LANCASTER, PA — LancasterHistory will host the program "Unlawful, Immoral, & Corrupting: Censorship and the Lancaster Law and Order Society" as part of its Collections Up Close series. This enlightening event is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, at 2pm at LancasterHistory.

For over four decades, the Lancaster Law and Order Society exerted considerable influence over the city's moral landscape, embarking on a mission to cleanse local entertainment such as magazines, comic books, and films from what it deemed corrupt and immoral content. LancasterHistory's program on April 6th will offer a deep dive into the society's rigorous campaigns that led to the banning of various films and magazines in Lancaster, aiming to maintain the city's "clean and upstanding city" reputation.

"One of the pillars of librarianship is the defense of intellectual freedom and the right to read, so it has been fascinating for me to take a look back at the Law and Order Society's campaign of censorship in Lancaster County,” said Aimee Caya, Director of Library & Research Services. “Their efforts to impose a specific moral perspective on the popular media available to Lancastrians raises complicated questions about who gets to decide the limitations of free speech and freedom of expression within our community that continue to resonate today."

Participants in the "Censorship and the Lancaster Law and Order Society" program will have the exclusive opportunity to view original items from the LancasterHistory archives, including a noteworthy pamphlet titled "The Moving Picture Menace" by Rev. Clifford Gray Twombly, and newspaper articles covering protests of local films. The event promises to provide attendees with a unique perspective on the historical battle between societal values and freedom of expression.

The Collections Up Close series, known for its engaging, conversational setting, allows LancasterHistory staff and visiting experts to showcase significant documents, photographs, and artifacts from the organization's vast collections. These sessions aim to uncover the rich stories behind these items and their contribution to understanding Lancaster County's significant role in American history.

Tickets for the event are priced at $10 for LancasterHistory Members and $15 for Non-Members. Due to limited capacity, advance registration is strongly recommended to secure participation. Interested individuals can purchase or reserve tickets online or by calling LancasterHistory at (717) 392-4633.

Don't miss this thought-provoking exploration of Lancaster's historical fights for and against censorship and its impact on public entertainment and societal morals.

About LancasterHistory
LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.

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