A GUIDE TO RESOURCES ON LIZZIE BORDEN
AT THE SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done she gave her father forty-one!”
Anyone familiar with the greater Fall River area has heard this gruesome rhyme and the crime behind it. In early August 1892, prominent Fall River citizen and businessman Andrew J. Borden and his wife, Abigail, were found murdered in their home. Not long after Andrew’s thirty-three year old daughter, Lizzie, was arrested and put on trial for the crimes. Although she was found “not guilty” of the murders of her father and stepmother, the case has lived on in infamy and information sought after by scholars and casual researchers alike.
Due to the popularity of the subject and the relevance to the local history of the greater Fall River area, the Somerset Public Library has maintained a Lizzie Borden collection in the Local History Room of the Reference Department. In addition, many resources on the history of the city of Fall River and other relevant sources have been collected. This pathfinder is meant to assist researchers working on school projects, as well as those with an interest in the history and local lore that surrounded Lizzie Borden to her death in 1927 and beyond. It may also serve as a starting point for scholarly and professional researchers, and suggestions for more in-depth research are included at the end of the source list.
Lizzie Borden Collection, Located in the Local History Room
Although these resources are Reference materials the library does have duplicates of many titles which are available for checkout. Please see the Reference Librarian for more information.
Biography
Goodbye Lizzie Borden / Sullivan, Robert
REF B BORDEN, LIZZIE
Former Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Robert Sullivan relies on the nearly two thousand pages of court transcripts to recreate and examine the Borden crime and trial. The author states his intent to wade through the legend and conjecture surrounding Lizzie Borden.
A Private Disgrace : Lizzie Borden by Daylight / Lincoln, Victoria
REF B BORDEN, LIZZIE
An account of Lizzie Borden’s life by a contemporary and neighbor who knew Lizzie from childhood. Lincoln claims that her unique position as a woman and an acquaintance puts her in a unique position to evaluate the evidence.
The Trial
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Lizzie A. Borden : The Knowlton Papers, 1892-1893
REF 364.1 COM 1994
Prominent Massachusetts attorney Hosea Morrill Knowlton led the prosecution in the Lizzie Borden trial. His letters and documents pertaining to the case were preserved by his family for many generations, and were finally published in this volume in 1994 by the Fall River Historical Society. An excellent resource for primary source material.
The Fall River Tragedy : A History of the Borden Murders / Porter, Edwin H.
REF 364.1 POR
Fall River Globe police reporter Edwin H. Porter published this work immediately following the trial, in 1893. Unfortunately Lizzie Borden made every attempt to ban the book by purchasing and then destroying the entire edition. Fortunately a few copies survived and in 1985 it was republished in as close to original form as possible. One of the few surviving contemporary accounts.
Forty Whacks : New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden / Kent, David
REF 364.1 KEN 1992
Written one hundred years after the murders; author David Kent and Fall River native Robert A. Flynn examine newly uncovered evidence and reveal what they describe as a very different picture of Lizzie Borden than her legend implies.
The Girl in the House of Hate / Samuels, Charles & Samuels, Louise
REF 345.025 SAM
This book, published by a husband and wife team in 1953, is a brief narrative of the crime and trial. Though it reads like narrative nonfiction, this source assumes Lizzie’s guilt, and views the case through a modern sociological lens.
Lizzie / Spiering, Frank
REF 364.1 SPI
Author Frank Spiering presents a more personal account of Lizzie Borden’s life and her relationship with her sister, Emma (whom some believe was the murderer). Spiering also claims to have solved the crime, and exposes Andrew and Abby Borden’s real killer.
Lizzie Borden : A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s / Williams, Joyce G., Smithburn, Eric, & Peterson, M. Jeanne (Eds.)
REF 343.1 L789
This work, which contains primary source material, attempts to place Lizzie, the Borden family and the murders in the context of the greater social, economic and legal context of Victorian America. The socioeconomic change in late Nineteenth Century Fall River is examined here as well.
Lizzie Borden : A Dance of Death / de Mille, Agnes
REF 792.84 D
Famous American dancer and choreographer Agnes de Mille’s account of the creation of her ballet, The Fall River Tragedy, which was based on the life of Lizzie Borden. de Mille famously altered the jury’s verdict to “guilty” in this ballet.
