"Viva l'anarchia": The Sacco-Vanzetti Case (Virtual)

THIS PROGRAM IS A VIRTUAL-ONLY EVENT. REGISTER BELOW BY LEAVING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO RECEIVE LOGIN AND CALL-IN INSTRUCTIONS (SENT TO YOU ONE DAY BEFORE THE PROGRAM). 

The Sacco-Vanzetti Case caused a world-wide sensation in the 1920’s. Two Italian immigrants; Bartolomeo Vanzetti & Nicola Sacco - both avowed anarchists - were convicted in a Massachusetts courtroom in 1921 for the robbery & murder of a paymaster and his guard in South Braintree.

They would spend the next six years languishing in jail while making motion after motion for new trial. After all legal avenues were exhausted, they were both sentenced to die. On August 23^rd, 1927, amid national and international demonstrations and protests, Sacco and Vanzetti were put to death on the electric chair at Charlestown State Prison.

The slide presentation is 90-minutes and chronicles the saga the two Italian anarchists. The story begins with the robberies in Bridgewater and Braintree Massachusetts and then turns to the famous trial at Dedham and the following six years of attempts to get a new trial. Next, the worldwide protests and demonstrations will be discussed and then, finally, the last days of Sacco and Vanzetti will be highlighted with a vivid description of their sentencing and execution.

The “Viva l'anarchia”– The Sacco-Vanzetti Case” presentation contains period photographs of all the major players in the case, the locations of the robberies, the courthouse, the massive demonstrations, Charlestown State Prison and the funeral procession down Hanover Street in Boston. Many of these photographs are rare and are not published anywhere. There are also many photographs of locations as they appear today.

Christopher Daley has been speaking all over New England for the past 30 years and virtually via Zoom throughout the United States for the past two years on historical topics of interest; at libraries, historical societies, schools and all sorts of clubs and organizations!

He holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Bridgewater State University in Political Science and History.  He was formerly the President of the Pembroke Historical Society and Chairman of the Pembroke Historical Commission. He was also a docent at the John Alden House Historic Site as well as Coordinator of Educational Outreach. Additionally, this past June, Chris retired from his position as history teacher in the Silver Lake Regional School System in Kingston, Massachusetts after teaching for 25 years. 

Chris has written several articles on varied historical topics for local publications and has written his first book entitled "Murder and Mayhem in Boston: Historic Crimes in the Hub.” Chris has also served as historical consultant on the Sacco-Vanzetti Case for the Travel Channel's program "Time Traveling with Brian Unger."  He also appeared in two episodes of the Travel Channel's "Kindred Spirits" in the capacity of historian on shows about the Lizzie Borden Case.

Chris' wife Cathy is his fellow researcher and travels along as DaleyHistory's Professional Photographer.  Christopher and his wife reside in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.