LancasterHistory To Host Virtual Presentation on 19th-Century Female Criminals of Lancaster County and Southeastern PA

Behind the Bars: Unveiling the Hidden Stories of 19th-Century Female Criminals

LANCASTER, PA — Delve into the untold stories of 19th-century women entangled in the criminal justice system with LancasterHistory’s upcoming virtual presentation, "Behind the Bars: 19th-Century Female Criminals of Lancaster County & Southeastern Pennsylvania." This enlightening event, featuring Dr. Erica Hayden of Trevecca Nazarene University, will take place online via Zoom on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 5:30pm.

Dr. Hayden, an associate professor of history specializing in 19th-century United States social history, will explore women's experiences in Lancaster County and the broader southeastern Pennsylvania region who navigated the state courts and prisons during the 1800s. Despite representing a small fraction of the criminal population, the stories of these women provide critical perspectives on the intersection of gender, race, class, and law during this era.

The presentation on March 14 will highlight individual narratives and place these women at the forefront of the broader discourse on criminal justice in America. Stemming from her extensive research and her acclaimed book, Troublesome Women: Gender, Crime, and Punishment in Antebellum Pennsylvania, Dr. Hayden's lecture promises to offer attendees a nuanced view of the historical intersection between women's lives and the penal system.

“We're thrilled to host Dr. Hayden for a talk that will dive deeper into the issues explored in our new exhibition Thieves & Vagabonds: A History of Law and Justice in Lancaster County,” said Dr. Mabel Rosenheck, Director of Education and Exhibition Planning at LancasterHistory. "We hope attendees will listen to the talk and then visit the exhibition to view related artifacts in person and see these stories in three-dimensions.”

The event is free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required to obtain the Zoom link. Interested participants are encouraged to register before the deadline on Thursday, January 25, at 5:30pm. Those unable to attend the live session can view the program on LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel in the days after the event.

Dr. Hayden's academic journey, from her Pennsylvania roots to her scholarly accomplishments, offers a unique lens through which to examine these historical narratives. Her work sheds light on the marginalized experiences of incarcerated women, contributing significantly to our understanding of America's social and penal history.

To register for this insightful presentation and more information, please visit lancasterhistory.org/events or contact (717) 392-4633. Join us in uncovering the hidden histories of 19th-century female criminals and their complex interactions with the evolving American justice system. 

______________________________________

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.

# # # #