The Lizzie Borden “Axe Murder” Trial : A Headline Court Case / Axelrod-Contrada, Joan
REF 345.73 AXE 2000
Part of the “Headline Court Cases” series, this brief work sets forth the facts of the case as consistently as possible, considering the contradictory nature of the primary source material. It includes discussion questions and is written at a young adult reading level.
Lizzie Borden : Did She? Or Didn’t She? : As Recorded in the Historic Pages of the Evening Standard, New Bedford, Mass., 1892-1893
REF 364.1523 LIZ (OVERSIZED)
Original newspaper reports from New Bedford’s Evening Standard are reprinted here. Accounts range from the first report of the murder to the end of the trial (1892-1893). A must-read for researchers looking for primary source material.
Lizzie Borden, Past & Present / Rebello, Leonard
REF 364.1 REB 1999
One of the more recent and most comprehensive Lizzie Borden sources. Includes Borden Origins and Properties, Murder, Trial & Acquittal, Life and Death of a Legend, Creative and Performing Arts and Contemporary Interest. Author Leonard Rebello offers no solution to the crime, rather an extremely thorough account of the people, places and events that shaped this legend. Rebello’s sources are meticulously documented to the point that this source serves as a bibliography as well as a source of information about the case and is an excellent first source for any researcher.
The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook / Kent, David (Ed.)
REF 364.1 LIZ 1992
This sourcebook, endorsed by the Fall River Historical Society, attempts to wade through the legends, innuendo and biases surrounding the case and present relevant primary source material. Photos, sketches, court transcripts and newspaper accounts ranging from coast to coast are presented here, as well as a brief examination of the artistic renderings inspired by the Lizzie Borden case.
Lizzie Borden : The Legend, The Truth, The Final Chapter / Brown, Arnold R.REF 364.1 BRO 1991
Sets forth a controversial theory that the Borden murders were committed by Lizzie’s mentally disturbed half-brother first set forth by Henry Hawthorne. Includes photos and sketches as well as an Appendix of Lizzie’s inquest testimony.
Lizzie Didn’t Do It! / Masterton, William L.
REF 364.1523 MAS 2000
A former professor of Chemistry at the University of Connecticut, Masterson attempts to use modern forensics to solve this “whodunit”. Masterson, an amateur Borden buff, had help from and obtained many sources through many of the foremost Borden researchers.
Lizzie Borden : The Untold Story / Radin, Edward D.
REF 343.1 R129
Longtime crime writer Edward D. Radin builds a case to acquit Lizzie—and accuses the Borden family maid, Bridget Sullivan, of committing the heinous crimes.
The Mystery Unveiled : The Truth About the Borden Tragedy / Lunday, Todd
364.1523
The author of this work, Todd Lunday, is unknown, however his conclusions lead some to believe he may have been involved in the original investigation. Published in 1893, only a handful of the original book exist, and few cite it. A facsimile of the original work, owned by arresting officer Rufus B. Hilliard, was republished in 1990.
Yesterday in Old Fall River : A Lizzie Borden Companion / Hoffman, Paul Dennis
REF 364.15 HOF 2000
A unique glossary of over 650 people involved in the Lizzie Borden trial. This incomparable source provides information about the players in this case both before, during and after their involvement in the trial. Many inconsistencies regarding names and spellings are cleared up in this source. A necessary companion to any researcher delving deep into the Lizzie Borden story.
Studies in Murder / Edmund Pearson
REF 343 P
Credited with establishing a tradition of criminological literature, Pearson was a librarian and bibliophile whose research skills and access to source materials fueled his writing. This thorough narrative was published in 1924 and acknowledges that many questions regarding the murders will be left unanswered.
Piracy, Mutiny and Murder / Edward Rowe Snow
910.4 SB
Historian and prolific author Snow sets out to explore sixteen sensational cases in New England. His brief entry on the Lizzie Borden case is based upon his firm belief in her controversial confession (which was not allowed to be entered into evidence at her trial).
Young Adult
The Lizzie Borden Trial / Rappaport, Doreen
YA 345.73 RAP
Written at a young adult level, Rappaport’s work is part of the “Be the Judge/Be the Jury” series, suitable for younger readers. Includes photographs, diagrams and partial court transcripts.
Fictional Works
The majority of the Lizzie Borden Collection consists of nonfiction and reference works however the legend of Lizzie Borden has often been an inspiration to authors and artists and so the following fictional works inspired by the story of Lizzie Borden are also included in the collection.
Lizzie! : A Play in 2 Acts / Haskell, Owen
812.54 HAS
A two-act play written by a retired local teacher. Includes a cast list, set description, property and costume list.
Miss Lizzie / Satterthwait, Walter
Satterthwait, Walter
A novel set in 1921 in which another brutal hatchet murder in close proximity to Lizzie Borden serves as the catalyst for her to finally clear her name.
Mistresses of Mystery: Two Centuries of Suspense Stories by the Gentle Sex / Manley, Seon (Ed.)
808.8015 M279
Editors (and sisters) Seon Manley and Gogo Lewis selected these nine works of mystery and suspense written by women authors. Preceded by an introduction from the editors, Lillian De La Torre’s play “Good-bye, Miss Lizzie Borden” is served with a twist.
The Passion of Lizzie Borden : New and Selected Poems / Whitman, Ruth
REF 811 W
New and selected poems inspired by the Lizzie Borden case and published in 1973 by Massachusetts poet and Radcliffe poetry instructor Ruth Whitman.
Lizzie Borden / Engstrom, Elizabeth
ENGSTROM, ELIZABETH
An extensively researched fictional retelling; focuses on the psychological dynamics of the Borden family.
VERTICAL FILES
Lizzie Borden- Vertical File
The Somerset Public Library maintains the following Vertical Files containing newspaper clippings related to Lizzie Borden:
Borden, Lizzie—Biography
Borden, Lizzie—Books
Borden, Lizzie—Centennial
Borden, Lizzie—Crime
Borden, Lizzie—Films, Theater, TV
Borden, Lizzie—Homes/Residences
Borden, Lizzie—Misc. Many other clippings and articles related to the history of the Fall River area are also maintained. Please ask the Reference Librarian for assistance.
Additional Sources
A dditional sources related to Lizzie Borden can be found by searching the SAILS Network catalog, e-catalog, using the search term: Borden, Lizzie, 1860-1927
The Cases That Haunt Us / Douglas, John E.
364.1523 DOU 2001
Co-written by veteran FBI agent and profiler John Douglas, this book examines six unsolved cases, including the Borden case, from a modern behavioral and forensic perspective.
The Good, The Bad & The Mad : Weird People in American History / Floyd, E. Randall
920. 073 FLO 1999
A brief entry on Lizzie Borden attempts to explain her cultural significance and details the impact that the trial had on the rest of her life.
Great Courtroom Battles / Rubenstein, Richard E. (Ed.)
345.73 R
Emphasis is placed on the legal aspects of the Lizzie Borden Trial. British writer Edgar Lustgarten does not attempt to solve the crime, but rather to explore the dynamics of the courtroom battle.
The Most Evil Women in History / Klein, Shelley
364.15 KLE 2003
From the title of this work one could guess that the author assumes Lizzie’s guilt. This source does, however, provide a very detailed timeline of the days leading up to the murders.
Fall River History (LOCAL History collection)
History of Fall River / Fenner, Henry MilneREF 974.48 FEN 1906
Also available online through the SAILS Network.
Prepared under the direction of a “committee of prominent citizens” appointed by Major John T. Coughlin in the early Twentieth Century. Explores the history of Fall River, dating back to the time of the Wampanoag Indians. The chapters are divided into major subject areas of growth.
The Phillips History of Fall River / Phillips, Arthur S.
REF 974.4 P VI
REF 974.4 P VII
Also available online through the SAILS Network.
The author of this work, Arthur Sherman Phillips, was a lawyer in Fall River and coincidentally, served on Lizzie Borden’s defense. Unfortunately he passed away before seeing the second volume of this work published; however the source serves as a comprehensive early history of the Fall River area.
