Mary Had a Little Typhoid [from American History Hotline]

About this episode

The episode explores the life of Mary Mallon, known as Typhoid Mary, and the implications of her story on public safety and personal liberty.

And everywhere that Mary went, the typhoid was sure to go.  The story of Mary Mallon (AKA Typhoid Mary) is one we're living every day to a small degree: the balance between public safety and personal liberty. Luckily for us, we'll never be imprisoned for being an symptomatic carrier of a disease. Well, never say never.  To learn more about the life of Mary Mallon we call up author Susan Campbell Bartoletti ( Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America ). Why was Mary's story so popular in the early 1900s? And why is her name so familiar even today?    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Topics covered

• public safety
• personal liberty
• disease
• historical figures
• typhoid
• American history

Keywords

• Mary Mallon
• Typhoid Mary
• public health
• disease carrier
• Susan Campbell Bartoletti
• American history
• early 1900s

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America

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