Presented by Hunt Schenkel

This talk focuses on some of the major problems of governorship faced by John Frederick Hartranft, the 17th Governor of Pennsylvania, 1873-1879. The post-war years of the 1870s were a time of economic boom and bust, but also serious political corruption and partisan rancor. Under these unfortunate conditions, Hartranft faced many difficult crises and criticisms, doing his best to avoid scandal and maintain civility. The lecture will focus on two of the biggest controversial events of his tenure: the activities and trials of the Molly Maguires and the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.