Historic Fall River / Rosebrock, Ellen Fletcher
REF 974.4 R798
An analysis of the architecture and neighborhoods of Fall River, focusing on the historic landmarks of the city. A unique perspective on the character of the city of Fall River.
Fall River: A Pictorial History / Judith A. Boss
REF 974.4 B745
An excellent source of pictures which range from the early nineteenth century to the nineteen-eighties; arranged chronologically. Contains a section on the famous Borden murders, including crime scene photos.
Victorian Vistas: Fall River, 1886-1900 / Philip T. Silvia, Jr. (Ed)
REF 974.4 SIL 1992
A collection of primary source material related to the history of labor and social class in the city of Fall River. Though this work includes a brief section on the Borden trial (including a copy of her arrest record) it is even more valuable for the information presented about the socioeconomic climate of the city at the time of the murders. Considering the economic factors presented at trial this is an invaluable source to the serious researcher.
DATABASES
The following databases are available through the SAILS Network using your library card. Academic OneFile
Biography Resource Center
Expanded Academic ASAP
InfoTrac General OneFile
Massachusetts NewstandAccess to the The Berkshire Eagle; Pittsfield, Boston Globe; Boston, Boston Herald; Boston, BusinessWest; Chicopee, Gazette; Haverhill, New England Business; Dublin, New York Times; Late Edition, New York Times Book Review, New York Times Magazine, North Adams Transcript; North Adams, The Patriot Ledger; Quincy, Plymouth County Business Review; Pembroke, The Providence Journal; Providence, The Providence Sunday Journal; Providence, Sentinel & Enterprise; Fitchburg, Standard Times; New Bedford, The Sun; Lowell, Telegram & Gazette; Worcester, Wall Street Journal; Eastern edition PowerSearch Gale Databases
WEBSITES
Please note: the library is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any Internet source.
Research
Fall River Historical Society
Lizzie Borden Collection
One of the foremost collections of Lizzie Borden information and memorabilia. The Fall River Historical Society maintains the handleless hatchet said to have been used in the crime as well as crime scene photographs and other documents pertaining to the case. A must-see for any Lizzie Borden researcher.
Crime Library
Lizzie Borden: Did she take an axe and murder her father and stepmother?
TruTV’s Crime Library website.
Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum & Library
Site run by Pear Tree Press. Contains a virtual museum, blog and even a literary journal. A wealth of information.
Historical Investigation Into the Past: The Lizzie Borden/ Fall River Case Study
Created by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “Using late nineteenth century primary source materials from the Lizzie Borden axe murder trial and from Fall River, Massachusetts, this project teaches students at all levels to reconstruct the historical past using their own ideas and explorations to explore the evidence at hand. The virtual archive and tools developed for this project include materials not generally available anywhere else for study.” A work in progress.
Famous Trials: Lizzie Borden, 1893
University of Missouri-Kansas School of Law
An examination of the Lizzie Borden trial with emphasis on the legal issues and impact of the trial.
General Interest
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast / Museum
In 1996 the home where the murders took place, 92 Second Street, was turned into a Bed & Breakfast. Visitors can tour the crime scenes, sleep in the Bordens’ rooms and even partake in the breakfast foods the Bordens ate on the morning of the murders.
Lizzie Borden Society Forum
“A free society devoted to the serious discussion of the Borden murders of 1892, Fall River, and Victorian America”
Tattered Fabric: Fall River’s Lizzie Borden
Blog run by an amateur Lizzie Borden researcher who has been studying the Borden case and collecting memorabilia for over forty years.
Lizzie Borden: Warps and Wefts Blog
A Blog about Lizzie Borden, the Borden murders and the Victorian Age in Fall River.
