A Bend in Time

Latest Episodes:

Series 04-01: Origin Story Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Episode 1: Origin Story

Before he became the 17th Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax was a child of tragedy, born to a widowed teenager in a modest brick house in New York City. In this debut episode, we trace Colfax’s early life — from Revolutionary War ancestry and formative years in New York to his coming-of-age in frontier Indiana. Discover how a self-educated teenager in New Carlisle built a foundation in politics, journalism, and reform that would one day take him to the Capitol steps.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-03: A Brewing Conflict Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Episode 3: A Brewing Conflict

As the Whig Party collapses and the nation fractures over slavery, Schuyler Colfax steps into the chaos of Congress. From a House locked in gridlock to a fiery speech that propels him into the national spotlight, Colfax becomes a rising star in a country teetering on the brink. This episode traces his early years in Washington, his role in the Kansas crisis, and his front-row seat to the unraveling of the Union… and the rise of Abraham Lincoln.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-02: Newspaper Man Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Episode 2: Newspaper Man

As a young newspaper editor, Schuyler Colfax made South Bend his home—and his launching pad. In this episode, we explore Colfax’s rise from local publisher to national political voice, his unwavering moral compass, and the moment the Kansas-Nebraska Act ignited his first run for Congress. A party was collapsing. A new one was forming. And Colfax was ready to lead.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 03-07: The End of an Era Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 7: The End of an Era
By 1954, the writing was on the wall, and the end of the AAGPBL was fast approaching. But that didn’t mean that the Blue Sox didn’t want to win. Follow the South Bend squad as they follow the league toward its end and try to bring one last hurrah to the home fans. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-08: Whispers of the Beautiful Game Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 8: Whispers of the Beautiful Game
The AAGPBL folded at the end of the 1954 season, but that didn’t mean that the Blue Sox were done making an impact in South Bend. We close out the series by following up on the players who remained in town after their playing days were over and continued to touch the community during the years and decades to come. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-05: Chase for a Championship Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 5: Chase for a Championship
The Blue Sox had experienced plenty of success during their early seasons but had yet to deliver an elusive championship to South Bend. By the late 1940s, it looked like they had the necessary pieces to deliver playoff glory, including a budding superstar in Jean Faut. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-04: League in Transition Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 4: League in Transition
World War II ended in 1945 and left players, owners, and fans wondering what would happen with the All-American League. The women kept playing, but their game kept changing – transitioning from underhand to sidearm to overhand pitching. Every year, the game looked
more and more like baseball, and if the Blue Sox were going to bring a championship to South Bend, they’d have to adapt along with their sport. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-03: The War Years Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 3: The War Years
The All-American League was imagined as a way to keep baseball alive during the war, and that’s exactly what it did in 1944 and 1945. Follow the Blue Sox as they provide a welcome distraction for South Bend during the worst and ugliest parts of World War II. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-02: The Inaugural Season Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 2: The Inaugural Season
The rosters were set, the uniforms were ordered, and the managers were assigned. Now there was only one thing left to do: Play Ball. No one – not even the players – quite knew what that first season would look like, and no one was sure if the fans would turn out. Follow the
1943 Blue Sox through their first season in the AAGPBL. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine
Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-01: Birth of the AAGPBL Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode 1: Birth of the AAGPBL

Come with us and relive the heyday of the South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In this episode, we’re exploring the beginnings of the league from tryouts to train rides to the decision to land a team in South Bend, Indiana. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org