Author Talk – Sudden Deaths in St. Louis: Coroner Bias in the Gilded Age

The Field House Museum is pleased to virtually welcome Sarah Lirley, author of Sudden Deaths in St. Louis: Coroner Bias in the Gilded Age, on Friday, October 18 at 1:00 pm.

The scene of myriad grisly deaths, late nineteenth-century St. Louis was a hotbed for homicide, suicide, alcoholism, abortion, and workplace accidents. In her new book, Sarah Lirley shines a light on the Gilded Age coroners who investigated the causes of these deaths, finding their rulings varied drastically depending on who conducted them. The book’s fascinating case studies explore the lives of the deceased, as well as their families, communities, press coverage of the events, and the coroners themselves.

This virtual program is free with limited seats for the in-person watch party and limited availability on Zoom. Reservations must be made in advance at https://fieldhousemuseum.org/events/programs/, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@fieldhousemuseum.org.

About the Speaker:
Sarah Lirley is a historian who specializes in the history of women and gender, nineteenth century history, and the history of death and death investigations. Lirley is an assistant professor of history at Columbia College (Columbia, Missouri). She has published articles in the Missouri Historical Review and has written peer-reviewed blog articles, encyclopedia entries, and book reviews in a variety of historical journals. She has presented her research at more than twenty professional conferences. This is her first book.