pain of selling "Lucy." She did like to kick after all.Website: ...
Dear Norma...Love, Nita
A portrait tucked inside a portrait folder keepsake came with something even more personal. A handwritten note from Nita to her friend, Norma. Without knowing what became of either woman, their words still preserve a friendship impo...
The Letter That Matched Navy History
In a hat box full of ephemera I'd purchased some time ago, I found a letter mailed from the U.S.S. Iowa in December 1899. It led me to wonder how much of it could actually be confirmed. What began as a family letter became a story m...
Ramsay Dry Goods, La Junta - 1907
A stained postcard mailed from La Junta, Colorado in 1907 led me to, a woman named Celia, a job at Ramsay Dry Goods Company, and one sentence that stood out: "I'm not much pleased with town."Writing about how she worked at Ramsay Dry Goo...
Nelda Jaeger Of Tacoma - The Woman They Called Judge
A postcard from 1915, addressed to Judge Nelda Jaeger, led me in search of the woman behind the title. What emerged was the story of an attorney, temporary judge, & public figure whose life was far more complex than the newspaper headlines ...
Short & Possibly Sweet Birthday Wish
Today I share from a card written in 1909, which feels equal parts apology, explanation, & afterthought, all wrapped in one sentence. I'm sure we can all relate about forgetting someone's birthday. Join me as I share this Postca...
Compliments Of The State's Attorney
A tiny hosiery mending kit printed with "Compliments of Roy P. Hull State's Attorney" leads to a larger story.From family visits to a bribery investigation bringing Hull's own name into the headlines. This episode briefly follows the man...
Get A “Gripp”. Better Yet, Don't.
A 1913 postcard from Aunt Mollie contains just a few lines, including a mention of having "the gripp." I follow it into Kentucky newspapers from the same year, where reports of illness appeared alongside everyday updates about life in town.&nbs...
Primo Carnera Takes Flight
In this episode of Retell Seller, I take a closer look at heavyweight boxer Primo Carnera. A man who was described as everything from gentle & naive to mob-controlled & manufactured. What sparked this episode is the photo I ...
Amelia Earhart & Fred "WHO"nan?
Amelia Earhart’s disappearance is one of the most known stories in aviation history. Even so, many never knew she had an experienced navigator beside her, on the final flight...including me. His name was Fred Noonan.In this episode, I ta...
Walking Past Wealth, Through a Strike
A postcard from 1909 captures more than it seems. Written during a streetcar strike in Evansville, it mentions the heat and the need to walk.But the return address traces back to the Reitz home, connecting that short note to a larger pr...
Way of the Zephyr - A 1943 Railroad Snapshot
A faded ticket envelope becomes a map of movement through the Midwest, out West, and across decades of railroad history. From the Denver Zephyr’s record-breaking run to the Empire Builder still operating today, this episode explore...
A Keepsake Someone Forgot To Remember
This episode centers on a small “Forget Me Not” booklet from around the 1950s or ’60s. A congratulatory keepsake written as if from a new baby’s perspective.Page by page, it moves through everyday moments, appropriate to the time, captur...
A Postcard, A Poem, & A Shift in Perspective
A 1909 postcard sent from Wetumka, Oklahoma, with a short handwritten message and a printed verse, leads us back to the work of Ella Wheeler Wilcox.This episode looks at the poem behind the postcard & what it took for her published ...
And I Made It Myself | A Craft Store Story
A small wax paper bag from 1977 is creased, worn, & was probably never meant to be kept. It leads us back to a craft store in Omaha, Nebraska where they are still offering ways to encourage you to say, “And I made it myself.”T...
Peanuts are just Li'l Folks
Charlie Brown didn’t start everywhere. He started small. Before Peanuts became a brand, it was a comic of a different name. Once Charles Schulz made it real, a syndicate made it national, and Hallmark made it tangible, it found its...
When a “Nasty Cat” Became Big News
In 1980 Garfield was only two years old already syndicated, already sarcastic, already beloved. The article captures Jim Davis just off a promotional tour and navigating sudden attention of his lasagna-loving creation.Why did...
1936 WRIGLEY'S Gum - 3 Pack Sample Card
A 1936 sample card from Wm. WRIGLEY Jr. Co. features three sticks of gum and a lot of promises. A small piece of ephemera becomes a window into how WRIGLEY presented itself to the public in the early 20th century.Website:
Pfc Brother Charlie Writes Home - May 7, 1944
A 1944 WWII letter sent home, from Camp Stewart, offers a glimpse into family life, distance, and the everyday concerns of a U.S. Army Private First Class. Even when the full story remains just out of reach but, close enough to feel...
Breadcrumbs & Breakthroughs: The Woman Who Invented Stove Top Stuffing
It started with finding a 1952 Purdue Yearbook. After having it for a couple years, I finally thought to look & see if any notable people attended at the time. I was excited to find out Ruth Siems, creator of Stove Top Stuffing did. Here's ...
It's Only A Piece Of Paper! Salvage for Victory
Even now, long after the Depression, we still live with the same mindset, just dressed in modern language. We call it recycling, re-purposing, sustainability. But at its core, it’s the same idea: don’t waste what could be used again.W...
