Moby and Herman: Part Three - The Chase
The Genealogy Detective
We bring our investigation to a close, tracing Moby's tree back to Scotland and talk through all of Herman Melville's own family's ancestral hopes. Background on Herman Melville’s genealogy and Thomas and Allan Melvill’s attempt to prove their relation to General Robert Melvill comes several sources, including: “Data on the Melvill Family,” the research put together by Allan Melvill, courtesy of the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts , (Hennig Cohen and Donald Yannella, 1992) “,” (ed. Cuyler Reynolds, 1911) Jean F. Melvill, “Melvill...
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Moby and Herman: Part Two - Cutting In
The Genealogy Detective
Our research into Moby's ancestry begins in earnest and leads to a Melville ancestor. Notes: Moby discussing Moby-Dick from a video made for Read if you dare Moby discussing family from a video made for Moby talking about his grandmother from (2016) Music by Blue Dot Sessions, closing theme Breakmaster Cylinder.
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Moby and Herman: Part One - Loomings
The Genealogy Detective
My friend Adam brings a question to me: is Moby (aka Richard Melville Hall) really related to Moby-Dick author Herman Melville. Notes: A screenshot of Moby’s , taken May 2023 Excerpt from the Afterword of Moby’s 2016 memoir, (2016) Tweet from Moby (): “On this day in 1851…” Tweet from Moby (): “Happy Birthday Uncle Herman…” Background on Moby’s career was compiled from several sources including: Moby’s memoirs (2016) and (2019); Grayson Haver Currin, “,” NPR, May 22, 2020 Rob Gordon Bralver documentary, (2021) Clip from “Rave...
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Boris and Hannah
The Genealogy Detective
Hannah's grandfather always said their family was related to Boris Pasternak. The Genealogy Detective digs for proof, and teaches herself the Cyrillic alphabet.
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Mariel and Ilona
The Genealogy Detective
Mariel never knew her grandmother Ilona, a Holocaust survivor, or about Ilona's parents, siblings, and extended family. But she's in a place in her life where questions about her family and their history have begun to take on new importance. In this episode we find some answers.
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Introducing The Genealogy Detective
The Genealogy Detective
Mary Duffy is the Genealogy Detective, solving your family's mysteries and telling your stories. Each episode we'll solve a new case: unearthing family secrets, finding long-lost cousins, uncovering origins with research or DNA, and proving whether the legends your grandmother handed down are true. No case is too small.
info_outlineMy friend Adam brings a question to me: is Moby (aka Richard Melville Hall) really related to Moby-Dick author Herman Melville.
Notes:
- A screenshot of Moby’s Wikipedia page, taken May 2023
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Excerpt from the Afterword of Moby’s 2016 memoir, Porcelain (2016)
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Tweet from Moby (@thelittleidiot): “On this day in 1851…”
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Tweet from Moby (@thelittleidiot): “Happy Birthday Uncle Herman…”
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Background on Moby’s career was compiled from several sources including:
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Moby’s memoirs Porcelain (2016) and Then It Fell Apart (2019);
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Grayson Haver Currin, “All That Moby Needs to Be Good,” NPR, May 22, 2020
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Rob Gordon Bralver documentary, Moby Doc (2021)
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Clip from “Rave Dancing the Night Away,” Philadelphia Inquirer, September 13, 1992
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Clip from “Moby Bright Spot in a Colorless World,” Los Angeles Times, January 18, 1993
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Clip from “Moby: Remixed, repulsed, reborn,” Hartford Courant, March 12, 1995
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Video of Moby’s segment with Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
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Clips of Moby discussing his childhood from Moby Doc (2021)
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Obituary of James Frederick Hall, Bridgewater Courier News, September 26, 1967
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Clip of Moby discussing childhood in San Francisco, taking LSD from Porcelain (2016)
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Clip of Moby talking about his nickname from an interview with Steve Paikin on TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin
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Melville’s family tree of direct descendents, taken from Hershel Parker’s Herman Melville: A Biography, Volume 2 (1851-1891)
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“Metaphors? I hate metaphors…” clip from Parks and Recreation episode “Fluoride” (Season 6, Episode 8)
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“Though I wrote the Gospels in this century…” quote from Letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne, June [1?], 1851
Music by Blue Dot Sessions, closing theme Breakmaster Cylinder.