Pear Essential Productions
Home of the Bordenians, a stage group that brings Lizzie Borden to life.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information we suggest the following organizations (all of the following organizations hold primary source material pertaining to the case, as well as extensive secondary source collections):
Fall River Historical Society
451 Rock Street
Fall River, MA 02720
508-679-1071
Fall River Public Library
104 North Main Street
Fall River, MA 02720
508-324-2700
Fall River Police Department
685 Pleasant Street
Fall River, MA 02721
Anyone familiar with the greater Fall River area has heard this gruesome rhyme and the crime behind it. In early August 1892, prominent Fall River citizen and businessman Andrew J. Borden and his wife, Abigail, were found murdered in their home. Not long after Andrew’s thirty-three year old daughter, Lizzie, was arrested and put on trial for the crimes. Although she was found “not guilty” of the murders of her father and stepmother, the case has lived on in infamy and information sought after by scholars and casual researchers alike.
Due to the popularity of the subject and the relevance to the local history of the greater Fall River area, the Somerset Public Library has maintained a Lizzie Borden collection in the Local History Room of the Reference Department. In addition, many resources on the history of the city of Fall River and other relevant sources have been collected. This pathfinder is meant to assist researchers working on school projects, as well as those with an interest in the history and local lore that surrounded Lizzie Borden to her death in 1927 and beyond. It may also serve as a starting point for scholarly and professional researchers, and suggestions for more in-depth research are included at the end of the source list.
Lizzie Borden Collection, Located in the Local History Room
Although these resources are Reference materials the library does have duplicates of many titles which are available for checkout. Please see the Reference Librarian for more information.
Biography
Goodbye Lizzie Borden / Sullivan, Robert
REF B BORDEN, LIZZIE
Former Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Robert Sullivan relies on the nearly two thousand pages of court transcripts to recreate and examine the Borden crime and trial. The author states his intent to wade through the legend and conjecture surrounding Lizzie Borden.
A Private Disgrace : Lizzie Borden by Daylight / Lincoln, Victoria
REF B BORDEN, LIZZIE
An account of Lizzie Borden’s life by a contemporary and neighbor who knew Lizzie from childhood. Lincoln claims that her unique position as a woman and an acquaintance puts her in a unique position to evaluate the evidence.
The Trial
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Lizzie A. Borden : The Knowlton Papers, 1892-1893
REF 364.1 COM 1994
Prominent Massachusetts attorney Hosea Morrill Knowlton led the prosecution in the Lizzie Borden trial. His letters and documents pertaining to the case were preserved by his family for many generations, and were finally published in this volume in 1994 by the Fall River Historical Society. An excellent resource for primary source material.
The Fall River Tragedy : A History of the Borden Murders / Porter, Edwin H.
REF 364.1 POR
Fall River Globe police reporter Edwin H. Porter published this work immediately following the trial, in 1893. Unfortunately Lizzie Borden made every attempt to ban the book by purchasing and then destroying the entire edition. Fortunately a few copies survived and in 1985 it was republished in as close to original form as possible. One of the few surviving contemporary accounts.
Forty Whacks : New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden / Kent, David
REF 364.1 KEN 1992
Written one hundred years after the murders; author David Kent and Fall River native Robert A. Flynn examine newly uncovered evidence and reveal what they describe as a very different picture of Lizzie Borden than her legend implies.
The Girl in the House of Hate / Samuels, Charles & Samuels, Louise
REF 345.025 SAM
This book, published by a husband and wife team in 1953, is a brief narrative of the crime and trial. Though it reads like narrative nonfiction, this source assumes Lizzie’s guilt, and views the case through a modern sociological lens.
Lizzie / Spiering, Frank
REF 364.1 SPI
Author Frank Spiering presents a more personal account of Lizzie Borden’s life and her relationship with her sister, Emma (whom some believe was the murderer). Spiering also claims to have solved the crime, and exposes Andrew and Abby Borden’s real killer.
Lizzie Borden : A Case Book of Family and Crime in the 1890s / Williams, Joyce G., Smithburn, Eric, & Peterson, M. Jeanne (Eds.)
REF 343.1 L789
This work, which contains primary source material, attempts to place Lizzie, the Borden family and the murders in the context of the greater social, economic and legal context of Victorian America. The socioeconomic change in late Nineteenth Century Fall River is examined here as well.
Lizzie Borden : A Dance of Death / de Mille, Agnes
REF 792.84 D
Famous American dancer and choreographer Agnes de Mille’s account of the creation of her ballet, The Fall River Tragedy, which was based on the life of Lizzie Borden. de Mille famously altered the jury’s verdict to “guilty” in this ballet.
The Lizzie Borden “Axe Murder” Trial : A Headline Court Case / Axelrod-Contrada, Joan
REF 345.73 AXE 2000
Part of the “Headline Court Cases” series, this brief work sets forth the facts of the case as consistently as possible, considering the contradictory nature of the primary source material. It includes discussion questions and is written at a young adult reading level.
Lizzie Borden : Did She? Or Didn’t She? : As Recorded in the Historic Pages of the Evening Standard, New Bedford, Mass., 1892-1893
REF 364.1523 LIZ (OVERSIZED)
Original newspaper reports from New Bedford’s Evening Standard are reprinted here. Accounts range from the first report of the murder to the end of the trial (1892-1893). A must-read for researchers looking for primary source material.
Lizzie Borden, Past & Present / Rebello, Leonard
REF 364.1 REB 1999
One of the more recent and most comprehensive Lizzie Borden sources. Includes Borden Origins and Properties, Murder, Trial & Acquittal, Life and Death of a Legend, Creative and Performing Arts and Contemporary Interest. Author Leonard Rebello offers no solution to the crime, rather an extremely thorough account of the people, places and events that shaped this legend. Rebello’s sources are meticulously documented to the point that this source serves as a bibliography as well as a source of information about the case and is an excellent first source for any researcher.
The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook / Kent, David (Ed.)
REF 364.1 LIZ 1992
This sourcebook, endorsed by the Fall River Historical Society, attempts to wade through the legends, innuendo and biases surrounding the case and present relevant primary source material. Photos, sketches, court transcripts and newspaper accounts ranging from coast to coast are presented here, as well as a brief examination of the artistic renderings inspired by the Lizzie Borden case.
Lizzie Borden : The Legend, The Truth, The Final Chapter / Brown, Arnold R.REF 364.1 BRO 1991
Sets forth a controversial theory that the Borden murders were committed by Lizzie’s mentally disturbed half-brother first set forth by Henry Hawthorne. Includes photos and sketches as well as an Appendix of Lizzie’s inquest testimony.
Lizzie Didn’t Do It! / Masterton, William L.
REF 364.1523 MAS 2000
A former professor of Chemistry at the University of Connecticut, Masterson attempts to use modern forensics to solve this “whodunit”. Masterson, an amateur Borden buff, had help from and obtained many sources through many of the foremost Borden researchers.
Lizzie Borden : The Untold Story / Radin, Edward D.
REF 343.1 R129
Longtime crime writer Edward D. Radin builds a case to acquit Lizzie—and accuses the Borden family maid, Bridget Sullivan, of committing the heinous crimes.
The Mystery Unveiled : The Truth About the Borden Tragedy / Lunday, Todd
364.1523
The author of this work, Todd Lunday, is unknown, however his conclusions lead some to believe he may have been involved in the original investigation. Published in 1893, only a handful of the original book exist, and few cite it. A facsimile of the original work, owned by arresting officer Rufus B. Hilliard, was republished in 1990.
Yesterday in Old Fall River : A Lizzie Borden Companion / Hoffman, Paul Dennis
REF 364.15 HOF 2000
A unique glossary of over 650 people involved in the Lizzie Borden trial. This incomparable source provides information about the players in this case both before, during and after their involvement in the trial. Many inconsistencies regarding names and spellings are cleared up in this source. A necessary companion to any researcher delving deep into the Lizzie Borden story.
Studies in Murder / Edmund Pearson
REF 343 P
Credited with establishing a tradition of criminological literature, Pearson was a librarian and bibliophile whose research skills and access to source materials fueled his writing. This thorough narrative was published in 1924 and acknowledges that many questions regarding the murders will be left unanswered.
Piracy, Mutiny and Murder / Edward Rowe Snow
910.4 SB
Historian and prolific author Snow sets out to explore sixteen sensational cases in New England. His brief entry on the Lizzie Borden case is based upon his firm belief in her controversial confession (which was not allowed to be entered into evidence at her trial).
Young Adult
The Lizzie Borden Trial / Rappaport, Doreen
YA 345.73 RAP
Written at a young adult level, Rappaport’s work is part of the “Be the Judge/Be the Jury” series, suitable for younger readers. Includes photographs, diagrams and partial court transcripts.
Fictional Works
The majority of the Lizzie Borden Collection consists of nonfiction and reference works however the legend of Lizzie Borden has often been an inspiration to authors and artists and so the following fictional works inspired by the story of Lizzie Borden are also included in the collection.
Lizzie! : A Play in 2 Acts / Haskell, Owen
812.54 HAS
A two-act play written by a retired local teacher. Includes a cast list, set description, property and costume list.
Miss Lizzie / Satterthwait, Walter
Satterthwait, Walter
A novel set in 1921 in which another brutal hatchet murder in close proximity to Lizzie Borden serves as the catalyst for her to finally clear her name.
Mistresses of Mystery: Two Centuries of Suspense Stories by the Gentle Sex / Manley, Seon (Ed.)
808.8015 M279
Editors (and sisters) Seon Manley and Gogo Lewis selected these nine works of mystery and suspense written by women authors. Preceded by an introduction from the editors, Lillian De La Torre’s play “Good-bye, Miss Lizzie Borden” is served with a twist.
The Passion of Lizzie Borden : New and Selected Poems / Whitman, Ruth
REF 811 W
New and selected poems inspired by the Lizzie Borden case and published in 1973 by Massachusetts poet and Radcliffe poetry instructor Ruth Whitman.
Lizzie Borden / Engstrom, Elizabeth
ENGSTROM, ELIZABETH
An extensively researched fictional retelling; focuses on the psychological dynamics of the Borden family.
VERTICAL FILES
Lizzie Borden- Vertical File
The Somerset Public Library maintains the following Vertical Files containing newspaper clippings related to Lizzie Borden:
Borden, Lizzie—Biography
Borden, Lizzie—Books
Borden, Lizzie—Centennial
Borden, Lizzie—Crime
Borden, Lizzie—Films, Theater, TV
Borden, Lizzie—Homes/Residences
Borden, Lizzie—Misc. Many other clippings and articles related to the history of the Fall River area are also maintained. Please ask the Reference Librarian for assistance.
Additional Sources
A dditional sources related to Lizzie Borden can be found by searching the SAILS Network catalog, e-catalog, using the search term: Borden, Lizzie, 1860-1927
The Cases That Haunt Us / Douglas, John E.
364.1523 DOU 2001
Co-written by veteran FBI agent and profiler John Douglas, this book examines six unsolved cases, including the Borden case, from a modern behavioral and forensic perspective.
The Good, The Bad & The Mad : Weird People in American History / Floyd, E. Randall
920. 073 FLO 1999
A brief entry on Lizzie Borden attempts to explain her cultural significance and details the impact that the trial had on the rest of her life.
Great Courtroom Battles / Rubenstein, Richard E. (Ed.)
345.73 R
Emphasis is placed on the legal aspects of the Lizzie Borden Trial. British writer Edgar Lustgarten does not attempt to solve the crime, but rather to explore the dynamics of the courtroom battle.
The Most Evil Women in History / Klein, Shelley
364.15 KLE 2003
From the title of this work one could guess that the author assumes Lizzie’s guilt. This source does, however, provide a very detailed timeline of the days leading up to the murders.
Fall River History (LOCAL History collection)
History of Fall River / Fenner, Henry MilneREF 974.48 FEN 1906
Also available online through the SAILS Network.
Prepared under the direction of a “committee of prominent citizens” appointed by Major John T. Coughlin in the early Twentieth Century. Explores the history of Fall River, dating back to the time of the Wampanoag Indians. The chapters are divided into major subject areas of growth.
The Phillips History of Fall River / Phillips, Arthur S.
REF 974.4 P VI
REF 974.4 P VII
Also available online through the SAILS Network.
The author of this work, Arthur Sherman Phillips, was a lawyer in Fall River and coincidentally, served on Lizzie Borden’s defense. Unfortunately he passed away before seeing the second volume of this work published; however the source serves as a comprehensive early history of the Fall River area.
Historic Fall River / Rosebrock, Ellen Fletcher
REF 974.4 R798
An analysis of the architecture and neighborhoods of Fall River, focusing on the historic landmarks of the city. A unique perspective on the character of the city of Fall River.
Fall River: A Pictorial History / Judith A. Boss
REF 974.4 B745
An excellent source of pictures which range from the early nineteenth century to the nineteen-eighties; arranged chronologically. Contains a section on the famous Borden murders, including crime scene photos.
Victorian Vistas: Fall River, 1886-1900 / Philip T. Silvia, Jr. (Ed)
REF 974.4 SIL 1992
A collection of primary source material related to the history of labor and social class in the city of Fall River. Though this work includes a brief section on the Borden trial (including a copy of her arrest record) it is even more valuable for the information presented about the socioeconomic climate of the city at the time of the murders. Considering the economic factors presented at trial this is an invaluable source to the serious researcher.
DATABASES
The following databases are available through the SAILS Network using your library card. Academic OneFile
Biography Resource Center
Expanded Academic ASAP
InfoTrac General OneFile
Massachusetts NewstandAccess to the The Berkshire Eagle; Pittsfield, Boston Globe; Boston, Boston Herald; Boston, BusinessWest; Chicopee, Gazette; Haverhill, New England Business; Dublin, New York Times; Late Edition, New York Times Book Review, New York Times Magazine, North Adams Transcript; North Adams, The Patriot Ledger; Quincy, Plymouth County Business Review; Pembroke, The Providence Journal; Providence, The Providence Sunday Journal; Providence, Sentinel & Enterprise; Fitchburg, Standard Times; New Bedford, The Sun; Lowell, Telegram & Gazette; Worcester, Wall Street Journal; Eastern edition PowerSearch Gale Databases
WEBSITES
Please note: the library is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any Internet source.
Research
Fall River Historical Society
Lizzie Borden Collection
One of the foremost collections of Lizzie Borden information and memorabilia. The Fall River Historical Society maintains the handleless hatchet said to have been used in the crime as well as crime scene photographs and other documents pertaining to the case. A must-see for any Lizzie Borden researcher.
Crime Library
Lizzie Borden: Did she take an axe and murder her father and stepmother?
TruTV’s Crime Library website.
Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum & Library
Site run by Pear Tree Press. Contains a virtual museum, blog and even a literary journal. A wealth of information.
Historical Investigation Into the Past: The Lizzie Borden/ Fall River Case Study
Created by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “Using late nineteenth century primary source materials from the Lizzie Borden axe murder trial and from Fall River, Massachusetts, this project teaches students at all levels to reconstruct the historical past using their own ideas and explorations to explore the evidence at hand. The virtual archive and tools developed for this project include materials not generally available anywhere else for study.” A work in progress.
Famous Trials: Lizzie Borden, 1893
University of Missouri-Kansas School of Law
An examination of the Lizzie Borden trial with emphasis on the legal issues and impact of the trial.
General Interest
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast / Museum
In 1996 the home where the murders took place, 92 Second Street, was turned into a Bed & Breakfast. Visitors can tour the crime scenes, sleep in the Bordens’ rooms and even partake in the breakfast foods the Bordens ate on the morning of the murders.
Lizzie Borden Society Forum
“A free society devoted to the serious discussion of the Borden murders of 1892, Fall River, and Victorian America”
Tattered Fabric: Fall River’s Lizzie Borden
Blog run by an amateur Lizzie Borden researcher who has been studying the Borden case and collecting memorabilia for over forty years.
Lizzie Borden: Warps and Wefts Blog
A Blog about Lizzie Borden, the Borden murders and the Victorian Age in Fall River.
Pear Essential Productions
Home of the Bordenians, a stage group that brings Lizzie Borden to life.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information we suggest the following organizations (all of the following organizations hold primary source material pertaining to the case, as well as extensive secondary source collections):
Fall River Historical Society
451 Rock Street
Fall River, MA 02720
508-679-1071
Fall River Public Library
104 North Main Street
Fall River, MA 02720
508-324-2700
Fall River Police Department
685 Pleasant Street
Fall River, MA 02721
