100th Anniversary of the Lynching of Leo Frank

Leo FrankThe Leo Frank case is one of the most notorious and highly publicized cases in the legal annals of Georgia. A Jewish man in Atlanta was placed on trial and convicted of raping and murdering a thirteen-year-old girl who worked for the National Pencil Company, which he managed.  For 100 years Georgians have remained fascinated with this case and the lynching of Leo Frank.  The Southern Museum, The Marietta Museum of History and Congregation Ner Tamid all are hosting presentations about Leo Frank.  See below

 

Southern Museum To Host Leo Frank Exhibit

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will explore the 100th anniversary of the infamous Leo Frank lynching with a series of special programs and a three-month-long exhibit interpreting the event, from Aug. 17- Nov. 29.  The museum is located at 2829 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 (770) 427-2117

Leo Frank, the Jewish superintendent of the National Pencil Co., was convicted in 1913 of murdering one of his employees, 13-year-old Mary Phagan. His conviction followed a controversial and highly sensationalized trial that highlighted anti-Semitic sentiment in the state at the time and resulted in Frank’s lynching on August 17, 1915.

The centerpiece of the Museum’s efforts will be the “Seeking Justice: The Leo Frank Case Revisited” exhibit running from Aug. 16 until Nov. 29. The 2,800-square-foot exhibit includes one-of-a-kind artifacts from both Frank and Phagan,.  Listed below are a variety of events related to this exhibit.

  • Exhibit Opening Day, Aug. 17 from 9:30am-5:00pm: The “Seeking Justice” exhibit will open to the public at the Southern Museum on Monday, August 17. The Southern Museum will host a members-only preview, for members of the Southern Museum, the day prior on Sunday, August 16.
  • Centennial Remembrance, Aug. 17 at 2:00pm: Congregation Ner Tamid will lead a centennial remembrance of Leo Frank’s lynching. Rabbi Tom Liebschutz will lead the Kaddish prayer.
  • Community Conversation: Media and History, Sept. 21 at 7:00pm: Kennesaw State University will host a Community Conversation, discussing the role the media played in covering and sensationalizing the Leo Frank trial and lynching. The dialogue will be facilitated by faculty and staff at Kennesaw State University.
  • Community Conversation & Gallery Tour: The Past Speaking to the Present, Oct. 15 at 6:00pm: The Southern Museum will host another Community Conversation, where exhibit curators and historians will discuss the role artifacts play in shaping how we engage with and understand the Leo Frank trial and lynching.
  • “Parade” Performance, Nov. 19 at 7:30pm: The capstone event of the Leo Frank lynching remembrance is a special performance of native Atlantan Alfred Uhry’s Tony Award-winning musical “Parade.” The musical will be performed at the historic Strand Theater in downtown Marietta, and will be followed by a Community Conversation led by Uhry.
  • Encore Performance, Nov. 22: An encore performance of Alfred Uhry’s musical, “Parade,” will be performed at The Temple in Midtown Atlanta. Founded in 1867, The Temple is the city’s oldest synagogue and is where Leo Frank and his family were members. For a century and a half, it has built a tradition of social justice work. Following the performance, the final Community Conversation will take place, led by Uhry and KSU faculty.

Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes is leading the committee charged with fundraising and organizing programming.
“Conversations about events such as the lynching of Leo Frank are never easy, but they will lead to a better understanding of one another,” Barnes said. “When we shy away from tackling controversial and complex topics, we allow misunderstandings to fester. But, by having an ongoing dialogue about sensitive issues, we can understand not just what makes us different, but how our shared experiences have helped shape and define our cultures.”

The “Seeking Justice: The Leo Frank Case Revisited” exhibit is organized by The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit www.southernmuseum.org.  The Southern Museum is located at 2829 Cherokee St., NW, Kennesaw, 30144.  Call 770-427-2117.

Congregation Ner Tamid Free Lecture on the Marietta Lynching of Leo Frank

vanpearlbergSenior Assistant Attorney General and former Marietta City Councilman Van Pearlberg will be presenting a free lecture on the Leo Frank Case on the 100th anniversary of his lynching. The lecture will be held Saturday, August 15, 7pm, at Congregation Ner Tamid, 1349 Old Hwy 41, Suite 220, Marietta GA 30060. All are welcome.

The 1913 murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan at the National Pencil Factory in Atlanta, GA set the stage for an ambitious prosecutor; the credibility of witnesses; the resurrection of the KKK; the election of a Senator; the downfall of a Governor; the fate of a “Yankee Jew” and a lifelong secret to be kept by a 14-year-old boy till his 80’s.

Refreshments served before the lecture. Information: www.mynertamid.org  or 678-264-8575.

The Marietta Museum of History features Van Pearlberg

The Marietta Museum of History’’s Evening with History has taken a turn towards the darker side of history. This month is the 100th
anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank. Join former Marietta City  Councilman, Van Pearlberg as he discusses this darker side of Marietta’’s history.

The 1913 murder of 13 year old Mary Phagan at the National Pencil Factory in Atlanta, Georgia set the stage for an ambitious prosecutor; the question as to credibility vs. believability of witnesses; the  resurrection of the KKK; the election of a Senator; the downfall of a Governor; the fate of a “Yankee Jew”; and a lifelong secret to be kept by a 14 year old boy until his 80’s.

This lecture chronicles the events from the arrest of Leo Frank to his lynching in Marietta, Georgia in 1915.

This Tuesday, August 18 event, will begin with a Libation Participation” from 6:15pm to 7pm. The lecture will start at 7pm.
The event is $10 for members and $20 for not yet members. Memberships will be available for purchase the night of the event. Tickets are available at
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-history-from-the-dark-side-leo-frank-mary-phagan-murders-tickets-17442490960.
Inquiries should be directed  to 770-794-5710.  The Marietta Museum of History is located at 1 Depot St., Marietta, 30060.

If you can not attend one of these events and wish to know more, visit  http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/leo-frank-case for an in depth review of the events –