KT Lowe

KT Lowe

The American myth of Stagolee

The American myth of Stagolee

, , , , , Website
On the evening of December 25, 1895, “Stag” Lee Shelton  was doing the 19th century version of a bar crawl when he entered the Bill Curtis Saloon in St. Louis.  He took a seat next to William Lyons, and they talked about a number of different things.  But when the subject switched to politics, Lyons and Shelton, who whipped up support for opposing parties, began hitting each other’s hats as a form of retaliation. Shelton ultimately broke the crown of Lyons’ derby hat.  Lyons asked for five bits (about $1.25) to replace it.  When Shelton refused, Lyons took Shelton’s Stetson hat.  Shelton promptly shot Lyons, took his hat back and walked out of the bar.  Lyons died of his injuries only hours later.  … Continued
Talking books

Talking books

, , , outreach, Programs
Each of us has a book of stories of our own.  These stories, from travel and home to struggles and triumph, define us as individuals and as members of society, allowing room for fellowship, commonalities and inspiration.  On Thursday, November 7 at 2:00 PM, the IU East Campus Library will be hosting a Talking Books event, where members of the IU East and Richmond community will share aspects of their lives with others willing to listen. The Talking Books project is a rare opportunity for small group conversations about topics that many people are uncomfortable discussing.  Some of the stories to be shared involve survival, questioning faith, mental health challenges and immigration.  Yet they also include hope, reunion and a … Continued
This is Halloween

This is Halloween

, , , , Library Resources, Programs
With a documented history spanning roughly two millennia and traditions spanning across the world, Halloween is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States.  It’s also an incredibly lucrative holiday, with this year’s spending total expected to reach $8.8 billion in the US alone.  Halloween, according to folklorist Jack Santino, is a holiday that is intended to stretch borders – those of exploration, identity, marginality and, in some cases, rules themselves.  The celebrations, which involve costumes, jack o’ lanterns, candy, horror movies and remembrance of the dead, demonstrate a great deal of syncretism, blending Celtic, Hispanic and American traditions into one magnificent event. A mere sample of the Halloween-related items in the collection of IU East librarian … Continued
The 1619 Project and the legacy of slavery

The 1619 Project and the legacy of slavery

, , Research
In August 1619, the White Lion, an English privateer ship, landed in Point Comfort, a small settlement in the new colony of Virginia.  According to John Rolfe, a Jamestown colonist, the cargo was unique in the history of North America.  “20. and odd Negroes” from Angola were sold for food by the privateers “at the best and easyest rate they could.”  This event is the official beginning of slavery in what would eventually be the United States (although it should be noted that slaves were present in North America before then.)  The New York Times has created the 1619 Project, a set of free resources covering the legacy of slavery, including essays, statistics, maps and creative writing. A map of … Continued
It’s never too late for speculative fiction

It’s never too late for speculative fiction

, , , , books
It’s August – already!  Where did the summer go?  And you haven’t even selected your summer reading yet!  That’s okay.  Speculative fiction is ready for you no matter what time of year it is, and here’s a few picks that are sure to expand your imagination. It’s a really big world out there. But first – what is speculative fiction?  It’s a term that refers to a type of literature that, according to a quote from Robert A. Heinlein, could be described as “fiction about things that have not happened.”  Heinlein was a well-known science fiction author, with novels like Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers to his credit, and is widely considered the person who invented the … Continued