A History of the United States in 100 Objects

4 min

•May 8, 202623 days ago

Summary

99% Invisible launches a new series examining American history through 100 everyday objects rather than traditional monuments. The episode introduces the concept of using overlooked items—from bootleg band t-shirts to industrial screws—to tell a more complete and contradictory story of the United States.

Insights

Everyday objects provide more authentic historical narratives than official monuments and museum pieces
Material culture and personal artifacts reveal hidden dimensions of history including resistance, innovation, and cultural identity
A comprehensive national history requires examining both celebrated symbols and forgotten, mundane items that shaped society
Objects can democratize historical storytelling by centering the experiences of ordinary people and marginalized communities

Trends

Growing interest in material culture and object-based historical analysis in media and educationShift toward inclusive, bottom-up narratives of national history that challenge traditional institutional perspectivesPodcast format enabling deep-dive historical storytelling through curated object collections and expert interviewsPublic appetite for reframing familiar history through unexpected lenses and overlooked artifactsCross-institutional collaboration (BBC and 99% Invisible) expanding reach of innovative historical documentary content

Topics

American history through material cultureObject-based historical narrativeInstitutional vs. grassroots historical documentationIndustrial history and technological developmentCultural resistance and liberation through everyday objectsMuseum curation and historical interpretationAmerican identity and national symbolismPunk rock cultural historyEnslaved people's literacy and resistanceIndustrial manufacturing and screwsDeclaration of IndependenceLincoln's top hatFort Sumter cannonBilly PossumBlueback speller

Companies

BBC

Co-producer of the new 100 Objects series alongside 99% Invisible

99% Invisible

Host podcast network producing the new 100 Objects history series

People

Roman Mars

Host of the episode and narrator of the new 100 Objects series

Quotes

"Gather enough of these objects, and they begin to form a biography of who you are through things."

Roman Mars•Opening

"The screw thread is a simple device, but it ties together the whole mechanical skeleton of our civilization."

Roman Mars•Mid-episode

"The blueback speller is something that became a particularly prized possession because it meant that you might not be free in body, but you could be free in mind."

Roman Mars•Closing

"Objects that tell a history as sprawling and contradictory as America itself."

Roman Mars•Mid-episode

Full Transcript

Wherever you are, stop for a moment and take a look around you. At all times, you are surrounded by objects that at first glance seem meaningless. But if you really think about them, they tell stories. A boarding pass that's still folded in your pocket. The book on the shelf that you were assigned in freshman seminar only read half of, but you still held on to for 20 years. The picture of your kids at the beach. Or even the paperclip that once fastened some important papers, but for the life of you, you can't remember which ones. Gather enough of these objects, and they begin to form a biography of who you are through things. The precious keepsakes, the clutter on your nightstand, even the stuff you'll eventually throw away. Now, stay with me here. Imagine you are the United States of America, and it's your 250th birthday. What objects would tell your history? Of course, there's the original Declaration of Independence and Lincoln's top hat, and I don't know, like a cannon from Fort Sumter. All worthy and fascinating objects to be sure. But there is another story to be told using the objects that you don't see on sweaty field trips to museums. The equivalent of the ticket stops and the favorite knickknacks and the paperclips. Like a bootleg band t-shirt that tells the history of American punk rock. Or a little blue book that enslaved people transformed into a tool of liberation. Or a one inch screw that shows how America built a hidden industrial empire. The screw thread is a simple device, but it ties together the whole mechanical skeleton of our civilization. Which on the one hand seems overblown, but you're like, is it wrong? I don't know that it's wrong. It's not wrong, my guy. From 99% of visible and BBC studios, I'm Roman Mars, and this is a history of the United States in 100 objects. As the country marks its semi-quincentennial, a word I will never say again, we're going to collect objects from across American history. 100 objects, to be exact. I'm not sure of Western where they're robbing a train, and there's a safe on one of the cars of the railroad train. This is the icon of his presidency. This is it. This is the Billy Possum. To tell the story of who we are and where we've been. Remember, this is before the invention of the electric bulb, so when night fell, it was a night. We're going to talk to historians and journalists and regular folks who are obsessed with objects beyond the official record. Like, forgotten nobodies, they might have well been called. Objects that tell a history as sprawling and contradictory as America itself. The blueback speller is something that became a particularly prized possession because it meant that you might not be free in body, but you could be free in mind. 100 objects, 100 stories. A new history of the US, hiding in plain sight. A history of the United States in 100 objects. A brand new show from the BBC and 99% Invisible. We're going to publish a new episode every Friday in the 99% Invisible feed, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts.