Wes: THIS WEEK ON HISTORY DETECTIVES: WHAT MIGHT THIS BATTERED CAMERA REVEAL ABOUT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO CHANGED THE IMAGE OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT?
Gwendolyn: WHAT CAN THIS CHILD'S PLAYTHING TELL US ABOUT DISEASE, DEATH, AND DARING DURING THE CIVIL WAR?
THIS IS CONTRABAND OF WAR; THEY COULD BE ARRESTED.
Tukufu: AND HOW DID THIS FADED MAP HELP UNLOCK THE RICHES OF THE NEW WORLD?
SO THE BRITISH ARE COMING.
Elvis Costello: ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ I GET SO ANGRY WHEN THE TEARDROPS START ♪ ♪ BUT HE CAN'T BE WOUNDED 'CAUSE HE'S GOT NO HEART ♪ ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST LIKE WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ Wes: OUR FIRST CASE ASKS HOW THE OWNER OF THIS OLD CAMERA MAY HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND CHANGED HOW AMERICANS SEE THE PRESIDENT.
FEBRUARY 14, 1849: JAMES K. POLK POSES STOICALLY WHILE CAMERAMAN MATHEW BRADY CAPTURES HIS PHOTOGRAPH... [ shutter clicks ] INAUGURATING A TRADITION THAT HAS EVOLVED INTO NEARLY CONSTANT PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S EVERY MOVE.
[ shutter clicks ] WITH EACH CLICK OF THE SHUTTER, THE CAMERA HOLDS THE POWER TO SWAY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, SCULPT THE PRESIDENT'S IMAGE, AND, IN SOME CASES, DEFINE HIS HISTORICAL LEGACY.
NOW A TEACHER FROM OGDEN, UTAH, BELIEVES THAT HE HAS A CAMERA THAT MAY HAVE RECORDED HISTORY.
THE SCRIBBLED NOTE I FOUND IN THIS OLD CAMERA MADE ME WONDER IF IT HADN'T BEEN USED TO PHOTOGRAPH A PRESIDENT.
I'VE COME TO INVESTIGATE DANIEL BIGELOW'S PHOTOGRAPHIC FIND.
- DANIEL?
- YES.
WES COWAN.
GOOD TO MEET YOU; COME ON IN.
THANK YOU.
WELL, HERE'S THE CAMERA I TOLD YOU ABOUT.
WOW, LOOK AT THAT.
WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN HEAVILY USED.
WHERE'D YOU GET THE CAMERA?
WELL, MY GRANDMOTHER DECIDED THAT, SINCE I WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER, THAT SHE WOULD START AN ANTIQUE CAMERA COLLECTION FOR ME.
SO WHAT MAKES THIS CAMERA SO SPECIAL?
SHE GOT IT IN AN AUCTION IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND WHEN WE GOT IT FOR CHRISTMAS, WE OPENED IT UP AND FOUND THIS NOTE INSIDE THAT SAID "MARION CARPENTER, WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER."
YEAH, LOOKS LIKE IT'S WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF A RECEIPT.
SO WHO'S MARION CARPENTER?
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF HER.
WE ACTUALLY DID SOME RESEARCH ON HER ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHEN WAS SHE SHOOTING AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
WELL, IT WOULD'VE BEEN BACK DURING TRUMAN'S TIME PERIOD.
OKAY, SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN LATE '40s, THEN.
WELL, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT ME TO FIND OUT FOR YOU?
WELL, WE WANT TO KNOW IF THIS TRULY WAS MARION CARPENTER'S CAMERA.
AND IF SO, DID SHE USE IT WHILE SHOOTING AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
[ ♪♪♪ ] THE FIRST THING I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU IS THAT THIS CASE DOES NOT MATCH THIS CAMERA.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE KIND OF CAMERA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH.
IT'S KNOWN AS A TWIN REFLEX CAMERA.
THERE ARE TWO LENS: ONE FOR FOCUSING, AND ONE FOR ALLOWING YOU TO ADJUST THE F-STOP AND WORK THE SHUTTER.
THE CAMERA'S GERMAN; THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
IT'S GOT A GREAT GERMAN LENS, F. DECKEL, MADE IN MUNICH.
IT'S A COMPUR LENS.
THE CAMERA'S IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.
IT'S MISSING THE NAMEPLATE.
SO OTHER THAN I CAN SAY THAT IT'S A GERMAN CAMERA, I DON'T KNOW WHO POSSIBLY MADE IT.
WHICH ALSO MEANS I CAN'T DATE IT.
THIS, TO ME, IS SORT OF THE MOST INTERESTING THING.
"MARION CARPENTER, WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER."
IT'S JUST WRITTEN IN RED MAGIC MARKER OR FELT-TIP PEN ON THE BACK OF A RECEIPT.
THE RECEIPT'S PRINTING STYLE SEEMS RECENT -- CERTAINLY NOT PERIOD TO THE CAMERA -- BUT THERE'S NO DATE.
I HAVE NO IDEA IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH TO THIS LITTLE NOTE, BUT AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING TO GO ON.
[ ♪♪♪ ] THERE SHE IS!
HERE'S A PICTURE OF MARION CARPENTER HOLDING HER PRESS CAMERA, LOOKING RIGHT AT HARRY TRUMAN.
LET'S SEE WHAT IT SAYS HERE.
ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS TO WORK IN THE WHITE HOUSE, TRAVELED WITH PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN, COVERED HIM DAILY.
SHE LEARNED PHOTOGRAPHY IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AND CAME TO WASHINGTON WHEN SHE WAS JUST 24 AND WORKED FOR A NEWS WIRE SERVICE, INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTO SYNDICATE.
MARION WAS THE ONLY WOMAN AMONG ROUGHLY 200 PHOTOGRAPHERS GRANTED ACCESS TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE MID-1940s.
SHE'S MOSTLY HOLDING A CAMERA CALLED A SPEED GRAPHIC, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
THAT WAS THE PRESS CAMERA OF THE 1940s AND '50s.
IF THIS WAS MARION'S CAMERA, WOULD A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER HAVE EQUIPMENT IN SUCH POOR CONDITION?
MISSY LOEWE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY, THINKS SHE CAN HELP.
IT'S PRETTY BEAT UP, BUT IT'S A TWIN LENS REFLEX CAMERA.
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT DEFINITIVE INFORMATION ON WHO MIGHT'VE MADE IT.
MM-HMM.
IT IS A LITTLE BEAT UP, BUT I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH IT.
OKAY.
THIS WOULD'VE BEEN MADE IN GERMANY FOR THE GERMAN MARKET.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE LABEL HAS COME OFF, SO THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A PROBLEM, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW OTHERS THAT I HAVE AND MAYBE TRY AND NARROW IT DOWN A BIT FOR YOU.
OKAY, GREAT.
HERE IS A REFLECTA, AND HERE'S A WIRGIN.
WOW, THEY REALLY DO LOOK VERY SIMILAR, DON'T THEY?
YES.
THIS COMPANY, REFLECTA, MADE A LOT OF THESE CAMERAS BUT WOULD THEN HAVE A DIFFERENT NAMEPLATE PUT ON THEM.
MISSY THINKS OURS IS PROBABLY A WIRGIN.
WE HAVE THE DIMPLING ON THE TOP THAT'S VERY, VERY SIMILAR, AND IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BACKS HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BACKS ARE VERY SIMILAR.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE OUR WIRGIN.
WHEN WERE THESE CAMERAS MADE?
IN THE '30s, PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN '34 AND '38, '39.
SHE SHOWS ME HOW ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF TWIN REFLEX CAMERAS WAS EASE OF USE: SIMPLE TO LOAD...
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
SHOOT... AND THEN WE ADVANCE IT.
AND ADVANCE.
IF I WERE A PROFESSIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE 1940s, WHAT KIND OF CAMERA WOULD I HAVE USED?
IT WOULD BE A GRAFLEX SPEED GRAPHIC.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
WE HAVE A BABY VERSION, CALLED A PACEMAKER.
YOU KNOW, THE SPEED GRAPHIC HAD THE REPUTATION FOR BEING THE WORKHORSE OF THE PRESS INDUSTRY, RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY.
ALSO, THESE WERE INCREDIBLY DEPENDABLE CAMERAS.
ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES TO USING THIS CAMERA?
WELL, YOU CAN SEE IT'S LARGE AND A BIT CUMBERSOME AND HEAVY.
