Episode Details

Send us Fan Mail

This week, we pull back the curtain on the Eastland disaster’s historiography and bring two overlooked rescuers to the forefront: Great Lakes captains Walter and Emil Petroskey. The Petroskey brothers manned a lifeboat and saved lives when the steamer rolled in the Chicago River in 1915. Along the way, we share how a podcast milestone—7,500 downloads—became fuel to double down on careful genealogy, source citations, and the investigative steps that turn rumor into record.

We walk through real research problems and the tools that solve them. A listener’s request led us to an Eastland victim’s profile with a vague citation and a photo with no clear source. Reverse image search returned multiple identities, none of which were correct. That detour becomes a masterclass in method: grounding claims in primary sources, reading obituaries and shipping registers closely, and using the genealogical proof standard to weigh evidence quality. 

For Eastland Disaster research, we return to the foundations laid long ago by George Hilton and the former Eastland Memorial Society. We explain why lists without notes can mislead, and show how independent researchers can rebuild trust by linking every assertion to its document.

The Petroskey brothers’ story unfolds through contemporary newspapers, Coast Guard connections, and Great Lakes context—Kewaunee’s harbor culture, hard-won master’s licenses, and the industrial routes that tied Manistee, Milwaukee, and Chicago. Their rescue medals and long service should be part of every Eastland narrative, yet modern summaries never mention them. Restoring their place shows what happens when we move past recycled anecdotes and center on verifiable names, dates, ships, and places.

If you’re tracing history or your own family line, you’ll find practical takeaways: how to evaluate unsourced claims, capture citations that travel, and use short-form video to share findings with a global audience. We close with an open door to Eastland families who need genealogical assistance and a nod to RootsTech for anyone eager to sharpen their research skills. 

Resources:

• TinEye (Reverse image search tool)
• Google Images (Reverse image search tool)
• Elizabeth Shown Mills. Evidence Explained: Historical Analysis, Citation & Source Usage
• Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress
• Find a Grave.

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• Substack: https://nataliezett.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist