Events

Folk Arts Festival
May 31, 2008
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Memorial Park, Jefferson City

Jefferson City’s Memorial Park will once again come alive for a unique gathering of talented folk artists, musicians and craftsmen.  People of all ages will be treated to live demonstrations of traditional basket weaving, chair caning, loom weaving, soap making and wood carving.  In addition, visitors can enjoy good food, a variety of craft vendors and a beautiful park setting while listening to Native American flute music, blues and old time fiddle tunes.  At this festival everyone has a chance to take home a treasured piece of Missouri, hand-crafted by regional artists.  The event is free to the public, so come celebrate Missouri’s folk art traditions and see Missouri heritage come to life. 

Image: Wood Carver, Commerce and Industrial Development Collection, Missouri State Archives

Scoundrels to the Hoosegow: Perry Mason Moments and Entertaining Cases from the Files of a Prosecuting Attorney
June 26, 2008
7:00 p.m.

In Scoundrels to the Hoosegow, Morley Swingle shares over 30 true stories from his legal career, providing a “behind-the-scenes” look at the justice system.  Swingle combines actual crimes, legal analysis and humor to recreate his most entertaining stories of villains, heroes and ordinary people, from the crime scene to the courtroom.  Scoundrels to the Hoosegow describes the life of a prosecuting attorney and the “Perry Mason” moments that happen when unforeseen events cause a trial to shift direction dramatically. With wry humor, Swingle reveals the outcome of each scoundrel’s antics, and how each earned a trip to the Hoosegow.  Swingle has been the prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County for more than 20 years and has prosecuted thousands of cases, from misdemeanors to capital murder cases.  Some of his cases have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dateline, Arrest & Trial and Forensic Files.

Image: Missouri State Penitentiary, Courtesy of Dottie Dallmeyer

Programming at the Missouri State Archives is free of charge and open to the public, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information contact Emily Luker at (573) 526-5296 or emily.luker@sos.mo.gov.