America's Strangest History

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America's Strangest History

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SOURCE MATERIAL

Below is a non-exhaustive list of sources used for each video.

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Source Lists

True Crime

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The Black Widow of Idaho: The Chilling Story of Lyda Ann Trueblood

1.  Twin Falls County Court Records (State of Idaho v. 

     Lyda Southard, 1921) — Idaho State Archives, Boise, ID.

2.  Idaho Statesman Archives (1915–1958) — digital microfilm 

     collection, Boise Public Library.

3.  Twin Falls Daily News (August–September 1919; July 1921; 

     May 1931).

4.  Boise Capital News, “Lyda Southard, ‘Flypaper Lida,’ Escapes Prison”  

    (May 5, 1931).

5.  U.S. Census Records (1900–1940) — confirm residences of Lyda 

     Ann Trueblood / Lyda Southard in Missouri, Idaho, Montana, and Utah.

6.  “Arsenic Detection and Forensic Toxicology in Early 20th-Century 

     America.” Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 58, No. 2 (2013).

7.  Smith, Henry L. The Poisoner’s Handbook: Arsenic and the Birth 

     of Forensic Toxicology. New York: Harper, 1932.

8.  Harris, Dean. “Lyda Trueblood: Idaho’s Lady Bluebeard.” Idaho 

     Yesterdays, Vol. 20, No. 3 (1976). Idaho Historical Society Quarterly.

 9.  Kershaw, Robert. Lady Bluebeard: The True Story of Lyda 

      Southard. Twin Falls Press, 1980.
10. Shreeve, Cynthia. “The Woman Who Outlived Her Truth.” True  Crime 

      Illustrated, June 1999.

11. Old Idaho Penitentiary Archives, Boise, ID.

12. Twin Falls County Historical Museum, Filer, ID.      

13. Idaho State Historical Society Digital 

      Collections  https://history.idaho.gov

14. “Lyda Trueblood: Idaho’s Lady Bluebeard.” Idaho Public Television 

      (Idaho Experience series, 2018).

15. Library of Congress — Chronicling America:

  • Digitized 1921–1932 Idaho newspaper articles referencing “Lyda Trueblood,” “Mrs. Paul Southard,” and “Flypaper Lida.”

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