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Free Public Events Highlight Dillinger Exhibit Grand Opening
Three programs, exhibit feature unique Dillinger perspectives, documents and artifacts
INDIANAPOLIS (July 14, 2009) - John Dillinger and his legendary gang tore across the Midwest between 1933 and 1934, robbing banks, confounding law officials and captivating the American public. Seventy-five years later, DILLINGER! Forging a Hoosier Legend aims to captivate and educate new generations of Hoosiers about America's first and most infamous public enemy.
Three grand opening events are scheduled on July 15, 2009 and will offer an exclusive look into the life of John Dillinger. They include (all times EDT):
Famous Hoosiers of Crown Hill Cemetery
12:00-1:00 p.m., History Reference Room
Crown Hill Cemetery is the country's third largest cemetery and the final resting place for a diverse group of Hoosiers. Visit the Indiana State Library to learn about the founding of the cemetery, history, architecture, and John Dillinger and other notable persons buried in the historic grounds. Presented by Rachael Heger, Indiana Collection Supervisor.Banking with Dillinger
1:30-2:30 p.m., Indiana Authors Room
Join author Carol Sissom and Dillinger descendents Mike Thompson (son of John Dillinger's half-sister Frances) and his son and federal police officer Travis Thompson for a presentation and Q&A session that delves into the personal and family life of John Dillinger as featured in the book Banking with Dillinger. True Crime Writer and detective Carol Sissom visits the John Dillinger family and reveals a spell binding account of what "Public Enemy Number One" was really like. Banking with Dillinger is the true story about one of the most famous criminals in American History.Dillinger the Hoosier: America's First Public Enemy
3:00-4:00 p.m., Indiana Authors Room
A special forum with Jeff Scalf, great-nephew of John Dillinger, will look into John Dillinger the Hoosier and talk about the new hit movie Public Enemies. Mr. Scalf will give a thirty-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session. Recently, he rubbed elbows with the cast of Public Enemies at its world premier in Chicago. Mr. Scalf is also the owner of Dillinger, LLC, which maintains the official John Dillinger website offering an extensive online compilation of historical information, offers for sale a large selection of John Dillinger merchandise, and maintains licensing rights for the name "John Dillinger".
The museum-quality exhibit will open at 8:00 a.m. and feature unique Dillinger artifacts, photographs and documents that will give visitors an in-depth look into the life of John Dillinger and what factors led this ordinary Hoosier farm boy towards a life of crime. With the concurrent release of the film Public Enemies, the exhibit will add a rich historical element to the public discourse. The exhibit will remain on display at the Indiana State Library through December 31, 2009 during normal hours of operation.
The DILLINGER! exhibit was produced by students from the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis with the assistance of Exhibit House through a grant from the IUPUI Solution Center. Historical materials used for the exhibit come from the collections from the Indiana State Archives, the Indiana State Library, the Indianapolis Star, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Features of the exhibit include letters and official state documents pertaining to Dillinger from the Indiana Department of Correction, the Indiana State Police, the Governor's Office, and the offices of the Attorney General and Secretary of State. Materials from the Indianapolis Star include original depression-era photographs and articles about Dillinger and his gang.
For more information about DILLINGER! Forging a Hoosier Legend, including exhibit hours, public programs, and destination information, visit http://www.dillingerlegend.org/.
Media outlets are invited to cover the Grand Opening of the DILLINGER! exhibit tomorrow. Please email agriffis@library.in.gov to set up a tour and interviews with headlining presenters.-30-
Media Contact:
Drew Griffis
317.650.6158
agriffis@library.in.gov
Link to this event:
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