>>> Item number 831, dated 94/09/23 08:57:25 -- ALL

Date:         Fri, 23 Sep 1994 08:57:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
From:         Chris Waldrep <cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>
Subject:      Re: TEACHING COURSE ON CRIME AND DEVIANCE

This message is in response to the query about crime and deviance.

Christine Heyrman emphasizes resistance to deviance in _Commerce and Culture_. She discusses attitudes about crime and nonconformity through an analysis of religion, withcraft, and outside interlopers in colonial Massachusetts.

In addition, why not consider the gendered definitions of acceptable and deviant behavior? In _Devil in the Shape of a Woman_, Carol Karlsen argues that certain women were singled out for witchcraft accusations because they seemed to challenge the boundaries separating men and women.

Finally, for a study of the crime and order on the frontier, look at Rachel Klein's _Unification of a Slave State_. --
Peter Kastor
University of Virginia

>>> Item number 832, dated 94/09/23 09:08:45 -- ALL

Date:         Fri, 23 Sep 1994 09:08:45 -0500
Reply-To:     Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
From:         Chris Waldrep <cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>
Subject:      Re: TEACHING COURSE ON CRIME AND DEVIANCE

>
> There are so many works out now on southern violence, lynching, etc. Which > ones would be best for a course of this nature? >
Books: _Urban Vigilantes in the New South_ Robert Ingalls

       _Anatomy of A Lynching_ McGovern (out of print the last
        time I looked but...)

Both of these extremely well-written, relatively short books are accessble, delightful to read, and provide a view of violence and criminality as a method of community control. --

|------------------------------------------------------| | Phil d'Oronzio | "Slightly taller than a shotgun | | pbd9a@virginia.edu | and more than twice as loud." | |------------------------------------------------------|

For a fictional account, see The KKK by Charles W. Tyler. Tyler was a judge which makes his justification of vigilantism and critique of the law more interesting.

For a useful article, see Laura Edward's piece in the North Carolina history journal. I don't have the citation right here because I'm at home.

Chris Waldrep
cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu

>>> Item number 824, dated 94/09/22 17:15:28 -- ALL

Date:         Thu, 22 Sep 1994 17:15:28 -0500
Reply-To:     Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
From:         Chris Waldrep <cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>
Subject:      TEACHING COURSE ON CRIME AND DEVIANCE

For H-South & H-Law:

I am Teaching a course in the Spring for junior & senior history students on crime and deviance in American history from the founding to today. The course will take a social history approach to the topic, exploring what the shifting boundries of crime and deviance tell us about our changing values.

I more or less have down what topics I want to teach and what books I want to assign through the 19th century but there seems to be such an explosion of material, topics and issues in the 20th century that I am a little overwhelmed at what to include and what to limit. I was hoping to get some suggestions for possible topics and readings for the 20th century.

I am particularly interested in scholarly articles becuase books are so expensive now-a-days.

Following are is my course outline through the 19th century:

WEEK 1: Course Introduction
WEEK 2: Theoretical & Methodological Approaches WEEK 3: Salem And Jamestown: Withces & Awakenings in Colonial America WEEK 4: The Prison and Plantation
WEEK 5: The Wild West in Myth and Reality WEEK 6: Southern Violence in Reconstruction and Redemption

Following texts for above topics:

Kai Erikson, _Wayward Puritans
Issac Rhys, The Transformation of Virgina Michael Stephen Hindus, Prison & Plantation Edward L. Ayers, Vegeance & Justice
David Rothman, The Discovery of the Asylum Lawrence Levine, Black Culture & Black Consciousness

A Few Questions:

There are so many works out now on southern violence, lynching, etc. Which ones would be best for a course of this nature?

Also, while I really like the idea of comparing Erikson to Rhys, that would be a lot of reading for one week. Does anyone know of some good articles on criminal and or deviant behavior in the colonial South?

Finally, are there any suggestions for fictional or autobiographical readings that might fit the topic? I really like Alex Lichtenstein's newly edited edition of Robert E. Burns 1932 expose I Am A Fugative From A Georgia Chain Gang!

Anyway, thanks much in advanc

"The Truth Is Out There...Trust No One"