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Jim Beloff is the author of a coffee-table book called The Ukulele: A Visual History. Beloff bought a used ukulele at a flea market about five years ago and became passionate about this little instrument. The book is filled with pictures of beautiful Hawaiian ukuleles and bizarre novelty versions. Beloff details the path of the instrument from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, including portraits of some of the greatest players.

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Sarah Barringer Gordon, a historian of religion and a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania. Barringer Gordon says polygamy became a contentious issue in the 19th century United States, when some Mormons adopted the practice in the Utah Territory. Historians say the federal government's role in resolving that conflict could influence how the gay marriage debate is handled.

Two auctions houses in Ireland are about to hold a joint sale of memorabilia charting the history of the Irish struggle for independence. Fonsie Mealy of Mealy's Auctioneers in County Kilkenny tells Liane Hansen about the auction.

Veteran broadcaster Robert Trout continues his series, recalling his political coverage over the years to tell the history of the Democratic Party. Today, Trout remembers how radio coverage of the conventions changed the way the public perceived convention news. In 1948, Northern and Southern Democrats were sharply divided on issues of race, as the country listened in. When Southern delegates left the convention in a huff, it became known as the Dixiecrat walkout.

2: Political and social comic, JIMMY TINGLE. He was featured on the album of political humor "Strange Bedfellows." He's also appeared on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "HBO's One Night Stand," and in Showtime's documentary "But Seriously" about American social satirists. TINGLE has a new one-man show, "Jimmy Tingle's Uncommon Sense," which had an off-Broadway run last year. It's just been held over through November 4th at the Hasty Pudding Theatre in Cambridge. TINGLE's show will be released on a new CD, "Jimmy Tingle's Uncommon Sense: Live from the Hasty Pudding Theatre" (Lyric Moon re

Liane speaks with historian Nick Salvatore sal-vuh-TORR-ee) about his new book, "We All Got History: the Memory Books of mos Webber." (Times Books) While doing some research, Salvatore discovered some otebooks in a library vault. They were the diaries of Amos Webber, a black anitor, who chronicled his life from 1854 to 1904. What emerged was a detailed ortrait of life for African Americans in the difficult decades following the ivil War.

What do Miles Davis, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bugs Bunny have in common? They're all hip, says John Leland, the author of a new history of that coveted but elusive quality.

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers Dimension Records, which showcased the demos of such songwriters as Gerry Goffin and Carole King.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back at the Jefferson Airplane. Their first four albums have just been re-mastered and re-released.

Long before a spirit of cooperation fueled mutual ambitions in space exploration, competition and fear spurred man's desire to rocket into space. NPR's Liane Hansen offers a timeline of manned space travel.