1. "Roughead-Pearson Correspondence"
Posted by Edisto on Feb-22nd-03 at 11:17 AM

I've been looking for a remembered (and mistaken) reference to Lizzie's having gotten married after her acquittal.  I thought it was in Richard Whittington-Egan's "Chronicles of Murder," which includes some of a long correspondence between Edmund Pearson and William Roughead, a Scottish author of true-crime stories.  I haven't yet found the reference for which I'm looking, but I have found a few tidbits about Lizzie that are worth sharing.
In 1924, Roughead expressed a desire to own a copy of Porter's "The Fall River Tragedy" and mentioned that it might be hard to find and expensive.  Pearson found one right away and wrote to Roughead: "I had little trouble in getting a copy of 'The Fall River Tragedy' and the cost was inconsiderable.  I beg you to do me the favor to accept it, with my regards, and as a souvenir of the affectionate esteem which we both have for Miss Lizzie."  Pearson, of course, was a librarian and probably had cultivated many sources, but it does seem that the book might not have been as rare as we've been led to believe.  This would have been long after Lizzie's supposed efforts to suppress it.
Also, Roughead had never seen a picture of Lizzie.  Here's Pearson's explanation of why there was none in the Porter book:  "Threats were made which prevented him from printing Lizzie Borden's portrait, or that of Uncle John Vinnicum Morse."  Pearson says he didn't include Lizzie's picture in his own book because he couldn't find a satisfactory one; however, he'd later located one and sent Roughead a copy.  Roughead commented, "To me it seems a bad and cruel face, but I am aware how apt one is to read into such pictures the knowledge of their owner's guilt."  (Both he and Pearson were firmly convinced that Lizzie "done it.")

(Message last edited Feb-22nd-03  9:23 PM.)

If the economic and political POWER of the Bordens and their allies resulted from its banning from the local public library/ies, then the local residents would think it banned generally.

I once read that local libraries had a "banned" shelf hidden away in the their back offices that contain any work that the library administration (or local politicians) did not want in general circulation.

Are you old enough to remember when certain books were restricted to "adults" and could not be borrowed by teen-agers? "Mostly Murder" was one of them. Nothing that couldn't be shown on broadcast TV nowadays. [I know for a fact that this 1959? best seller was not allowed to those under 21 or unmarried!!??]

(Message last edited Feb-23rd-03  3:21 PM.)

Thanks for the tid-bits!
I was hoping for some while you persued a married Lizzie!
What fun!

Two people are getting hold of Chronicles now that you all have brought it up.!  Maybe more...

I'd been hauling out my LBQ's last night re-reading the  articles published on Pearson.

And yes, Ray I had heard of *bad* books that had to be specifically requested at the desk because they were not found suitable to be on the shelf in the stacks, but I don't know if that was true, in my own experience.

My mom used to play bridge downtown on Saturdays sometimes and instead of me staying home she would drop me off at the library and I would spend the day there. I had great fun.

One time (I am embarrased to admit this so remember I was 10!) I was browsing the arts shelves (theatre and fim) and came across this book about ballet and it had this cool cover with a noose and a scaffold on it a pretty green blue background. I was familiar with agnes de mille from her work on Oklahoma and Carousel (I loved musicals) and so I thumbed through it. I was intrigued by the subject and then I saw it. A clear as day black and white photo of a man lying on a couch with his head hatcheted open. I could plainly see his eyeball cut in two. I was shocked and appalled that this book was there for me to happen upon---I mean it wasn't in the true crime section, it was in the performing arts section! It totally grossed me out because it surprised the heck out of me. I was really upset and took the book over to the librarian and tattled on the book and suggested they put it somewhere where people wouldn't accidentally see those images of gore.

Remember, this was in the 1960s, well before I was to be bombarded with images of death and destruction in the movies and on TV.

Anyway, the librarian was really nice about it and I filled out a form with my complaint and don't you know it, the book was placed on the adult's only shelf behind the reference desk.

Years later, like 30 years later, I would be given that very book, that very copy of that book, by the Assistant director of that library as she knew of my interest in the case and they were getting ready to discard the book from the collection.

So, yes, Ray, libraries USED TO have an adult only section. Up until quite recently, actually. Other books on that shelf were tattoo books (nudity) and the anarchist's cookbook. Also books that would very often walk away never to be seen again. At least one copy of those often stolen books were kept there as well. It was like 1995 when the books on that shelf were finally dispersed to the circulating and reference areas---freedom of information and all that.