IT WOULD BE VERY SLOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY AS FAST AS HOW FAST YOU CAN PUT THIS IN, TAKE YOUR SHOT, FLIP IT OVER, DO IT AGAIN; YOU WOULD HAVE TO PRACTICE AND PRACTICE TO GET VERY QUICK AT THIS.
OKAY, FINAL QUESTION: LET'S PUT MY LITTLE TWO-AND-A-QUARTER BY THE GRAFLEX; IS THIS THE KIND OF CAMERA THAT A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER MIGHT'VE USED?
PROBABLY NOT, BUT POSSIBLY.
THIS WOULD BE A HIGH-END, VERY SERIOUS HOBBYIST.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD JUST RUN OUT AND BUY.
THIS IS NOT A CHEAP CAMERA.
MELINA MARA, A WASHINGTON POST PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER, HAS STUDIED MARION'S CAREER.
SHE ASKED ME TO MEET HER WHERE SHE AND MARION HAVE BOTH WORKED: THE WHITE HOUSE.
LET'S GO TO THE BRADY PRESS ROOM; COME ON.
WOULD YOU LIKE A PICTURE, BY THE WAY, IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE?
OH, YOU BET!
OKAY, SO YOU'RE RIGHT IN FRONT, ONE, TWO, THREE... - OOH, FANTASTIC.
- THANK YOU.
- NICE, OKAY.
- LET'S GO.
SO THIS IS THE BRADY PRESS ROOM.
SO THIS IS A REALLY SMALL ROOM.
I WOULD GUESS DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE, IT MUST BE TOTALLY PACKED.
IT'S COMPLETELY PACKED.
THE SEATS ARE ALL FILLED, THE SIDES ARE PACKED WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS AND SCRIBBLERS.
SOMETIMES PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE EVEN STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER WHERE SOMEONE WILL HAVE A LADDER.
IS THIS THE PLACE WHERE TRUMAN WOULD'VE HELD PRESS CONFERENCES?
NO, THERE ACTUALLY WAS NO PRESS ROOM, AND SO HE WOULD HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES IN OFFICES OR IN HIS OFFICE, AND HE WOULD HAVE MORE OF A GAGGLE SITUATION WHERE MEDIA WOULD BE AROUND HIM, WHERE THIS IS MUCH MORE CONTROLLED.
MELINA EXPLAINS HOW 24/7 ACCESS IN SOME WAYS CAN BE TRACED BACK TO TRUMAN AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESS.
PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS ALLOWED VERY LITTLE ENTREE INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.
TRUMAN'S PREDECESSOR, FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, WAS PARTICULARLY GUARDED, GETTING ASSURANCES FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS NOT TO PHOTOGRAPH HIM IN HIS WHEELCHAIR.
IN CONTRAST, TRUMAN REALLY OPENED UP THE DOORS TO PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS, INCLUDING MARION CARPENTER.
I ASK MELINA IF OUR CAMERA COULD'VE BEEN USED BY MARION TO SHOOT THE PRESIDENT.
SHE SUGGESTS WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK BACK AT HER OFFICE IN THE NEWSROOM.
IS THIS THE KIND OF CAMERA THAT SHE WOULD'VE USED AS A PHOTOGRAPHER COVERING THE WHITE HOUSE?
HER PRIMARY CAMERA WOULD'VE BEEN A SPEED GRAPHIC, RIGHT?
A SPEED GRAPHIC.
MELINA BELIEVES MARION'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE PHOTOGRAPHS OF TRUMAN WERE TAKEN ON THE LARGER CAMERA.
[ shutter clicking ] ON THE HEELS OF WORLD WAR II, THE PUBLIC WAS HUNGRY FOR PEACEFUL IMAGES, AN AFFIRMATION THAT THINGS WERE LOOKING UP AGAIN.
WHEN HE'S WALKING IN THE GARDEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE, IT'S A QUIETER MOMENT.
MARION HAD THE TOUCH.
AND THEN HIM WITH LAUREN BACALL IS JUST REALLY FUN, AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS JOVIAL MOMENT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE TRUE MOMENTS I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER COMING FROM TRUMAN'S ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT'S HER -- I MEAN, SHE TOOK THAT.
WHEN TRUMAN WAS BOWLING, I JUST LOVE THAT BOWLING ALLEY.
I MEAN, IT'S STILL THERE, BUT TO SEE IT IN BLACK AND WHITE WITH TRUMAN BOWLING, I JUST LOVE THAT PICTURE.
SO SHE REALLY TOOK A NUMBER OF ICONIC IMAGES OF TRUMAN.
SHE WAS THE LONE WOMAN AMONG ALL THESE MEN.
I MEAN, I AM WELCOME; I'M PART OF THE PRESS CORPS.
SHE HAD TO FORCE HER WAY INTO THE PRESS CORPS.
THERE'S A STORY WHERE, IN PRINT, SOMEONE ACCUSED HER OF ACTUALLY USING HER SEXUALITY TO GET A PICTURE, TO GET ACCESS, AND SHE DIDN'T TAKE THIS VERY WELL, BECAUSE SHE CONSIDERED HERSELF AN ETHICAL JOURNALIST.
AND THIS WRITER, SHE HAD A WHOLE BOWL OF NAVY BEAN SOUP DUMPED ON HIM.
I MEAN, SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY A REALLY TOUGH COOKIE.
WHAT'S YOUR BEST BET ABOUT THIS CAMERA?
DO YOU THINK SHE REALLY USED THIS IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
SHE HAD HER 4x5, WHICH IS HER MAIN CAMERA.
I THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF CAMERA, BECAUSE IT'S SMALL AND MAYBE A LITTLE QUIETER, THAT SHE WOULD PROBABLY USE AS A SECONDARY CAMERA.
MELINA SAYS SOME PHOTOS DO SHOW MARION USING A SMALLER CAMERA, BUT SHE'S NEVER SEEN ANY IMAGES OF HER WITH OUR MODEL.
SHE SUSPECTS MARION WOULD'VE HAD THE NEWEST EQUIPMENT AND THAT OUR CAMERA PREDATES HER DAYS IN WASHINGTON.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF YOU GO BACK TO HER ROOTS, MAYBE IF YOU GO BACK TO MINNESOTA, ST. PAUL, MAYBE SHE TOOK CLASSES, MAYBE SHE WORKED FOR THE SMALL NEWSPAPER THERE.
[ ♪♪♪ ] I'VE CONTACTED THE ST. PAUL CITY CAMERA CLUB IN MINNESOTA, WHERE MARION WAS A MEMBER.
GENE SCHWOPE IS THEIR HISTORIAN.
HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU.
IT'S THE NOTE THAT'S INSIDE THIS CAMERA.
"MARION CARPENTER, WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER."
SHE'S A LEGENDARY MEMBER OF ST. PAUL CAMERA CLUB.
JUST 22, MARION HAD BEEN WORKING AS A NURSE WHEN SHE AND HER MOTHER DECIDED TO LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY.
MARION JOINED IN 1942 AND LEARNED ALL ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY FROM ST. PAUL CAMERA CLUB, AS A MATTER OF FACT.
SO WHEN MARION WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THIS MUST'VE BEEN AN IMMENSE SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE CAMERA CLUB.
OH, SHE WAS OUR SUPERSTAR.
IN FACT, THE FIRST ISSUE OF OUR NEWSLETTER, WHICH CAME OUT IN 1946, WE INVITED HER TO DO A FRONT-PAGE STORY.
OH, LOOK AT THAT, "MARION CARPENTER TELLS WHITE HOUSE EXPERIENCES."
IT SAYS, "THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS ROOM "POSTS THE PRESIDENT'S CALLING LIST EVERY MORNING.
"MY MOTORCYCLE MESSENGER WATCHES THIS PRESS AGENDA "AND IS WAITING AT THE NORTHWEST GATE "FOR EACH SET OF NEGATIVES TO BE RUSHED BACK TO THE OFFICE, DEVELOPED, PRINTED, AND WIRED FROM COAST TO COAST."
WOW, THAT SAYS IT ALL, DOESN'T IT?
IT CERTAINLY DOES.
NOW, LET'S GET BACK TO THIS CAMERA.
WHERE WOULD THIS HAVE FIT IN IN HER CAREER, DO YOU THINK?
I WOULD SAY SHE PROBABLY LEARNED AND PERFECTED SOME OF HER PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES WITH THAT CAMERA OR A CAMERA LIKE THAT.
WOW.
