Re: [ARSCLIST] Recordings of lynchings?

[Gustavus Stadler <gstadler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the ideas, everyone.

In regard to the couple of comments that lynching was illegal and 
thus wouldn't have been documented: in fact, there were thousands of 
photographs taken of individuals standing next to hanged and 
mutilated victims of lynching, often in a party-like atmosphere. 
Lynchings of blacks were often committed with the tacit or explicit 
approval of law enforcement and the white community in general. The 
photographs were often sold as souvenirs. I'm wondering whether 
recordings were made with a similar purpose in mind. Anyway, if you 
want to learn more about this horrible practice of documenting 
lynchings as entertainment, I recommend the book _Without Sanctuary: 
Lynching Photography in America_ by James Allen, et al.

Gus

> see end...
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marie O'Connell" <azile50@xxxxxxxxx>
> >  When working at the University of Southern Mississippi & the Mississippi
> >  Department of Archives and History on their oral history interviews re: the
> >  Civil Rights Era in MS, I did hear mention of lynchings, but very little.
> >  and especially from the dates enquired about.  However, there is a radio
> >  broadcast done in the early 1950's with the execution by mobile electric
> >  chair of Willie McGhee.  It is rather explicit with verbal description of
> >  the crowd assembled and the mobile truck containing the generator, which
> >  they hold the mic up to as the power is turned on 3 times to execute the
> >  man.  I found it rather disturbing.  This one is found at USM and Dr. Curtis
> >  Austin would be a good contact person.
> >
> >  At MDAH they have recollections in the form of oral histories but also some
> >  film footage of KKK rallies and cross burnings.  I am not sure if there are
> >  any actual lynchings (I kind of hope there isn't).  Anyway, Elaine Owens
> >  would be good to get in touch with there.
> Keep in mind that lynching...REGARDLESS of the race of the "lynchee(s)"...
> was totally against the law, and thus hardly an event that would have been
> recorded for posterity...!
>
> Steven C. Barr


--
Gustavus T. Stadler
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of English
Haverford College
Haverford, PA 19041
(610) 896-1278