Terry Alford, John Wilkes Booth and the John Brown Raid: An Episode and its Portents

Containers:
Box 5, Folder 14
Creator:
Alford, Terry
Scope and content:

Describes the aftermath of John Brown's raid on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859. Brown was later apprehended, tried, and sentenced to hang on December 2, 1859, at Charles Town, Virginia. Documents the life and theatrical career of John Wilkes Booth, who would assassinate President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Recounts Booth's journey to Charles Town in 1859, with several Richmond, Virginia militia companies comprising part of the security detail at Brown's execution. Discusses possible psychological effects the execution may have had on Booth, and similarities between Brown's actions at Harpers Ferry and Booth's assassination of Lincoln.

Contains email re: paper not to be copied/distributed until Dr. Alford's book publication

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Parent restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Parent terms of access:
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. The authors retain the copyrights on their papers. The user is responsible to obtain clearance from the copyright holder for permission to use any materials in excess of fair use.For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).