THIS IS A PICTURE FROM AN OUTING THAT THE ST. PAUL CAMERA CLUB WENT ON.
SHE'S SITTING ON A WALL HERE, AND SHE'S GOT A SMALL CAMERA, PROBABLY A TWIN LENS REFLEX ROLL-FILM CAMERA.
OH, YEAH, THERE IT IS; IT'S A BOX CAMERA OF SOME SORT.
YES, AND WE'VE DONE SOME ENHANCEMENT ON THAT PICTURE, AND WE'VE TAKEN THAT AND LIGHTENED IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT COULD BE YOUR CAMERA IN A LEATHER CASE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT OF A TWO-AND-A-QUARTER CAMERA, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH DETAIL.
WE REALLY CAN'T MAKE THAT CONNECTION.
BUT GENE BELIEVES HE HAS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HELP.
SHE DIED IN 2002.
WHEN SHE DIED, ST. PAUL CAMERA CLUB WAS INVITED INTO HER HOME TO LOOK.
SHE HAD NEVER SOLD A CAMERA.
EVERY CAMERA SHE EVER HAD, SHE HAD IT WHEN SHE DIED.
DO YOU REMEMBER SEEING THIS CAMERA WHEN YOU WENT INTO THE ESTATE?
I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THAT PARTICULAR CAMERA, BUT I THINK I KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD.
I SET UP A VIDEO CALL TO JERRY JERRY DUCOMMUN, THE PERSON WHO RAN THE ESTATE SALE FOR MARION CARPENTER.
- REALLY?
- YES.
AND I THINK HE'S GOT SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR US.
HI, JERRY, HOW YOU DOING?
Hi.
HEY, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO HELP ME OUT.
SO YOU HANDLED MARION CARPENTER'S ESTATE, I UNDERSTAND.
Yes, I did.
WELL, I WANT TO SHOW YOU A CAMERA AND ASK YOU IF YOU RECOGNIZE THIS AS COMING FROM MARION'S ESTATE.
It's possible that was one of her cameras.
She had those type of cameras.
OKAY, JERRY, I WANT TO SHOW YOU A NOTE THAT WAS INSIDE THE CAMERA AND SEE IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE NOTE.
Let me put on my glasses here.
WHAT JERRY SAYS NEXT PULLS MY INVESTIGATION INTO FOCUS.
THIS WAS AN AMAZING STORY.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
I JUST SEE OUR ONE FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER HERE IN THE CORNER.
THAT'S MARION CARPENTER.
OH, WOW.
THE QUESTION THAT YOU HAD WAS DID YOUR CAMERA REALLY BELONG TO MARION CARPENTER?
I WAS ABLE TO TRACK DOWN THE PERSON WHO HANDLED MARION'S ESTATE SALE, AND WHAT I FOUND OUT NEXT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTED IN.
WHOSE HANDWRITING IS THIS?
Um, it's my handwriting.
REALLY?
Definitely my handwriting.
Probably someone asked me who she was and I wrote a note.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE CAMERA THAT I SHOWED YOU CAME FROM MARION CARPENTER'S ESTATE.
Yes, I would say it did.
IS IT THE CAMERA THAT A PHOTOGRAPHER LIKE MARION CARPENTER WOULD'VE USED IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
THE ANSWER IS NO.
I SEE.
YOUR CAMERA DID BELONG TO MARION CARPENTER.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO HAVE A CAMERA LIKE THIS NOW AND TO KNOW THAT IT BELONGED TO HER.
BECAUSE OF YOUR CAMERA AND THE NOTE THAT YOU FOUND INSIDE OF IT, WE WERE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE WOMAN AND THE STORY BEHIND HER CAREER.
TO SEE MORE OF MARION CARPENTER'S PHOTOGRAPHS, VISIT HISTORY DETECTIVES ON THE WEB AT pbs.org.
SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE CAMERA, PRESS CORPS PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE JOCKEYED TO CAPTURE THE PERFECT PRESIDENTIAL MOMENT.
BUT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS, UNPARALLELED ACCESS TO THE OVAL OFFICE HAS BEEN GIVEN ONLY TO A SELECT GROUP: THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERS.
PREVIOUSLY, THIS POSITION WAS HELD BY MEMBERS OF THE NAVY OR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHO WORKED IN RELATIVE ANONYMITY.
BUT ALL THAT CHANGED WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY.
AFTER JFK TOOK OFFICE, U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN CECIL STOUGHTON BECAME A PUBLIC FIGURE BY PHOTOGRAPHING THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE LIFE, DOCUMENTING THEIR JOYS AND TRAGEDIES.
ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963, AFTER KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION, IT WAS STOUGHTON WHO SHOT THE FAMOUS IMAGE OF LYNDON JOHNSON TAKING THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH ON AIR FORCE ONE.
SINCE KENNEDY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER HAS ONLY GROWN CLOSER.
JOHNSON GAVE UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO YOICHI OKAMOTO.
UNFETTERED IMAGES CAPTURED JOHNSON ON THE JOB, FACING A COUNTRY IN CRISIS, AND AT HOME, AS A HUSBAND AND FATHER.
BY THE END OF JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION, THERE WERE AN ESTIMATED 500,000 PHOTOGRAPHS ON FILE.
TODAY, OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER PETE SOUZA AND HIS STAFF PRODUCE OVER 20,000 PHOTOS A WEEK.
HE SAYS THE JOB IS, QUOTE, "ALL ABOUT ACCESS AND TRUST, "AND IF YOU HAVE BOTH OF THOSE, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE INTERESTING HISTORIC PICTURES."
Gwendolyn: OUR NEXT CASE INVESTIGATES THIS DOLL'S PLACE IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
[ cannons firing ] OVER 600,000 SOLDIERS DIED DURING THE CIVIL WAR, TWO-THIRDS OF THEM FROM DISEASE.
IN THE SOUTH, THE SITUATION WAS ESPECIALLY DIRE.
RAMPANT INFECTION AND DISEASES SUCH AS TYPHOID, DYSENTERY, AND MALARIA DECIMATED THE TROOPS.
ON APRIL 19, 1861, PRESIDENT LINCOLN ISSUED A PROCLAMATION FOR THE UNION NAVY TO BLOCKADE SOUTHERN PORTS.
WITH THAT BLOCKADE IN PLACE, HOW DID THE CONFEDERATES GET MEDICINE TO RELIEVE THEIR SICK AND WOUNDED?
NOW CATHERINE WRIGHT, CURATOR AT THE MUSEUM OF THE CONFEDERACY IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, HAS A DOLL THAT MAY HAVE ONCE HELD A VALUABLE SECRET.
HI, GWEN.
HI, CATHERINE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
CATHERINE HAS ASKED ME TO MEET HER AND "NINA" IN THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS ROOM.
CATHERINE, TELL ME THE STORY ABOUT THIS DOLL.
THIS DOLL WAS DONATED TO US IN 1923 BY THE CHILDREN OF A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.
THEY TOLD US THAT SHE WAS PURPORTEDLY USED TO SMUGGLE QUININE AND MORPHINE THROUGH THE FEDERAL BLOCKADE TO CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
NOW, WHERE DID YOU GET THIS STORY?
WE CAN SEE THE FAMILY'S ACTUAL QUOTE, WHICH THEY GAVE US AT THE TIME OF DONATION.
"THIS DOLL'S HEAD, WHICH IS TIED ON WITH TAPES, "WAS FILLED WITH QUININE AND MORPHINE, "WHICH IN THAT WAY WAS SMUGGLED THROUGH TO THE SICK SOLDIERS.
"SHE WAS CARRIED IN THE ARMS "OF GENERAL ANDERSON'S SMALL NIECE DURING THE WAR.
NINA WAS A MUCH-LOVED MEMBER OF THE ANDERSON FAMILY."
SO WHO WAS GENERAL ANDERSON?
GENERAL JAMES PATTON ANDERSON HAILED FROM THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE CONFEDERACY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE IDENTITY OF THE NIECE, WHO'S THE ONE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE CARRIED THE DOLL DURING THE WAR.
SO HAVE YOU DONE SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN HERE AT THE MUSEUM?
ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE HAD HER X-RAYED, AND YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE THE HOLLOW HEAD.
SHE WAS HOLLOW IN THE HEAD, SO THAT DOES GIVE US SPACE WHERE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE.
WELL, CATHERINE, I THINK I KNOW, BUT TELL ME PRECISELY WHAT YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO FIND OUT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NINA WAS ACTUALLY USED TO SMUGGLE QUININE OR MORPHINE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
SO THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME EVIDENCE OF AGING.
THE HEAD AND THIS CHEST, THEY'RE SOMETIMES PORCELAIN, BUT THIS, I THINK, IT'S LIGHTER WEIGHT, IT'S PROBABLY SOME PAPIER-MACHE OR SOME COMPOSITE THAT GOES DOWN JUST TO THE CHEST LEVEL.
THE DOLL IS 28 INCHES FROM HEAD TO TOE.
IT SEEMS VERY LARGE FOR A SMALL NIECE TO HAVE CARRIED.
THE NOTE MENTIONS NINA'S HEAD WAS TIED TO THE BODY WITH TAPES, AND THE X-RAY SHOWS HOLES FOR THOSE TIES.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE ORIGINAL DOLL HAD THE HEAD PART TAKEN OFF, SOMETHING PUT INSIDE, AND THEN REATTACHED WITH THESE TAPES.
IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL EXAGGERATE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
HOW MUCH MEDICINE COULD'VE BEEN STOWED AWAY IN HER HEAD, AND HOW COULD THAT HAVE BEEN DONE?
[ ♪♪♪ ] SMUGGLING IS NOT A PART OF CIVIL WAR HISTORY I KNOW A LOT ABOUT.
WERE DOLLS USED THIS WAY?
I DON'T FIND ANYTHING ONLINE.
NO, THERE'S NOTHING.
NOTHING.
LET'S SEE IF THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS STORY HOLD UP.
MAJOR GENERAL PATTON ANDERSON: HE WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, HE WAS A LEGISLATOR, AND HE WORKED FOR A DOCTOR.
INTERESTING.
HE LIVED WITH HIS WIFE, ETTA, THEIR CHILDREN, AND HIS AUNT AT A PLANTATION NAMED CASA BIANCA, NEAR MONTICELLO IN NORTH FLORIDA.
AND A STRONG SUPPORTER OF SECESSION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
ANDERSON FOUGHT AT SHILOH, CHICKAMAUGA, AND MISSIONARY RIDGE.
HE WAS WOUNDED AT JONESBOROUGH IN 1864.
"ANDERSON REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE CONFEDERACY "EVEN AFTER THE END OF THE WAR.
"HE HAD SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR THE CAUSE.
"REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE CONFLICT, HE WOULD NOT TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE, OPENLY PROCLAIMING, 'ANY FATE BUT SUBMISSION.'"
THE GENERAL'S LETTERS ARE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.
AH, HERE'S ALL HIS CORRESPONDENCE, THE LETTERS BACK AND FORTH WITH HIS WIFE, ETTA.
[ ♪♪♪ ] TWO THINGS STRIKE ME IN READING THROUGH THIS CORRESPONDENCE: FIRST, ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THEIR LETTERS MENTIONS ILLNESS OR DISEASE.
ANDERSON IS SEVERAL TIMES MENTIONING THE PAIN OF THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
THE OTHER THING THAT STRIKES ME IS THAT ETTA ANDERSON TRAVELS WITH HER CHILDREN THROUGHOUT 1862 AND 1863 TO VISIT HER HUSBAND ON THE FRONT IN TENNESSEE.
BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE A CONNECTION TO THIS NIECE.
THIS MAY BE IT!
AT THE END OF A LETTER TO ETTA, HE SAYS, "LOVE TO MOLL AND HER GALS."
AND THERE'S A FOOTNOTE SAYING MOLLIE WAS ETTA'S YOUNGER SISTER.
AND THEY ALSO LIVED IN MONTICELLO, THE SAME TOWN.
AND HER GALS WERE HER DAUGHTERS, ANDERSON'S NIECES, NETTA AND ADAIR -- THEY'RE TOO YOUNG -- AND LIZZIE, BORN IN 1859.
SHE COULD BE NINA'S OWNER.
BUT I STILL HAVE TO WONDER, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR A MOTHER TO PUT HER YOUNG DAUGHTER IN THIS KIND OF DANGER?
IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO THE ANDERSON FAMILY STORY THAT NINA WAS USED TO RUN THE BLOCKADE?
U.S. COAST GUARD HISTORIAN ROBERT M. BROWNING HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ON THE CIVIL WAR BLOCKADE.
HI, GWEN, I'M BOB.
HI, NICE TO MEET YOU, BOB.
WELL, BOB, HERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DOLL THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT WAS POSSIBLY USED FOR SMUGGLING MEDICINES TO SOUTHERN TROOPS DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
NOW, HOW WOULD MEDICINES HAVE COME INTO THE CONFEDERATE STATES?
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BLOCKADE.
THE SOUTH WAS AN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, AND THEY HAD VERY LITTLE MANUFACTURING.
AND SO TO KEEP OUT ALL SUPPLIES AND ISOLATE THE SOUTH, PRESIDENT LINCOLN DECLARED HIS INTENTION TO BLOCKADE THE CONFEDERACY ON 19 APRIL, 1861.
AND THE BLOCKADE WENT FROM THE CAPES OF VIRGINIA ALL THE WAY TO BROWNSVILLE AT THE RIO GRANDE RIVER.
ALONG THIS VAST EXPANSE OF COAST, THERE WERE 189 INLETS THAT THE UNION NAVY HAD TO WATCH.
WHO WAS SENDING THE SHIPS THAT WERE BEING BLOCKADED?
WELL, YOU HAVE THREE MAIN GROUPS.
YOU HAVE THE BRITISH AND THE FOREIGN INVESTORS, YOU HAVE ACTUAL SOUTHERNERS THAT ARE RUNNING THE BLOCKADE, AND ALSO YOU HAVE STATES IN THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT ALSO OWNING SHIPS AND RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.
WELL, WHAT'S THE RANGE OF GOODS THAT THE UNION WAS TRYING TO PREVENT COMING INTO THE SOUTH?
WELL, EVERYTHING WAS BEING LIMITED FROM THE SOUTH, EVERYTHING FROM STRAIGHT PINS TO CANNON AND GUNPOWDER AND SALTPETER TO MEDICINES.
NOW, DOES IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU THAT THIS DOLL WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A BLOCKADE RUN?
NO, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY YOU WOULD USE A DOLL IN THAT SENSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING IN CANNON AND OTHER LARGE THINGS, SO THE DOLL WOULDN'T REALLY BE NECESSARY TO BRING IN THROUGH THE BLOCKADE.
ALTHOUGH BOB HAS NEVER HEARD OF A DOLL BEING USED TO SMUGGLE DRUGS, HE THINKS THAT A WOMAN AND CHILD COULD HAVE MOVED SMALL AMOUNTS OF CONTRABAND ON LAND.
YEAH, I THINK WOMEN AND CHILDREN WOULD HAVE VERY MUCH EASE GOING THROUGH UNION LINES, WHEREAS A MAN WOULD NOT.
GEORGE WUNDERLICH IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE... - GWEN WRIGHT, NICE TO MEET YOU.
- VERY PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
AND HAS ENCOUNTERED MANY STORIES OF CIVIL WAR DRUG SMUGGLING.
THE FAMILY STORY IS THAT THE HEAD OF THE DOLL WAS HOLLOW AND IT WAS USED TO SMUGGLE MORPHINE AND/OR QUININE TO CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
NOW, IF THAT IS TRUE, WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE ENTAILED?
THAT'S A PRETTY RISKY OPERATION, EVEN WITH A CHILD, BECAUSE THIS IS CONTRABAND OF WAR.
AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT CONFISCATED IF THEY'RE CAUGHT.
AT THE WORST, THEY COULD BE ARRESTED.
GEORGE EXPLAINS HOW CONFEDERATE WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO CROSS UNION LINES TO VISIT LOVED ONES OR ATTEND TO BUSINESS, BUT THEY WERE FIRST REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A PASS FROM A UNION PROVOST MARSHAL.
WELL, CHART AN ITINERARY FOR ME.
I KNOW THAT ANDERSON AND HIS WIFE AND THIS LITTLE GIRL LIVED IN MONTICELLO, FLORIDA.
AND I KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE WHERE HIS WIFE, TAKING SOME OF THE CHILDREN, VISITED HIM IN TENNESSEE.
DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME PERIOD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
1863.
GEORGE SAYS ONE SCENARIO COULD ENTAIL PROCURING THE MEDICINES IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, WHICH THE UNION CONTROLLED AFTER 1862, AND WHICH ALSO HAD AN ACTIVE BLACK MARKET FOR DRUGS.
