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Bethalto Public Library

Adult Series Event - "Desperados: Notorious Lawbreakers of Early Illinois"

  • When Nov 25, 2008 from 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM (US/Central / UTC-600)
  • Where Bethalto Senior Citizens Center
  • Add event to calendar iCal

Adult Serieshallwas

"Desperadoes: Notorious Lawbreakers of Early Illinois"

John Hallwas

Reservations Required, Please call or come by Bethalto Library

Join John Hallwas for an exciting lecture and slide presentation that delves into the dark side of Illinois history, from the frontier killers at Cave-in-Rock to later horse thieves, bandits, and murderers. Groups such as the Brown Gang, the Johnson Gang, and the Berry Gang – and outlaws like Joe Brice, Ed Maxwell, and Frank Rande – will be discussed, and then slides, based on lithographs and historic photographs, will depict some of the outlaws and the locations associated with their nefarious activities. The lecture will also include comments on the early lawmen and vigilantes who tracked down the desperadoes.

John Hallwas holds a PhD from the University of Florida and recently retired from Western Illinois University. He has received a number of teaching and service awards and has written more than a dozen books and scores of articles on Illinois history and literature, including the recently published Dime Novel Desperadoes.

Hallwas will hold a book signing after his presentation.

Books will be available for purchase after program.

This Program is made possible by an award form the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General council.