Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Not Forgotten | 5

Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Not Forgotten | 5

From Against The Odds by Audible

February 24, 2026 · 37 min · Season 68 · Episode 5

About this episode

The episode discusses the devastating blizzard of 1888 that affected schoolchildren in the Midwest, featuring insights from author David Laskin.

Early settlers to the Midwest were accustomed to harsh winters, but the blizzard that hit the Great Plains on January 12th, 1888 caught thousands of pioneer families off guard. The storm was especially brutal for children trying to find their way home from rural schoolhouses. Author David Laskin joins host Mike Corey to talk about how he pieced together the stories of the blizzard, and how the event lives on in the memory of their descendants. Laskin is the award-winning author of The Children’s Blizzard, and The Family. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

People in this episode

Host: Mike Corey

Guest: David Laskin

Topics covered

  • blizzard
  • Midwest history
  • pioneer families
  • children's experiences
  • survival stories

Keywords

  • blizzard
  • Great Plains
  • pioneer families
  • schoolchildren
  • David Laskin

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Children’s Blizzard, The Family

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