PASSING THROUGH UNION CHECKPOINTS TO LEAVE THE CITY, NINA'S HOLLOW HEAD COULD CERTAINLY HAVE COME IN HANDY.
GETTING THE MEDICINES TO THE SICK SOLDIERS WOULD'VE BEEN MORE DIFFICULT.
IN 1863, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN AN IMMENSELY COMPLICATED TRIP.
UNION ARMIES ARE TRYING TO TAKE CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.
THE LINES ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING.
WE CONSTANTLY HAVE ARMIES GOING AFTER THAT RAILROAD OR THAT CROSSROAD TO PROTECT THEIR LINES OF COMMUNICATION, AND SO YOU CAN PASS THROUGH AN AREA, AND SUDDENLY ON YOUR WAY HOME A FEW DAYS LATER, FIND THERE'S AN ARMY IN YOUR WAY.
SO IF THIS HAPPENED, THE WOMAN WAS TAKING A GREAT RISK.
DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?
THE WOMEN OF THE CIVIL WAR ON BOTH SIDES WERE VERY PATRIOTIC.
MEDICINE WAS BADLY NEEDED, AND IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME A BIT.
DISEASE AND INFECTION KILLED MORE MEN DURING THE WAR THAN BATTLE WOUNDS.
GEORGE EXPLAINS HOW DRUG SMUGGLING WAS ONE SOLUTION, BUT INGENUITY WAS ANOTHER.
THEY'RE ALSO DEVELOPING THEIR OWN SOURCES OF, FOR INSTANCE, POPPIES.
THEY'RE GROWING THEIR OWN OPIUM AND TRYING TO MANUFACTURE THE FINISHED PRODUCTS THEMSELVES.
MY GUESS IS THAT THE HOLLOW PART OF THE HEAD COULD'VE HELD THREE OUNCES IN POWDER OF A MEDICINE.
WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE MEANT?
LET'S SAY QUININE: YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT GETTING ENOUGH DOSES OUT OF THAT THREE OUNCES TO KEEP ABOUT A DOZEN MEN FREE OF MALARIA OR TREAT THEM FOR MALARIA THEY HAVE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S NOT MUCH.
IT'S NOT MUCH UNLESS YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE MEN.
WHAT ABOUT MORPHINE, WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE DONE?
MULTIPLY THAT TIMES 10.
NOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT 141, WE'RE TALKING OVER 1,000 DOSES.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE BOON TO THESE MEN IN THE HOSPITALS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF AMPUTATIONS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GANGRENE AND INFECTIONS.
WITHOUT THIS MORPHINE, THESE MEN ARE REALLY SUFFERING INCREDIBLY.
GEORGE SAYS THE AMPUTATIONS WERE PERFORMED ON BETWEEN 20- AND 25,000 CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
SO THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY QUITE STAGGERING.
GIVEN THOSE FIGURES, DO YOU THINK THIS STORY IS TRUE?
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN'S DOLLS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM REFERENCES THAT WE'VE READ, WE KNOW THAT WOMEN, FOR INSTANCE, WERE SMUGGLING THINGS IN THE CRINOLINE, THE CAGE CRINOLINES.
WHEN IT COMES TO SMUGGLING, THEY WERE INCREDIBLY INGENIOUS.
BUT GEORGE HAS NEVER READ ABOUT THAT INGENUITY BEING APPLIED TO DOLLS.
ROBERT STEINER IS THE PRINCIPAL FORENSIC SCIENTIST AT THE STATE CRIME LAB IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
ROBERT HAS AGREED TO TEST NINA FOR TRACES OF DRUG RESIDUE.
I'M CURIOUS, ROBERT, 2011 IS 150 YEARS AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR.
WOULD THESE DRUGS STILL BE SOMETHING YOU CAN DETECT THAT LONG AFTERWARDS?
YES, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THESE TWO DRUGS IS THAT THE MOLECULES ACTUALLY WON'T BREAK DOWN.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THREE SAMPLES.
FIRST, ROBERT'S INTERN, CASEY MIMS, SWABS THE INSIDE OF NINA'S HEAD FOR DRUG RESIDUE.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE SAMPLES OVER TO THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SECTION AND RUN THEM ON THE ACCUTOF DART AND SEE IF WE FIND ANYTHING.
THE DART, OR DIRECT ANALYSIS IN REAL TIME INSTRUMENT, SENDS AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE INTO THE SAMPLE.
IN RESPONSE, ANY DRUGS THAT ARE PRESENT WILL CREATE THEIR OWN UNIQUE IONS THAT CAN THEN BE DETECTED.
THE RESULTS TAKE ONLY A FEW MINUTES.
IT APPEARS IT'S NEGATIVE.
WE DID NOT DETECT MORPHINE OR QUININE ON THE SWABS.
YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST QUESTION STILL COMES DOWN TO PACKAGING, AND IF IT WAS PACKAGED, BECAUSE OF ITS PRECIOUS NATURE, TO PREVENT IT FROM LEAKING OUT -- THEN IT'S NOT DEFINITIVE.
IT'S NOT DEFINITIVE IN ANY MANNER, NO.
WE CAN ONLY SAY THAT WE DIDN'T DETECT IT.
THE NINA STORY APPEARS PLAUSIBLE, BUT NEITHER CIVIL WAR HISTORIANS NOR SCIENTISTS HAVE ANY PROOF OF DOLLS BEING USED AS DRUG SMUGGLERS.
JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR SHARON SCOTT STUDIES ALL KINDS OF TOYS, INCLUDING DOLLS AND THEIR PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
YOU'VE DONE WORK ON THE HISTORY OF TOYS; WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS DOLL?
THIS IS A GREINER DOLL FROM PHILADELPHIA.
THIS WOULD'VE BEEN SOMEWHAT COMMON DURING THE CIVIL WAR, ALTHOUGH ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COULD AFFORD THEM.
SHE SAYS THIS DOLL WAS EXPENSIVE, AND THAT MIGHT BE A CLUE.
I WOULD SAY THE ELITE WERE PROBABLY MORE INVOLVED IN CARRYING CONTRABAND THAN THE OTHER CLASSES, BECAUSE, ONE, THE MEDICINE WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE.
TWO, THE TRAVEL TO GET THE MEDICINE WAS ALSO EXPENSIVE.
BUT, SHARON EXPLAINS, WOMEN LEARNED VERY QUICKLY NOT TO LEAVE A PAPER TRAIL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY AFTER A WELL-PUBLICIZED ARREST OF ONE OF THEIR OWN.
ROSE O'NEAL GREENHOW WAS FOUND TO BE A CONFEDERATE SPY LIVING HERE IN D.C.
IN 1861, GREENHOW LEARNED ABOUT UNION TROOP LOCATIONS JUST BEFORE THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
ALLEGEDLY, SHE CARRIED THIS CRUCIAL INTELLIGENCE WHEN SHE VISITED CONFEDERATE GENERAL P.G.T.
BEAUREGARD, HIDING THE INFORMATION IN THE RINGLET CURLS OF HER LITTLE GIRL'S HAIR.
BUT UNION OFFICIALS SUSPECTED HER AS A SPY, AND GREENHOW WAS JAILED FOR NEARLY A YEAR.
WHEN THEY ARRESTED GREENHOW, THEY ALSO SEARCHED HER HOUSE, AND AT THAT TIME THEY FOUND ALL HER CORRESPONDENCE.
IT GAVE A LESSON TO THE OTHER FEMALE SMUGGLERS DURING THE WAR NOT TO KEEP A PAPER TRAIL.
BUT SHARON DID SOME DIGGING ON OUR BEHALF AND MADE A DISCOVERY.
HERE'S A BOOK WRITTEN IN 1889.
IT'S CALLED STRANGE TRUE STORIES OF LOUISIANA.
IT'S BY GEORGE W. CABLE, SORT OF HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
HERE ON PAGE 313, HE SAYS...
I KNOW THAT CATHERINE WILL BE EAGER TO HEAR WHAT SHARON TELLS ME NEXT.
WELL, CATHERINE, THIS STORY HELPS US THINK ABOUT DIMENSIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.
I TELL CATHERINE HOW I WAS ABLE TO NARROW DOWN WHICH CHILD MIGHT'VE CARRIED NINA.
WE KNOW THAT SHE BELONGED TO ONE OF THE NIECES OF GENERAL ANDERSON.
I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED LIZZIE SCOTT, THE DAUGHTER OF ROBERT AND MOLLIE SCOTT.
