The Dustbin Historian

Your Ancestor's Story Is Missing a Chapter

How Civil War Pension Files Can Transform Family Stories

Feb 24 • Bill Farley, PhD

Murray’s Ghosts: A Field Guide for the Aspiring Paranormal Investigator

Van Zandt was just the tip of the spectral iceberg

Feb 17 • Bill Farley, PhD

How I Helped a TV Ghost-Hunting Crew Find a Better Ghost

The story of how a historian got a call from a paranormal show—and gave a 19th-century villain his television debut.

Feb 10 • Bill Farley, PhD

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The Night Sacramento Kept Its NBA Team

29 years ago tonight, Sacramento voted 5-3 to save an NBA franchise. Five weeks later, I resigned.

Feb 5 • Bill Farley, PhD

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I have no information about them...

The story behind the story—and the full article that started it all

Feb 3 • Bill Farley, PhD

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January 2026

The Longest Bike Trip: From NBC Sports to the Salvation Army

In 1964, my uncle was launching NBC's answer to Wide World of Sports. By 1967, he was in jail. This is the story the three-sentence obituary didn't…

Jan 27 • Bill Farley, PhD

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1964: Uncle Richard and NBC's Big Sports Deal

My Uncle Richard was on the top of the world...and then he fell hard. I'm pivoting to stories like this in 2026 and hope you stay with me.

Jan 21 • Bill Farley, PhD

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December 2024

Facility-rich and cash-poor, the Oregon Ducks need your donations

Phil Knight’s financing plan for Oregon’s Best-in-class Arena put the Athletic Department in a huge financial hole. AD Rob Mullens needs your donations…

Dec 7, 2024 • Bill Farley, PhD

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November 2024

The UN's Report on "Violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences"

“Over 600 female athletes in more than 400 competitions have lost more than 890 medals in 29 different sports.”

Nov 7, 2024 • Bill Farley, PhD

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Goliath (NCAA) hits back at David (South Dakota)

The NCAA made a new House-related filing in federal court today - this time South Dakota's Jackrabbits and Coyotes are taking not-so-friendly fire from…

Nov 6, 2024 • Bill Farley, PhD

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October 2024

University of Washington Releases Unredacted Pac 12 Settlement Agreement

An unredacted reference to a Settlement Conference Report from March 2024 indicates there are even more details still to uncover.

Oct 25, 2024 • Bill Farley, PhD

Boise State AD talks about the future of their football program

Jeramiah Dickey spoke last Thursday before the Idaho BOE (10/17/24)

Oct 20, 2024 • Bill Farley, PhD

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