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.
Related Content
Technique:
Technique:
Feature:
Feature:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also in Emerging Modern America: 1890-1930
Lindbergh Engine
Could a 24-year-old have single-handedly built the engine for Lindbergh's plane?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Fillmore Pardon
Did President Fillmore pardon a Native American convicted of murder?
-
Also in Season 2
Red Cloud's Peace Pipe
Was this pipe given to an Indian agent by the famous Lakota warrior Chief Red Cloud?
-
Also in Emerging Modern America: 1890-1930
Our Colored Heroes
Is this a WWI recruitment poster... or something else?
-
Also in Emerging Modern America: 1890-1930
Lubin Photos
What do these photo albums reveal about the birth of the silver screen?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Japanese Balloon Bomb
Is this scrap of fabric evidence of a secret wartime attack on the United States' mainland?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.