MOLLIE WAS THE SISTER OF ETTA ANDERSON, HIS WIFE.
THEY LIVED IN THE SAME SMALL TOWN IN FLORIDA.
I EXPLAINED HOW CIVIL WAR ACCOUNTS OF SMUGGLING ARE SCARCE AND RECORDS OF WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT EVEN MORE SO.
BUT SHARON SCOTT HAD UNCOVERED A BOOK FROM 1889, JUST 25 YEARS AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR.
HE SAYS, "ON MY WAY HITHER, "A LADY TOLD ME OF THE TRICKS RESORTED TO "TO GET THINGS OUT OF NEW ORLEANS, INCLUDING THIS: "A VERY LARGE DOLL WAS EMPTIED OF ITS BRAN, "FILLED WITH QUININE, AND ELABORATELY DRESSED.
"WHEN THE OWNER'S TRUNK WAS OPENED, "SHE DECLARED WITH TEARS "THAT THE DOLL WAS FOR A POOR, CRIPPLED GIRL, AND IT WAS PASSED."
HA, SO THAT COULD, INDEED, BE DESCRIBING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS DOLL.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE MANY, MANY OTHER WOMEN DOING THIS THAT WE JUST HAVE NO RECORD OF.
WELL, CATHERINE, UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT RESOLVE YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS DOLL, NINA, IN FACT CARRIED CONTRABAND MEDICINES BEHIND THE LINES DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT WITH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO CONTRADICT THAT.
IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT IT HAPPENED.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK ANYTHING THAT CAN GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN HISTORY IS TERRIFIC, BUT ALSO JUST -- JUST TO SORT OF LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT HISTORY THAT WE'LL NEVER QUITE KNOW THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT, BUT IT DOESN'T -- IT CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T STOP US FROM ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.
I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOUR STORY REVEALED TO ME.
APPRECIATE IT, GWEN.
THE TURMOIL OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR DEEPLY AFFECTED CHILDREN, EVEN ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
RECORDS ARE INCOMPLETE, BUT IT'S ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN 10-20% OF BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE RECRUITS WERE IN THEIR EARLY TEENS, AND SOME WERE AS YOUNG AS 10.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN TOOK MEASURES TO PREVENT CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OLD FROM ENLISTING, BUT AS THE WAR DECIMATED UNION AND CONFEDERATE TROOPS, MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS WERE NOT ALWAYS ENFORCED.
BOY SOLDIERS USUALLY STARTED OUT SERVING AS SCOUTS, MESSAGE CARRIERS, NURSES, OR DRUMMER BOYS.
THEY OFTEN MOVED QUICKLY FROM THESE SUPPORT ROLES TO FRONTLINE COMBAT.
THE YOUNGEST SOLDIER TO EVER RECEIVE THE MEDAL OF HONOR WAS WILLIE JOHNSTON, WHO EARNED IT FOR DUTIES HE PERFORMED WHEN HE WAS, AT MOST, 12 YEARS OLD.
REPORTEDLY, IT WAS PRESIDENT LINCOLN WHO MADE THE PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION, AND JOHNSTON RECEIVED HIS MEDAL IN 1863 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. JOHN LINCOLN CLEM ENLISTED WITH THE UNION AT THE AGE OF 10.
NICKNAMED AFTER THE BATTLE IN WHICH HE SHOWED GREAT BRAVERY, THE DRUMMER BOY OF CHICKAMAUGA BECAME THE YOUNGEST NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER IN ARMY HISTORY.
FOR CLEM, IT WAS ONLY THE START OF A LONG CAREER.
BY THE TIME HE RETIRED IN 1916, HE HAD EARNED THE RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL AND WAS LATER BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
Tukufu: OUR LAST CASE INVESTIGATES HOW A FADED MAP MAY HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO THE IMPERIAL CONQUEST OF THE NEW WORLD.
MAY 1539: NINE SPANISH SHIPS APPEAR OFF A SANDY NEW-WORLD COAST.
ON DECK, EXPLORER HERNANDO DE SOTO AND HIS MEN PREPARE THEIR QUEST FOR ADVENTURE AND RICHES.
AS THE SHIPS GLIDE TO THEIR BEACH LANDING, DE SOTO CHRISTENS THE SPOT ESPIRITU SANTO, THE HOLY SPIRIT.
BUT THE WORLD ALREADY KNEW THE AREA BY ANOTHER NAME, LA FLORIDA.
THIS GOLDEN LAND LOOMS LARGE IN THE IMAGINATIONS OF SPAIN'S EUROPEAN RIVALS, EACH EAGER TO MAP THEIR OWN PATH TO THE NEW WORLD.
NOW A WOMAN FROM OCALA, FLORIDA, OWNS A MAP THAT IS UNLIKE ANY MAP SHE HAS EVER SEEN.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO FOLLOW THIS MAP INTO FLORIDA'S PAST.
I'M STARTING MY INVESTIGATION BY VISITING RUTH SANDHOLM.
HELLO, I'M RUTH.
- COME RIGHT IN.
- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HERE IS THE MAP.
AHA.
SHALL I TAKE IT OFF THE WALL?
YES.
MY SON BOUGHT THIS FOR ME ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
SO DID THE DEALER PROVIDE YOUR SON WITH ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAP?
THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT IT IS FROM 1681.
NOW, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I EMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY MANY YEARS AGO, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF FLORIDA.
RUTH, ORIGINALLY FROM SWEDEN, HAS ALWAYS BEEN EAGER TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PAST OF HER ADOPTED COUNTRY.
SHE'S PERPLEXED BY THE UNUSUAL GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES ON THE MAP, SUCH AS THE BORDER WITH CANADA AND THE UNUSUAL SHAPE OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA.
THE TITLE IS "FLORIDA," BUT FLORIDA IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM TODAY, AND IT'S MOSTLY SPANISH AND SOME FRENCH.
AND I DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAMES.
OKAY, WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS FOR ME?
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO MADE IT AND WHEN.
OKAY.
NOW, DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE THIS WITH ME?
NO, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
OKAY, DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE IT OUT OF THE FRAME?
NO, TAKE IT OUT.
THANK YOU.
[ ♪♪♪ ] SOMEHOW THEY'VE TAPED THE MAP TO THE MAT BOARD.
I'M NOT GOING TO BOTHER THAT AT ALL.
THIS LOOKS LIKE AN OLD PIECE OF PAPER.
IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HAND PAINTED, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE IT WAS DRAWN BY HAND.
IN FACT, I SEE SOME KIND OF BORDER HERE, WHICH IS SUGGESTIVE THAT IT MAY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PRINTED.
AND HERE YOU HAVE SOMETHING WRITTEN, "1681."
THIS NOTATION WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY ADDED LATER.
IT'S NOT PRINTED ON THE MAP, IT'S JUST KIND OF WRITTEN THERE IN PENCIL.
THE PENCIL DATE CAN'T HELP ME AUTHENTICATE IT, AND THERE'S NO PRINTER OR CARTOGRAPHER'S NAME.
AS RUTH NOTED, THE MAP HAS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ON IT.
MOST OF THE VILLAGES OR MISSIONS ARE IN SPANISH, AS ARE THE NAMES FLORIDA AND MEXICO, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
LAC ERIE AND TROPIQUE ARE FRENCH, BUT THE ENGLISH WORD "OF" IS SPRINKLED ALL OVER THE MAP.
AT THE END OF THE 17th CENTURY, FLORIDA WAS A EUROPEAN BATTLEGROUND.
SPAIN HAD CLAIMED THE TERRITORY FOR ITS EMPIRE IN 1513, WHEN PONCE DE LEON ARRIVED AMIDST RUMORS OF UNDISCOVERED GOLD AND A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.
IN THE 1530s, HERNANDO DE SOTO EXPLORED FLORIDA FOR THE SPANISH CROWN.
HOWEVER, SPAIN'S CONTROL OF FLORIDA HAD SOON ATTRACTED ATTENTION, AND BY 1681, A VARIETY OF EUROPEAN NATIONS HAD THEIR EYES ON THIS STRATEGIC DESTINATION.
IN FACT, THE ENTIRE AREA WAS BEING CONTESTED.
YOU HAD THE BRITISH, YOU HAD THE SPANISH, YOU HAD THE DUTCH, YOU HAD THE FRENCH: THEY'RE ALL IN CONTENTION FOR CONTROL OVER THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
IS THIS MAP FROM THAT ERA?
