Christopher J Castañeda

The emergence of a self-identified and transnational anarchist movement in the second half of the nineteenth century can be understood as both the manifestation of a philosophical humanitarian ideal and a reaction against those institutions that impeded an egalitarian society, such as authoritarian governments and laws, monarchies, religions of social control, and the societal inequalities fomented by capitalism. US-based Spanish-language anarchist periodicals promoted this movement while maintaining a remarkably cohesive and continuous transnational print network and readership. These periodicals also challenged social and economic inequalities in the United States and abroad through direct action. Despite the patriarchal privilege of the times, anarchist periodicals compel us to emphasize the importance of researching collectives and organizations beyond biographical, gender, ethnic, or national approaches so that we do not exclude cooperative practices from the recovery effort, particularly when unknown or unnamed participants formed the basis of their existence.

The modern oil industry began in 1859 with Edwin Drake’s discovery of oil at Titusville, Pennsylvania. Since then, this dynamic industry has experienced dramatic episodes of growth, aggressive competition for market share, various forms of corporate organization and cartel-like agreements, and governmental efforts at regulation and control, as well as monopoly, mergers, and consolidation. The history of the oil industry reflects its capital-intensive nature. Immense sums of money are spent on oil discovery, production, and refining projects. Marketing, transportation, and distribution systems likewise require enormous amounts of financing and logistical planning. Although oil is often produced in conjunction with, or in wells pressurized by, natural gas, the oil industry is distinct from the related natural gas industry. Since its origins in the mid-19th century, the oil industry has developed an industrial structure that emphasizes scale and scope to maximize profits. Profits can be huge, which attracts entrepreneurial efforts on individual, corporate, and national scales. By the late 20th through early 21st century, the oil industry had begun confronting questions about long-term viability, combined with an increasingly influential environmental movement that seeks to reduce fossil fuel consumption and prevent its toxic waste and by-products from polluting human, animal habitats, and natural habitats.

WhUe Stetson's name is not as well known as other famous or infamous bankers, he was an important banker whose career provides an opportunity to examine significant issues and episodes in banking and business history during the first half of the twentieth century. In one major foray outside banking, Stetson became a board member of the Illinois Central Railroad Company in 1932 after becoming an indispensable aid to W. Averell Harriman's business empire.

Inspired by our experience addressing the legacy of eugenics at California State University, Sacramento, this special issue presents an array of articles representative of diverse approaches to the historical investigation of eugenics. This article provides an introduction to the history of eugenics and explores the ways in which public history is particularly well suited to shape the historical memory of eugenics and encourage dialogue about contemporary biotechnologies.