Tickers Tapping, Phones Ringing: Women Racing to Break the Eastland Tragedy
In Episode 81 of the Flower in the River podcast, we dive into the lives of the courageous women who worked tirelessly behind the scenes—operating switchboards, typing, and handling ticker tapes—to report the unfolding Eastland disaster to the world..
Show Notes
Eastland Disaster on Chicago Med
The TV show Chicago Med referenced the Eastland disaster in its Season 10 premiere.
Jenny Jose’s article in Central Recorder discussed this reference.
Genealogy Conference Highlights
Attended a conference by the Association of Professional Genealogists, focusing on new technologies in genealogy.
Ticker Tape and Gossip Tickers
Explored Frank Blaha’s mention of gossip tickers and provided historical context on ticker tape technology.
Shared insights on ticker use during major events like the Titanic and Lusitania disasters.
Chicago Examiner’s Coverage of the Eastland Disaster
Detailed how William Randolph Hearst’s Chicago Examiner covered the disaster, with a focus on the vital role of a telephone operator.
Highlighted the paper’s system for gathering and distributing news.
The Role of Telephone Operators
Provided historical context on early 20th-century telephone operators and their pivotal role in communications.
Discussed their challenges, including efforts to organize for better working conditions.
Ongoing Research
Shared efforts to uncover the identity of the nameless telephone operator from the Chicago Examiner.
Described the genealogical methods being used in this investigation.
In this video, we commemorate the 109th anniversary of the Eastland disaster by highlighting the individuals whose stories have been covered in our podcast since November 2023. These untold narratives honor the memory and legacy of those affected by the tragedy. Here is the link to the complete video: https://tinyurl.com/2bps9bvt
