Historical Nonfiction Author
Historical Nonfiction Author
Behind the scenes of historical research, archival finds, and commentary from Andy McPhee on air pollution, anatomy, medical history, and the writing life.
Latest
July 1, 2025
We know a lot about the effects of industrial smoke on health, but not much on wildfire smoke. Here's why wildfires can be so fatal, even years later.
November 5, 2021
The full story of the Donora smog disaster could not be told without two names popping into the forefront, those of Philip Drinker and Mary O. Amdur. Drinker had famously
August 29, 2021
Why were asbestos shingles used in Center City? Didn't US Steel know the dangers?
May 11, 2021
Howard and Iva Dail Hart suffered more than their share of grief working and living in the Mon Valley many years ago, when life was brutally difficult.
February 26, 2021
I'm deep in writing again, and dang if my hand pain didn't come back. CBD to the rescue!
January 3, 2021
The Wizard of Menlo Park helped ease a housing crisis in Donora.
December 18, 2020
A prominent bronze plaque at the southern entrance to Donora honors smog victims...and then some.
December 17, 2020
This is the second of a three-part series covering devastating strikes of the 1890s, strikes that surely helped cement anti-unionism in Donora's founder, William Donner.
December 10, 2020
This is the second of a three-part series covering devastating strikes of the 1890s, strikes that surely helped...
December 3, 2020
William Donner, the founder of Donora, never liked unions. He was a businessman seeking ever-increasing profits, and unions tended to cut into them. Donner had grown into his wealth during
