History Detectives

History Detectives was a documentary television series on PBS. It features investigations made by members of a small team of researchers to identify and/or authenticate items which may have historical significance or connections to important historical events, and to answer specific questions brought to them about these artifacts. Common subjects are family heirlooms and historical structures. Its stated mission is "exploring the complexities of historical mysteries, searching out the facts, myths and conundrums that connect local folklore, family legends and interesting objects."^[2]

History Detectives

Created by	Oregon Public Broadcasting/Lion Television
Starring	Wes Cowan (Auctioneer, appraiser) Kaiama Glover (Professor of French history and literature)^[1] Elyse Luray (Appraiser, art historian) Eduardo Pagan (Professor of History, author) Gwen Wright (Professor of Architecture, author, architectural advisor) Tukufu Zuberi (Professor of Sociology, author)
Opening theme	"Watching the Detectives" (2003-2013), original theme song (2014)
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	55 minutes
Production company	Lion Television
Original release
Network	PBS
Release	2003 (2003) – 2014 (2014)

Over its first decade, the series featured a team of several "detectives": originally Wes Cowan, Elyse Luray, Gwen Wright, and Tukufu Zuberi, later joined by Eduardo Pagán. Following a hiatus, the program returned in summer 2014 in a different format, with hosts Zuberi and Cowan joined by Kaiama Glover, as History Detectives: Special Investigations.^[3]

There have been no new episodes of History Detectives since the last new episodes aired in 2014.^[4]

Some PBS stations still run existing episodes; The rights to the first 10 seasons have been cleared for use for 10 years, which explains why the first 5 seasons are not re-running or streaming.^[5]

Format edit

Episodes usually include three segments, each centering on a single "mystery" or "case". Usually a case will be handled by a single "detective" although in early episodes two would occasionally investigate a single case, and there have been cases where a "detective" has called on one of their colleagues for help, usually when the case involves a specialty of their colleague's.

Each segment begins with a brief introduction and then shows the "detective" meeting with a person who has brought the case to their attention. The cases always revolve around a physical object which is supposedly related in some manner to American history. Usually these are family heirlooms of some type, although occasionally they are public objects or landmarks or items owned by private archives or museums. The person presenting them with the case then shows the investigator the item in question and relates their understanding of how this item is connected to American history. Often this involves some element of folk history which has been handed down as family or local lore. The investigator will then ask them what they want to find out about the item and the owner will generally give them two or three central questions. Often the questions will revolve around whether the item was owned by a particular famous personage or whether it was used in a particular historic event. Sometimes the investigator will be asked to track down an obscure creator of a certain item. The investigator will then promise to look into the questions and, if the item in question is portable, will ask to take it with them.

The rest of the segment involves an investigation of the item's history, focusing particularly on the questions asked by the person who presented them with the case. If the provenance of the item is in doubt they will often begin by establishing whether or not the item came from the period in question. This will often involve a series of physical tests as well as consultation with experts on appraisal. When tracking down specific people the investigators will engage in archival research using such resources as biographies, histories, newspapers, and city directories. In attempting to establish the history of the item, the investigators will meet with experts, particularly historians, to gain historical context. When needed other experts such as park rangers, appraisers, and experts in relevant skills will be consulted. Often, experts will be asked to provide their opinion on the plausibility of a story which is attached to the item, or to explain why a specific historical event happened in a particular way.

When dealing with more recent history, the investigators will often try and contact people involved in certain events both in order to gain context and to verify the truth of an item's folk history. Generally the last interview will be abruptly ended before the audience can learn the final revelation. The investigator then returns to the person who brought them the case and informs them of what he has learned, including rolling clips of revealing statements from the final expert consulted. Occasionally the end of the segment will involve a "reward" of sorts. Sometimes this involves presenting the people who brought them the case with an item somehow related to the history of their item. Other times this will involve a meeting with a person who had produced or previously owned their item or, if that person is deceased, their relatives. For example, in a case where they were trying to track down the artist who had drawn a World War II POW's picture they found that the artist was deceased but they "reunited" the POW with the artist's son.

