Each year the staff of the Birmingham Public Library Archives present dozens of talks on a variety of topics to clubs, civic groups and other organizations in Birmingham and around the state. These talks, which are listed below, are offered free of charge and generally last 20 to 30 minutes. For more information or to schedule a program contact the speaker, Jim Baggett (jbaggett@bham.lib.al.us, 205-226-3631).

A 19th-Century Murder Mystery: The Hawes Murders and Riot

In December 1888, a mob of several hundred men attacked the Jefferson County jail in an attempt to lynch Robert Hawes, suspected of murdering his wife and two daughters. Sheriff’s deputies fired on the mob, killing several men. This talk explores the events surrounding one of Birmingham’s most infamous murder mysteries. (Jim Baggett)

A Woman of the Town: Louise Wooster, Birmingham’s Magdalene

One of the enduring legends of 19th-century Birmingham is the tragic madam, Louise Wooster. She became wealthy operating a brothel, claimed to have John Wilkes Booth as a lover and refused to abandon Birmingham during a cholera epidemic. Become familiar with the life of this fascinating woman, and explore why generations of people in Birmingham have embraced her in ways that she never could have imagined. (Jim Baggett)

Bull Connor and the French Girls Club : How to Succeed in Alabama Politics

In January 1941, Eugene “Bull” Connor, Birmingham’s chief law enforcement officer, surrendered to authorities for seizing the film French Girls’ Club to prevent it from being shown at a Birmingham theater. Connor served a 48-hour jail sentence and was praised by citizens and the press for his defense of morality. This talk explores how Connor, by deciding to go to jail, chose a well-traveled road to political success in Alabama. (Jim Baggett)

Common Bonds: Birmingham Snapshot Photography, 1900-1950

For more than a century the people of Birmingham have documented their lives with snapshots. From mothers chronicling their children’s growth to families playing in snow, this talk explores how snapshots reveal the common interests of all types of Alabamians. (Jim Baggett)

Every House Has a History: Researching Birmingham Area Houses, Buildings and Churches Jefferson County enjoys a rich architectural heritage. This talk will introduce you to sources available at the Birmingham Public Library Archives to help you locate vintage photos of your house, building or church; determine the age of the structure and learn who has lived or worked there. (Jim Baggett)

Handle with Care: Preserving Your Family Papers and Photographs

There are many basic and inexpensive things you can do to ensure that your family letters, scrapbooks and photographs are preserved for the future. This talk introduces the fundamentals of home archiving. (Jim Baggett)

“John Wilkes Booth is Not Dead!”: Birmingham’s Louise Wooster and the Strange Afterlife of Lincoln’s Assassin

Birmingham’s famous 19th-century madam Louise Wooster claimed John Wilkes Booth as the great love of her life. She also insisted that Booth had not been killed in the days following Lincoln’s assassination. This talk explores the likelihood of a relationship between Wooster and Booth and the enduring myth of a government conspiracy to fake his death. (Jim Baggett)

Old School Scrapbooking

From Victorian era school girls to a county coroner with an interest in grisly murders, Birminghamians often saved mementos in scrapbooks. Many of these late 19th- and early 20th-century scrapbooks are preserved in the Library’s Archives. This talk explores scrapbook keeping and keepsakes--visiting cards, photographs, letters, poems, theater programs, paper dolls, newspaper clippings--that people treasured and saved. (Jim Baggett)

Organizing and Preserving Your Church or Temple Archives

Every church or temple has a unique history that should be preserved. Learn the basics of organizing and preserving the historic documents of your congregation. Topics covered include what to collect, simple and inexpensive methods for preserving your archives and sources for archival supplies. (Jim Baggett)

The Monumental, the Mundane and the Macabre: Discovering 19th-Century Life in Alabama Letters and Diaries

From matters of love, death and politics to the price of shoes, nineteenth century Alabamaians recorded their experiences in letters and diaries. This talk explores life in the 1800s through personal writings now preserved in the Birmingham Public Library Archives. (Jim Baggett)

When the Blast Occurred: Remembering the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing

The 1963 bombing of Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church killed four young girls, injured dozens of others and shocked the world. Using interviews conducted by the FBI, this talk recalls the experiences of people who were inside the church at the time of the blast. (Jim Baggett)

Speaker

Jim Baggett Jim Baggett is Head of the Department of Archives and Manuscripts at the Birmingham Public Library and Archivist for the City of Birmingham. He has served as president of the Society of Alabama Archivists and Chair of the Jefferson County Historical Commission. A frequent contributor to Birmingham magazine, Alabama Heritage and other publications, he is the author or editor of four books, including A Woman of the Town: Louise Wooster, Birmingham's Magdalen and Historic Photos of Birmingham.