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Sidedoor

Murder Is Her Hobby

Sidedoor

Smithsonian Institution

Science, The Smithsonian, Tony Cohn, Art19, African American History And Culture, Exhibit, Dc, Exhibits, Pop Culture, Zoo, National Museum, National Zoo, Natural History, Air And Space, Smithsonian, Postal Museum, History Of The World, History, Sidedoor, Museum, Washington, Society & Culture, American History

4.62.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 October 2017

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Heiress, divorcée … mother of forensic science? Frances Glessner Lee was not your average 19th century woman. Using the skills that high-society ladies were expected to have -- like sewing, crafting, and knitting -- Frances revolutionized the male-dominated world of crime scene investigation. Her most celebrated contribution: 19 intricate dioramas depicting violent murder scenes. In this episode of Sidedoor, we'll explore Frances's morbid obsession, and discover why the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery has chosen to put them on display.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey Side our listeners, Happy Spring!

0:02.6

Over the past few weeks, we've been working on a batch of exciting stories

0:05.6

that we think you are going to love.

0:08.1

And don't worry, you'll get to hear them soon.

0:11.4

But in the meantime, we wanted to replay one of our favorite episodes from the fall that may be new

0:15.9

to a lot of you.

0:17.5

It's a story of a woman who defied her family's hopes that she live a quiet life of leisure

0:22.0

and instead became a crime fighting pioneer with a passion for murder

0:26.7

cases.

0:27.7

So enjoy the episode.

0:29.7

We'll be back with a new story in two weeks. This is Side Door, a podcast from a Smithsonian with support from PRX.

0:46.0

I'm Tony Cohen.

0:47.0

Just a heads up to our listeners that the following episode has some graphic accounts of violence.

0:57.0

From the outside of the house everything looks normal.

1:01.0

It's modest but tidy, like the houses that you've seen in so many

1:05.1

American neighborhoods. There's a porch with two chairs and a door ushers visitors into the kitchen.

1:11.0

These people aren't wealthy, but their house feels inviting. It's comfortable.

1:15.9

Beyond the kitchen door there's a table half set for breakfast. Two dining room chairs and a high chair

1:21.4

stand at attention.

1:23.0

It's a cozy room, one that hints at happiness for a small but growing family.

1:28.0

But then, you notice a gun on the floor.

1:32.0

The first hint that all is not well.

...

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