Typhoid Mary

Between 1900 and 1907, an Irish immigrant cook named Mary infected dozens of New Yorkers with typhoid fever. Tracked down through detective work, she was finally taken into custody and quarantined on an island off Manhattan, where she died decades later. Goddard tells the remarkable story of the woman known as Typhoid Mary and why she is remembered as the first “healthy” carrier of a deadly bacteria. At the time when we struggle with serious questions about the threats of epidemics, Typhoid Mary’s story couldn’t be more timely.

Leslie Goddard is an award-winning actress and scholar who has been presenting history programs for more than fifteen years. She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University specializing in American studies and U.S. history as well as a master’s degree in theater. A former museum director, she is the author of three books on history and currently works full time as an author and public speaker. Goddard potrays memorable women from the past and tells historical stories so that lessons from the past are more entertaining, educational and inspiring.