Civil War Letters, Aviation Fabric & African American...

After the History Detectives investigation of her Face Jug in season 8, April Hines decided she had to learn more. Find out how she tracked down the original owner of the jug and what she ended up doing with the historic object.

In a box filled with stamps, we find a letter from a Civil War soldier to his brother, addressed "Senate Post, Washington, D.C." He asks to command an African American unit. A second letter to the brother in D.C. indicates the soldier has been wounded. Eduardo Pagan sets out to find out why the soldier wanted to lead an African American unit. Did he get his wish?

This piece of aviation fabric has the signatures of Charles Lindbergh and helicopter inventor Igor Sikorsky along with the date August 1943. Tukufu Zuberi sets out to authenticate the signatures. Which aircraft did this fabric come from? Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis? Sikorsky's first helicopter? Or another aircraft altogether?

Every season, viewers ask us how, when and why the History Detectives use gloves in their investigations. Elyse Luray explains the guidelines that the Detectives use when handling delicate historical objects.

The 1950s was the Golden Age of comic books. Americans voraciously read stories about superheroes, determined detectives and thrilling romances. This particular comic book, Negro Romance, is a rare find. The characters are African Americans. Gwendolyn Wright seeks out the artists behind this comic book. Were they black? Who were their intended readers?