Between segments are interstitial material involving stock footage and one of the investigators giving narration that relates to the general topic which had been covered in the preceding segment.^{[citation needed]} For example, a segment which dealt with desegregation in Major League Baseball, the interstitial material discussed the World War II service of several black ballplayers.

The show only airs original episodes in the summer months. Reruns air in some areas of the country the rest of the year as well as on PBS World. The sixth season in 2008 brought some changes including a new opening sequence. In the seventh season in 2009, Eduardo Pagan, a noted historian and author joined the detectives. In the ninth season in 2011, marked a change from regularly airing on Mondays to Tuesdays. The tenth season premiered on July 17, 2012 with another new opening sequence. Also, the 10th-season premiere episode was their 100th of the series.

In 2014, the show changed its name to "History Detectives: Special Investigations" and debuted a new format. Joining Zuberi and Cowan was historian Kaiama Glover. In contrast to previous seasons, each episode of "History Detectives: Special Investigations" focuses on a single subject such as the Austin "Servant Girl Annihilator", the Sultana disaster, or the death of band leader Glenn Miller. The three hosts investigate different aspects of the incident and then reunite for a final report.

Production edit

Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives" was the show's theme song for its first decade. The drum sequences also served as segues between each segment of an episode. In 2014, the show changed to an original composition for its theme music.

During an online chat with The Washington Post in 2005,^{[citation needed]} Elyse Luray stated that each segment took approximately six weeks to complete. While on the show it appears that each filmed segment is happening spontaneously, the research is generally completed prior to filming, and the investigator will then later return to certain research points for filming so the investigation will appear as a coherent story for the viewer.

Home Video edit

VHS tape - PBS sporadically released the first 4 seasons on VHS tape, dubbed as PBS member 'Thank You Gifts'.

DVD-R - In August 2007 PBS announced in season 5 that "you could buy this episode on DVD for $24.99 by calling PBS". They also offered the complete series for $249.90. This single episode offer of made-to-order DVD-Rs lasted through season 8. Previous seasons were not re-issued on DVD-R. Since these DVD-Rs were made-to-order there is no guarantee that every episode was ordered and exists on DVD-R. The Internet Web Archive confirms these were sold on PBS.org for 6 or more years: . And by 2013 other seasons were offered on-line: By September 2015 shoppbs.org cut the price drastically to $9.95.and in 2016 only 501,502,504,505, and 801 were still available, price raised to $17.99, along with the seasons 9, 10, Special Investigations Sets. By 2018 the individual episodes were gone.

DVD manufactured discs - With season 9 PBS Home Video decided to manufacture pressed DVDs as season sets. This guarantees that all episodes for seasons 9, 10 and Special Investigations were put on DVD. Previous seasons were not re-issued on pressed DVD season sets. Starting in 2011 they started to go out of print, season 9 in June, season 10 in August, and the Special Investigations are soon to be unavailable.

The usual buyer of these home video releases are Public Libraries^{[citation needed]}, so it is common to find retired library copies for sale.

Video Streaming - Select episodes from seasons 5 - 11 are available for video streaming from PBS.org

Full 55 minute Broadcast Episodes and Original Air Dates. edit

As of 2011, 11 Seasons through 6 have been removed from re-run broadcasts (unless noted)

Season 1 (2003)

101 Jul/14/03 Old Fire Station / Pebble in the Sand / 'Pop' Lloyd Baseball Stadium
102 Jul/15/03 Bonnie & Clyde Bullets / Movie Palace / Sears Home
103 Jul/16/03 Jigsaw Puzzle / Whaling Ship / Witch's House
104 Jul/17/03 Cannon House / General Washington Portrait / Independence Trumpet
105 Jul/21/03 General Lee Farewell/Napoleons Sword/Natchez House
106 Jul/28/03 Chinese Poems / Japanese House / John Browns Letters
107 Aug/04/03 Mexican Currency / Pirate Spyglass / Railroad Station
108 Aug/25/03 Boarding House Flag / Home of Lincoln Assassination Plot / Ventriloquist's Dummy
109 Sep/01/03 Dutch Colonial Home / Mark Twain's Watch / Revolutionary War Poem
110 Sep/09/03 Flint-Lock Rifle / Lafayette China / Prison Plaque

Season 2 (2004)

201 Jun/21/04 Civil War Submarine / Red Cloud's Peace Pipe / Thomas Edison's House
202 Jun/28/04 Early Monopoly / Internment Artwork / Lewis and Clark Cane
203 Jul/05/04 Anti-Slavery Flag / Mail Order Brides / WWII Landing Craft
204 Jul/12/04 First Movie Studio / Hollywood: Warner's Lighter / King Kong Camera
205 Jul/19/04 Dueling Pistols / Little Big Horn Bayonet / Nesbit Portrait
206 Sep/06/04 Lost Gold Ship / John Hunt Morgan Saddle / Cesar Chavez Banner
207 Sep/17/04 Body in the Basement / Newport U-Boat / Shippen Golf Club

Season 3 (2005)

301 Jun/27/05 Geronimo Photograph / Lindbergh Engine / Suicide Pin
302 Jul/11/05 Black Star Line / Micky Mouse / Texas POW Camp
303 Jul/18/05 Arthur Szyk's Earliest Cartoons / Professor Lowe's Hot Air Balloon / Chemical Warfare Map
304 Jul/25/05 Cherokee Bible / Slave Banjo / United Empire Loyalist
305 Aug/15/05 Secrets of the Tape / Mountain Mail Bag / Banned Birth Control Box
306 Aug/22/05 Doc Holliday's Watch / Civil War Female Soldiers / Japanese Internment Camp Artwork
307 Sep/05/05 Coney Island Lion / Legacy of a Doll / Ballet Shoes
308 Sep/12/05 Jim Thorpe Ticket / Land Grant / Leisurama Homes
309 Sep/19/05 Home for Unwed Mothers / Long Expedition Encampment / Evelyn Nesbit Portrait

Season 4 (2006)

401 Jun/19/06 The Chisholm Trail / Harry Houdini Poster / McKinley Casket
402 Jun/26/06 Confederate Eyeglass / Howard Hughes' Invention / Wartime Baseball
403 Jul/05/06 Coca-Cola Trade Card / Lawrence Strike / Vicksburg Map
404 Jul/10/06 Alternative Service Certificates / Carolina Mystery Books / Mickey Mouse's Origin
405 Jul/31/06 Survivor Camera / Mystery Crystal Cross / Alcoholics Anonymous Letter
406 Aug/21/06 Grace Kelly Car / Harley-Davidson Motorcycle / Civil War POW Photos
407 Aug/28/06 Lou Gehrig Autograph /. Cleveland Electric Car / Philadelphia Freedom Paper
408 Sep/04/06 Superman Sketch / Lost Musical Treasure / Rebel Whisky Flask

(Starting with season 5 (2007), PBS started offering the episodes on DVD)

501 Jun/25/07 3D Cuban Missile Crisis / Amos 'n Andy Record / Women's Suffrage Painting
502 Jul/02/07 Continental Currency / Short-Snorter / Liberty Bell Pin
503 Jul/09/07 GAR Photograph / Jefferson Pledge / Dempsey Fight Bell
504 Jul/16/07 Atocha Spanish Silver / Ernie Pyle's Typewriter / Lucy Parsons Book
505 Jul/23/07 Great Mexican War Posters / Muhlenberg Robe / Nora Holt Autograph Book
506 Jul/30/07 NC-4: First Across the Atlantic / Howard Hughes Crash / Civil War Balloon
507 Aug/20/07 Red Cloud Letter / '32 Ford Roadster / Cast Iron Eagle
508 Sep/10/07 USS Thresher / Pete Gray Cartoon / Manhattan Project Letter.

Season 6 (2008–09)

601 Jun/30/08 WWII Diary / Annie Oakley Coin / 1856 Mormon Tale
602 Jul/07/08 Red Hand Flag / Seth Eastman Painting / Isleton Tong
603 Jul/14/08 Japanese Balloon Bomb / Society Circus Program / Camp David Letter
604 Jul/21/08 China Marine Jacket / Airstream Caravan / Lincoln Forgery
605 Aug/11/08 Black Tom Shell / USS Olympia Glass / Front Street Blockhouse
606 Sep/08/08 Shipwreck Cannons / Connecticut Farmhouse / Kahlil Gibran Painting
607 Feb/23/09 Slave Songbook / Josh White Guitar / Birthplace of Hip Hop

Season 7 (2009)

701 Jun/22/09 Psychophone / War Dog Letter / Pancho Villa Watch Fob
702 Jun/29/09 Manhattan Project Patent / Galleon Shipwreck / Creole Poems
703 Jul/06/09 St. Valentine's Day Massacre / Booth Letter / Cemetery Alarm
704 Jul/13/09 Sideshow Babies / Lubin Photos / Navajo Rug
705 Jul/27/09 Amelia Earhart Plane / Fillmore Pardon / Boxcar Home
706 Aug/17/09 Mussolini Dagger / Liberia Letter / N.E.A.R. Device
707 Sep/07/09 Civil War Bridge / Scottsboro Boys Stamp / Duke Ellington Plates

Season 8 (2010)

801 Jun/21/10 Space Exploration: Satelloon / Space Boot / Moon Museum
802 Jun/28/10 Iwo Jima Map / Copperhead Cane / Theremin
803 Jul/07/10 Lauste Film Clip / Baker's Gold / Transatlantic Cable
804 Jul/12/10 Andrew Jackson's Mouth / Barton Letter / Spybook
805 Jul/26/10 Korean War Letter / Diana / Lookout Mt. Painting
806 Aug/15/10 Hot Town Poster / Face Jug / Lost City of Gold
807 Aug/23/10 Jackie Robinson All-Stars / Modoc Basket / Special Agent Five

Season 9 (2011)

901 Jun/21/11 Yakima Canutt's Saddle / The Ni'ihau Incident / Civil War Cannon
902 Jun/26/11 Spanish Civil War Eulogy / World War II Leaflets / Tiffany Window
903 Jul/05/11 Siberian Bullet / John Brown Pike / Ronald McDonald Costume
904 Jul/12/11 African American Comic Book / Lindberg-Sikorsky Fabric / Civil War Letters
905 Jul/19/11 Drone Propeller / Clara Barton Letter /. Teddy Roosevelt War Club
906 Aug/30/11 Drug Smuggling Doll / Florida Map / Marion Carpenter Camera
907 Oct/11/11 Chandler Tintype / Ince Ledger. / Harlem Heirs

Season 10 (2012–13)

1001 Jul/17/12 Bob Dylan Guitar / Beatles Autographs / Frank Zappa Collage
1002 Jul/24/12 Civil War Derringers / Fiery Cross / Motown Amp
1003 Jul/24/12 Rogue Book. / Empire State Building Plane Crash Piece / Bettie Page Slide, Hollywood Sign
1004 Jul/31/12 WWII Patch/ Lincoln Oath / Chief Black Kettle / Marshall House Flag
1005 Aug/01/12 Luxury Liner Picture Frame / Woolworth Sign / Nazi Spy Toys
1006 Oct/02/12 Vietnamese Soldier's Diary / Bootlegger's Notebook / Hollywood Indian Ledger
1007 Oct/08/12 WWI Poster/ Valley Forge Map / Transistor Radio / 70-Year-Old Business Card
1008 Jan/08/13 Negro Girl 'Bill of Sale' / Revolutionary War Powder Horn / Star Spangled Banner / 1775 Almanac
1009 Apr/02/13 Kit Carson Family Secrets. / Yakima Canutt's Saddle(R). /. Inscription on Sheet Music for 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds' / Modoc Basket

Season 11 (2014)

1101 2014 Special Investigations 1. Civil War Sabotage?
1102 2014 Special Investigations 2. The Disappearance of Glenn Miller
1103 2014 Special Investigations 3. Texas Servant Girl Murders
1104 2014 Special Investigations 4. Who Killed Jimmy Hoffa?