But you still have to ask for People Magazine! That one is usually ripped off the day it arrives on the floor.

I used to work in a library and could tell you horror stories about behind the scenes book repair we had to do, due to people that tore and cut out pages of books.  I do recall one of them was a Lizzie book and someone had torn out a photo of her, we got a photo copy of the page from a neighboring library on special paper and had to replace the page.

But, we also had certain books that you had to request at the desk because these books were stolen off the shelves, dismembered, etc. due to their content.  This was in the late 1970s, how sad. 

I'm so glad Stef came and told her Library story.
I bet she's got a million of 'em.

That was interesting too, Susan.  I also worked at my SCHOOL library and learned how to fix books.

I wonder how many Library connections we all have here in membership?

Back around 1970, our local head librarian kept "Love Story" hidden under the counter due to its "adult" content!

My contribution to "Library Tales."

A short time ago I borrowed a very rare set of three volumes of Phillips History of Fall River.  My library had to obtain the books from a Massachusetts library.

I was appalled at the condition of the books. They were literally falling apart. As a bookworm I considered this a major crime.
When I returned the books, I suggested to the librarian that she remind the Massachusetts branch of their rarity and value, and request they be repaired. Her reply was, "Oh, they probably don't have the time or funds for repairs; we share the same problem." What an attitude! About fifty cents worth of materials and a half hour's time would have repaired these volumes which are presently worth several hundred dollars on today's market.

Doggone it!  I fat-fingered the word "Correspondence" when I first typed this title.  I fixed it by editing that post, but all the rest still have it misspelled.  It's my fault, folks!  The rest of these people do know how to spell! 
If the libraries could afford a little archival tape, or whatever, people like me would be very glad to volunteer to repair their books.  (Heck, I might even throw in the tape.)  I've never worked in a library, but I do have lots of experience doing conservation of other types, so it couldn't be that hard to learn.  My problem is that when I try to volunteer to do something specific like this, I wind up getting put in another job entirely -- usually one that doesn't fit my talents at all.  It's the old "no good deed goes unpunished" syndrome.  I guess they figure if you're dumb enough to offer your services for nothing, you don't deserve a choice of assignments.  I was working (as a volunteer) at a thrift shop, and one of my coworkers said to a customer, "Complain if you like, but they can't fire me.  I'm a volunteer."

Edisto: I'll let you in on a little secret.  Up until a few years ago, every time I took out a defective book from the library, I repaired it before returning it.

Pretty sneaky, eh?

I don't know why I discontinued this practice.  Perhaps I was fearful of the conseqences if I were caught. . .

"O.K. buddy, we're from the Book Squad. We found your fingerprints on that last volume you took out and repaired. Stand up and turn around - I'm going to read you your rights." ("But officer, I didn't mean any harm. Oh no! Not handcuffs! What will my wife think when she reads about this in the newspaper)?"

(Message last edited Feb-23rd-03  1:37 PM.)

  William, I love that!  If only others were as conscientious about what treasures some books really are.  You are so right about it taking so little time and money to repair a book, I just don't understand it.  I remember the last Lizzie book I had checked out of a Phoenix library branch was literally falling to pieces, the pages were just coming out of the book!  It was a special request item and I would think that because of its status it would have received better care.  I did point it out to one of the librarians when I returned it and she made a notation on a slip that went into the book.  Whether it received the TLC that it deserved, I will never know. 

Some of you may know that I'm the director of our library in Ironwood, MI.  I've seen 'em all!  A few weeks ago, a lady brought in a book on teaching your dog how to....  The dog got the book and proceeded to chomp it up (we found out later).  Then she dropped it in the book drop. She paid for it after a phone call.  At first, she denied ever having the book.  We "lose" several books a month, most via theft.  And you should see some of the places people visit on the internet!  Some people are very irresponsible. 

Please, please return your books if you borrow them from your local library.

Joe

It WASN'T 'freedom of information'!!! It was a cheap and simple method to protect books with a small metallic strip hidden inside the binding. This prevents them from being stolen.
My county library lost a lot of books in the early 1990s before getting the funds for this security system.

If anyone finds some damage to a borrowed book, notify the librarian when you return it, so you won't be tagged as "the last borrower".
I once was sent a bill for an unreturned book. I went there to complain. Somebody put the book back in the shelves w/o checking it in!

Ooooh!  That is so cute!  However, I am surprised that I haven't seen your picture in the post office.  (Do they still do that?)