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The Case:
In California, a photograph collector owns four small images of women taken in Chicago in the 1890s.
On the back of one are the woman's personal details and comments about her inheritance, leading their owner to believe these aren't just ordinary portraits but advertisements for mail order brides.
Could he be right?
History Detectives visits California and Chicago to investigate the Victorian marriage industry and discovers a shocking story of late nineteenth century extortion and corruption.
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Comments
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Anyone wishing to submit an artifact for investigation should do so through Submit a Story.
- Submit your StoryDo you have an object from an Emerging Modern America?
- Latest CommentIt turns out that this collage was sold last fall: http://www.worthpoint.com/wort... I wonder if it would be possible to contact the buyer by way of the auction house about getting a print made. (6 months ago)
- Twitterremember this investigation with @TukufuZuberi @elyseluray Tonight they reunite! Let us know your thoughts! @PBS http://t.co/4KMnc27K (1 year ago)
- FacebookCongrats on your exhibit, TZ! Here's a Washington Post article about the exhibit, everyone, and the great story TZ and Elyse did on his "Our Colored Heroes" story. http://tinyurl.com/mzpuyo8 http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/investigation/our-colored-heroes/ (6 months ago)