While researching the history of capital punishment in New Jersey, a peculiar artifact in the catalog of collections at the Atlantic County Historical Society caught my attention: the hangman’s noose with its twisted fibers and knots.1 This seemingly simple object, a piece of material culture, embodies a complex history that intersects directly with the evolution…
The Atlantic County Jail
As part of my ongoing research on the history of capital punishment in New Jersey, I recently completed fieldwork along the Jersey Shore. This included visiting various county courthouses, where I examined 19th-century court records. I also visited historic jails and local historical societies. Last week, I focused specifically on Atlantic County, where I investigated…
Temperance & Prohibition Talk at Court House Museum
I am pleased to speak at the New Castle Court House Museum on August 6, 2024, at 7 p.m. about the history of temperance and prohibition. The talk, part of the museum’s annual “History Revival” summer series, examines the historical attempts to regulate alcohol consumption over the centuries, with an emphasis on Prohibition. During the…
Oxford Newspaper Available Online
Old newspapers are a goldmine of information when researching genealogy and history, and a recent addition by newspapers.com has made an Oxford Newspaper, the Oxford Press, available to researchers. With editions spanning from 1866 to 1930, the broadsheet provides extensive coverage of Southern Chester County, PA, and Northern Cecil County, MD. This Oxford newspaper has…