Dr. Anne M. Butler, editor of the Western Historical Quarterly and trustee professor of history at Utah State University, will present a public lecture at Arkansas State University on Monday, April 7. The Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program will sponsor the event, which begins at 4 p.m. in Room 157 of the Museum. 

Her lecture is titled, "Cloisters Connecting: Catholic Nuns and Women Prisoners in the American West." 

Dr. Butler completed her graduate degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she specialized in the history of the American West, studying with the late Walter Rundell. Before coming to Utah State University, Butler served on the faculty of Gallaudet University. Butler is the author of "Gendered Justice in the American West: Women Prisoners in Men's Penitentiaries" (University of Illinois Press, 1997) and "Daughters of Joy, Sisters of Misery: Prostitutes in the American West, 1865-1890" (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1985). 

With Clyde A. Milner and David Rich Lewis, Butler edited the 1997 edition of "Major Problems in the History of the American West" (Houghton Mifflin), and with Ona Siporin, she authored "Uncommon Common Women: Ordinary Lives of the West" (Utah State University Press, 1996). She also co-authored "United States Senate Election, Expulsion, and Censure Cases, 1791-1990" (GPO, 1995) with Wendy Wolfe. In the area of the American West, Butler has published on the subjects of social history, popular culture, and several aspects of women's history.

Her talks and slide presentations on women in the American West have earned her many invitations to speak at workshops, conferences, and symposiums across the country. The recipient of several grants and awards, Butler has given more than 100 public presentations and has had extensive experience in television, especially with public broadcasting in Maryland, where she was a featured performer on "Black Is... " and "Women and the Law." Most recently, Butler appeared in "Outlaws, Rebels, and Renegades" for Turner Broadcasting and an episode for the "Real West" series, hosted by Kenny Rogers. 

Off campus visitors should phone or e-mail the Heritage Studies office to arrange on-campus parking for the afternoon of Dr. Butler?s talk. Please contact Terry Johnson. Phone: (870) 910-8217 Email: tlthomas@astate.edu. Also visit the Heritage Studies website for more information: http://www.clt.astate.edu/heritagestudies.

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