WILL FLEISHELL IS A FINE ARTS PRINTMAKER AND ENGRAVER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
SO THIS IS WHAT I HAVE.
AH, CAN I TAKE A LOOK AT THAT?
PLEASE DO.
OOH, BOY.
IS THIS A MAP FROM THE 17th CENTURY?
THIS LOOKS LIKE SOME PRETTY OLD PAPER TO ME.
WILL POINTS OUT WHAT HE CALLS SIEVE LINES ON THE PAPER.
THIS IS DEFINITELY HANDMADE PAPER.
HE EXPLAINS HOW MACERATED COTTON WAS SIFTED THROUGH THE SIEVE, OR SCREEN.
AS THE WATER FELL THROUGH THE SIEVE, THE COTTON LEFT ON TOP WOULD FLATTEN AND EVENTUALLY DRY INTO PAPER WITH THE MARKS FROM THE SIEVE LEFT BEHIND.
A COTTON RAG PAPER IS RESILIENT.
IT CAN LAST FOR CENTURIES.
IT'S INCREDIBLY DURABLE.
WILL COMPARES OUR MAP TO A PIECE OF PAPER FROM 1712 THAT WAS MADE USING THE SAME TECHNIQUE.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A PIECE OF PAPER FROM THE LATE 1600s.
BUT WILL SAYS THE PERIOD PAPER DOESN'T PROVE THE MAP WAS MADE IN THAT ERA.
HE SPOTS ANOTHER CLUE.
THOSE ARE PLATE MARKS.
EXACTLY WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PLATE MARK?
A PLATE MARK IS THE EMBOSSING THAT IS MADE FROM A PLATE WHEN IT SITS ON THE PAPER AND RUN THROUGH A PRESS.
YOU CAN STILL SEE A PLATE MARK HUNDREDS OF YEARS LATER.
AND THE PLATE MARK IS INDICATIVE THAT THIS WAS MADE FROM A COPPER PLATE.
A COPPER PLATE?
A COPPER PLATE; THIS IS NOT A HAND-DRAWN MAP.
WILL OFFERS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW OUR MAP WAS MADE.
HE ENGRAVES A DESIGN INTO THE COPPER PLATE WITH A SHARP TOOL CALLED A BURIN.
AND I'M EXERTING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO KIND OF GET THE TOOL INTO THE COPPER.
THEN INK IS ADDED.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE INK IS GOING INTO THE LINES.
GO DOWN HERE AND I GRAB THE PAPER, WHICH HAS BEEN SOAKING HERE... WILL USES GREAT FORCE TO CREATE A PRINT, FORCE WHICH LEAVES A CLEAR PLATE MARK.
IT'S MADE A MOLD OF THE COPPER PLATE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE DEEP PLATE MARK.
WHERE ARE THEY?
PLATE MARKS ARE RIGHT AROUND THE EDGE.
WILL TELLS ME THE STRONG PLATE MARK IS A TRADEMARK OF METAL PRESSES, WHICH BECAME POPULAR IN THE 18th CENTURY.
IN CONTRAST, THE FAINT PLATE MARK ON OUR MAP SUGGESTS THAT IT WAS PRINTED ON A WOODEN PRESS, WHICH USES LESS PRESSURE.
THERE WERE WOODEN PRESSES, FOR THE MOST PART, UP UNTIL ABOUT THE 1750s OR SO.
SO WE'VE GOT THE OLD PAPER, WE HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF ETCHINGS, SO ALL OF THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A 17th-CENTURY MAP?
IT LOOKS GENUINE TO ME.
SO WHO MADE IT?
IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT ONE ARTIST DID THE ETCHING, ANOTHER ARTIST DID THE ACTUAL ENGRAVING, MAYBE EVEN ANOTHER ARTIST DID THE LETTERING.
THAT'S POSSIBLE, BECAUSE ALREADY AT THIS TIME PERIOD, IN THE 16-, 1700s, THERE WAS A DIVISION OF LABOR IN THE PROFESSIONAL PRINTMAKING SHOPS IN EUROPE.
BUT WILL DOUBTS IF THE MULTIPLE ARTISANS WHO MADE THE MAP ACCOUNT FOR THE MAP'S DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
SO I'M ON MY WAY TO SEE DANIEL MURPHREE, AN AUTHOR AND PROFESSOR OF COLONIAL FLORIDA HISTORY.
HE HAS ASKED ME TO MEET HIM AT THE OLDEST MASONRY FORT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
HOW YOU DOING?
HI, HOW ARE YOU?
WELCOME TO CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS.
DANIEL EXPLAINS HOW THE FORT, BUILT ON A NARROW INLET OFF THE ATLANTIC, WAS CENTRAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONQUEST OF FLORIDA IN THE 16th AND 17th CENTURIES.
THIS IS A FORT BUILT TO DEFEND THE SPANISH SETTLEMENT OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
THIS WAS A TIME OF GREAT CONFLICT AND COLONIZATION BETWEEN IMPERIAL RIVALRIES -- BETWEEN THE FRENCH, THE SPANISH, AND THE ENGLISH -- SO THE FORT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALLOWING THE SPANISH TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF FLORIDA AS LONG AS THEY DID.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS MAP BEFORE?
I'VE SEEN MAPS QUITE SIMILAR, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS EXACT MAP.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE IN FLORIDA AROUND 1681?
WELL, UNTIL THE 18th CENTURY, MOST OF THE PRESENT-DAY U.S. SOUTHEAST WAS DEPICTED AS LA FLORIDA.
THIS WAS A TERM THAT THE SPANISH FIRST COINED, BUT IT PERSISTED FOR A LONG TIME.
FLORIDA WAS CONSIDERED TO ENCOMPASS THE REGION ALL THE WAY TO PRESENT-DAY CANADA.
IT SAYS HERE THE GULF OF MEXICO, NEW SPAIN.
WHAT IS THAT?
THOSE ARE OUR CLUES THAT THIS IS AN ENGLISH-MADE MAP, BECAUSE NEW SPAIN, NUEVO ESPANA WOULD'VE BEEN THE WAY THE SPANISH SAID IT.
SO THIS MAP WOULD'VE BEEN WRITTEN FROM THE ENGLISH POINT OF VIEW?
YES, I THINK SO.
IN THE LATE 17th CENTURY, THE ENGLISH WERE SPREADING INTO NORTH AMERICA.
THEY HAD JUST ESTABLISHED THE COLONY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THEY WERE LOOKING TO ADD FLORIDA TO THEIR EMPIRE.
AT THE TIME, THERE WAS STILL A BELIEF THAT IN FLORIDA, YOU COULD FIND MINERAL WEALTH, YOU COULD FIND AGRICULTURAL WEALTH, PERHAPS YOU COULD STILL FIND SOME TYPE OF FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.
BUT THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE LANGUAGES REPRESENTED IN THIS MAP.
WELL, I THINK THIS MAP REPRESENTS KIND OF A HYBRID OF SPANISH, FRENCH, AND ENGLISH INTERPRETATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA.
YOU SEE SOME OF THE EARLIEST SPANISH DESIGNATIONS ON THIS MAP, WHICH PROBABLY CAME FROM THE HERNANDO DE SOTO EXPEDITION.
DANIEL SAYS COZA, QUIGNATE, AND GUANCANÉ ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS.
BUT YOU ALSO SEE REFERENCE TO SOME OF THE FRENCH SETTLEMENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, YOU SEE FORT CAROLINE ON THE EAST COAST, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST FRENCH SETTLEMENT ATTEMPT IN THIS REGION BACK IN THE 1560s.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT PLACES THAT MAYBE THEY CAN OBTAIN NOW THAT THEY'RE THE GROWING POWER IN THE WORLD.
- SO THE BRITISH ARE COMING.
- CORRECT.
FOR INSTANCE, IN 1702, THE ENGLISH INVADED FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE TARGET WAS ST. AUGUSTINE.
LED BY COLONEL JAMES MOORE, JR., A FORCE OF 500 ENGLISHMEN AND OVER 300 YAMASEE INDIANS SAILED DOWN THE GEORGIA COAST AND ATTACKED THE CITY FROM THE SEA.
AS OVER 1,000 OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS HUDDLED INSIDE THE FORT WALLS, ENGLISH CANNONS POUNDED THE STONE.
THEY DESTROYED THE SETTLEMENT OF ST. AUGUSTINE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PENETRATE THE WALLS OF THIS FORT.
WHO WAS THE ENGLISHMAN THAT MADE OUR MAP, AND WHY?
