December Author Talk: Joseph McMaster

Charles Street Jail by Joseph McMaster
Thursday, December 17, 2015—Noon to 1:30 pm
State Library of Massachusetts—Room 341, Massachusetts State House

Please join us at the State Library at noon on Thursday, December 17, for an Author Talk with award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Joseph McMaster, who will be speaking about his newly released book Charles Street Jail. Opened in 1851 near Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital, this elegant granite building was hailed as one of the finest jails in the country and was lauded for the humanitarian treatment of its prisoners. Also known as the Suffolk County Jail, this building housed some of Boston’s most notorious criminals, including future Boston Mayor and Massachusetts Governor James Michael Curley and Boston organized crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger.

Conditions in the Charles Street Jail deteriorated over time, however, leading to the jail’s closure in 1990. After sitting vacant for over a decade, this stunning building was eventually transformed into the completely renovated Liberty Hotel. This luxury hotel retains many of the architectural elements original to the building, including the jail’s expansive central atrium and catwalks. Mr. McMaster’s new book includes over 200 historic images, including photographs of the jail from the time of its original construction to its recent renovation, as well as photographs of the infamous prisoners who were housed within its walls.

Mr. McMaster’s talk on the history of the Charles Street Jail is free and open to the public, and copies of the book Charles Street Jail will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Please register online and join us on December 17th at the State Library.

Laura Schaub
Cataloging Librarian