Sidedoor

A screw. A stuffed possum. A shoe-sizing device. What could any of these objects possibly tell us about the history of the United States?
When we think of historic artifacts, we tend to picture the extraordinary: Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch, the original Kermit the Frog, Martin Luther King Jr.'s draft of the "I Have a Dream" speech. But the story of America can just as easily be found in the everyday objects that shape our lives.
In this bonus episode, Lizzie sits down with Roman Mars to talk about his new series, A History of the United States in 100 Objects. Together, they explore how ordinary things can reveal distinctly American stories.

Guests: 
Roman Mars, host and creator of 99% Invisible 
To pitch your object to Roman’s team, write to 100objects@99pi.org

Everyone thought ghosts lived in the basement of Stockton, California's old Daguhoy Lodge. So, nobody went down there. But when one man refused to be spooked, he made a discovery that would bring the ghosts back to life. 
In this episode, we explore how an accidental discovery resurrected the stories of a nearly forgotten generation of Filipino immigrants who came to work in the fields. Why did these men leave behind steamer trunks that remained unopened for decades? And what could we learn from the belongings found inside?  
We'll unpack the steamer trunks and dust off a fading piece of American history as we dive into the stories of these farmworkers and their surprising sense of fashion. 

Guests: 
Sam Vong, Curator of Asian Pacific American History at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Dillon Delvo, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Little Manila Rising in South Stockton, California
Phillip Merlo, a historian and educator who serves as the Executive Director of the San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum

How did a car with chopped suspension and hydraulics become a symbol of pride and self-expression for an entire community? We'll cruise back in time to see how lowriders emerged from the post-WWII car craze and became a powerful symbol of Mexican American pride. It's a long road with a few speed bumps, but lowriders are now more popular than ever (especially in Japan!)
So, lean your seat back and see how chrome, paint, and a dose of defiance turned classic cars into rolling works of art that have cruised their way into the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. 
Learn more about the Smithsonian's exhibition on Lowriders — Corazón y vida — HERE 
This project received federal support from the Smithsonian Latino Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino.

At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, archivists are working with Native communities to correct the historical record … one photo at a time.
In this episode, we go inside the archives, where century-old photographs once labeled “Indian man” or “woman in costume” are being reexamined and renamed so they can be reconnected to living descendants. It’s a painstaking effort that’s also challenging the romanticized imagery popularized by photographers and anthropologists of the late 1800s, early 1900s. 
Think there might be photos of your ancestors in the Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives? Check here: https://sova.si.edu/
You can read about the Smithsonian's Ethical Returns and Shared Stewardship Policy here: https://ncp.si.edu/SI-ethical-returns
To submit a shared stewardship or ethical return inquiry or request, complete this form: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7447374/Shared-Stewardship-and-Ethical-Returns-Inquiry-Request-Submission-Form 
If you have questions about the policy, contact nmai-sser@si.edu.

Guests: 
Emily Moazami, head archivist at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Archive Center
Nathan Sowry, reference archivist at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Archive Center
Rachel Menyuk, processing archivist at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Archive Center
Special thanks to the Harmon Family:
Leonard Harmon, Pam Pierce Harmon Johnston, Mike Harmon and Matthew Harmon

A long time ago, in movie theaters not far away, Star Wars: A New Hope revolutionized American entertainment. In honor of May the 4th, we explore how a scrappy space fantasy reinvented a tale as old as time — and gave Americans hope in a time of difficulty. We'll also trace the journey of two bickering droids from a galaxy far, far away to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. 
Guests: 
Ryan Lintelman, curator of entertainment at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Eric Jentsch, curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Dawn Wallace, objects conservator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History