WAS IT FOR JAMES MOORE'S INVADING ARMY?
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HOLDS MORE THAN 5 MILLION MAPS IN ITS COLLECTION.
JOHN HEBERT, CHIEF OF THE GEOGRAPHY AND MAP DIVISION, HELPED ME WITH THE VICKSBURG MAP INVESTIGATION MANY YEARS AGO.
- JOHN, HOW YOU DOING?
- HOW YOU DOING?
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE SEEN YOU.
- IT HAS.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HE SUGGESTS WE START OUR SEARCH IN THE MAP AND GEOGRAPHY DIVISION REFERENCE SECTION.
ALL RIGHT, SO HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE.
I KNOW THAT THIS WAS AN ACTUAL ENGRAVING FROM THE 17th CENTURY, AND I EVEN HAVE A DATE ON HERE, 1681.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- IT'S ALL HELPFUL.
I ASK JOHN IF OUR MAP WAS MADE FOR JAMES MOORE'S INVASION OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
HE DOUBTS IT BECAUSE ENGLISH MILITARY MAPS WERE LARGER.
BUT HE HAS A HUNCH WHERE OUR MAP CAME FROM.
WE HAVE THIS GUIDE, WHICH IS A GUIDE TO MAPS OF THE SOUTHEAST.
IT IS QUITE EXTENSIVE.
IT COVERS MAPPING OF WHAT IS NOW THE SOUTHEAST U.S., FLORIDA BEING PART OF THAT, FROM 1500 FORWARD.
OKAY.
[ ♪♪♪ ] WELL, HERE'S A 1681 MAP OF FLORIDA.
THE SIZE IS THE SIZE OF THIS PIECE, PRACTICALLY.
IT'S 4 1/2 BY 3 3/4 INCHES, AND IT APPEARED IN SIR JONAS MOORE'S NEW GEOGRAPHY AND MAPS TO EACH COUNTRY,THIRD BOOK.
JOHN SAYS THAT SIR JONAS MOORE WAS THE HEAD DIRECTOR OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY IN ENGLAND, MAKING OFFICIAL MAPS FOR THE CROWN.
BUT MOORE'S PUBLICATIONS, SUCH AS THIS ATLAS REFERENCE, WERE A MORE COMMERCIAL VENTURE, SELLING TO A PUBLIC WHICH WAS CURIOUS TO LEARN ABOUT THE NEW WORLD BRITISH EXPLORERS WERE DISCOVERING AND CONQUERING.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT OUR MAP IS IN THAT BOOK.
YES.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
IT SURELY LOOKS PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT IT COULD BE.
WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE ACTUALLY PULL IT OUT, BUT ABSOLUTELY.
LET'S CHECK OUT SOME MAPS.
LET'S DO IT.
THE LIBRARY'S MOST IMPORTANT MAPS ARE IN AN AREA CALLED THE VAULT.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND YOUR MAP.
JOHN LOCATES THE SECTION ON AMERICAN MAPS IN MOORE'S COMMERCIAL VOLUME.
WE'RE GETTING WARM.
[ Tukufu chuckles ] HERE WE GO; HERE'S A MAP OF FLORIDA.
ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
LOOKS VERY SIMILAR IN SIZE TO THE ONE YOU HAVE.
IT DOES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING LOOKS ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE MY MAP EXCEPT FOR MY MAP IS IN COLOR.
OURS ARE UNCOLORED; THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WAY THE VERSION CAME.
IN ADDITION, YOU NOTICE THAT ABOVE OUR MAP IS A MAP OF NEW MEXICO, SHOWING CALIFORNIA AS AN ISLAND.
OBVIOUSLY, YOURS HAD THAT AT ONE TIME; IT'S BEEN SEPARATED, CUT.
BUT IF OUR MAP WAS MADE BY SIR JONAS MOORE, AND MADE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEN WHY ISN'T IT ALL IN ENGLISH?
JOHN THINKS HE KNOWS.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I THINK THIS WAS A SPECIAL STORY.
ONE REASON IT'S SPECIAL IS BECAUSE YOU DECIDED TO SHARE A GIFT FROM YOUR SON WITH US, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THIS MAP HAD A WONDERFUL STORY TO TELL.
YOU WANTED TO KNOW, WAS THIS MAP MADE IN THE 17th CENTURY?
YES.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THIS MAP WAS MADE IN THE 17th CENTURY.
THANK YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHO MADE THE MAP.
YES.
THIS MAP WAS MADE BY AN ENGLISHMAN NAMED SIR JONAS MOORE.
THAT'S INTERESTING.
WELL, OUR JOURNEY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION GOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTING WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO FIND OUT WHY THERE WAS SPANISH, ENGLISH, AND FRENCH ON THIS MAP.
IN 1670, PIERRE DUVAL PRODUCED THIS LITTLE ATLAS OF THE WORLD.
IN FACT, IT'S CALLED LE MONDE.
AS GEOGRAPHER TO THE KING OF FRANCE, DUVAL WAS AN INFLUENTIAL AND PROLIFIC LEADING FRENCH MAPMAKER.
HERE'S DUVAL'S MAP OF FLORIDA -- WOW.
DUVAL'S MAP IS EXACTLY LIKE MOORE'S MAP!
MOORE IS BORROWING FROM DUVAL.
JOHN SAYS BORROWING FROM OTHER SOURCES TO MAKE NEW MAPS WAS A COMMON PRACTICE IN THE 17th CENTURY.
FOR CARTOGRAPHERS LIKE MOORE AND DUVAL, MAPMAKING WAS PART SCIENCE, PART IMAGINATION, AND PART PILFERING.
BUILDING OFF INFORMATION OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE, THEIR CHARTS INSPIRED CONQUESTS AND MADE COLONIZATION POSSIBLE IN THE NEW WORLD.
IT'S GREAT, IT'S WONDERFUL.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, ALL THE RESEARCH.
THANK YOU.
MUCH OF THE EUROPEAN CONQUEST OF THE AMERICAS WAS MOTIVATED BY THE PROMISE OF GOLD AND OTHER RICHES.
BUT FOR ONE CONQUISTADOR, IT WAS LONG BELIEVED THAT THE ULTIMATE PRIZE WAS NOTHING SHORT OF IMMORTALITY.
MANY HISTORY BOOKS RECORD THAT SPANISH EXPLORER JUAN PONCE DE LEON HEARD NATIVE TALES OF AN ISLAND CALLED BIMINI WHOSE MAGICAL WATERS COULD RESTORE THE YOUTH AND VITALITY OF THOSE WHO BATHED IN THEM.
ENTHRALLED BY THIS LEGEND, IN MARCH OF 1513, PONCE DE LEON SAILED WITH THREE SHIPS IN SEARCH OF BIMINI, BUT INSTEAD FOUND FLORIDA, WHICH HE MISTOOK FOR AN ISLAND.
FIERCE ATTACKS FROM NATIVE AMERICANS DETERRED HIM FROM STAYING LONG, AND HE FAILED TO LOCATE A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.
EIGHT YEARS LATER, PONCE DE LEON RETURNED WITH MORE THAN 200 MEN, DETERMINED TO BUILD A SETTLEMENT.
THIS TIME, THE HEALING WATERS OF A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH COULD'VE HELPED THE EXPLORER, AS HE WAS SHOT WITH AN ARROW AND LATER DIED FROM HIS WOUND.
WHILE PONCE DE LEON AND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH ARE NOW SYNONYMOUS, SCHOLARSHIP OF THE LAST FEW DECADES ASSERTS THAT HIS QUEST MAY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ONLY ON ACQUIRING WEALTH AND NEW TERRITORY.
MENTIONS OF MYTHICAL WATERS OF LIFE ARE REPORTEDLY ABSENT FROM EXISTING HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF HIS EXPLORATIONS OF FLORIDA.
WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH HISTORY DETECTIVES?
JOIN US ON THE PBS WEB SITE.
READ POSTS FROM OUR INSIDER BLOG OR SUBMIT A COMMENT YOURSELF.
JOIN IN ON A DO-IT-YOURSELF INVESTIGATION AND LEARN DETECTIVE TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU ANSWER SOME OF YOUR OWN QUESTIONS.
OR SUBMIT A STORY.
WHO KNOWS, YOUR MYSTERIOUS OBJECT COULD BE THE HISTORY DETECTIVES' NEXT GREAT CASE.
SO PAY US A VISIT AT pbs.org.
Elvis Costello: ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST LIKE WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪
