I am pleased to be at the Historical Society of Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge, NJ on November 13, 2025, to explore the fascinating subject of temperance and prohibition with a special spotlight on New Jersey. This talk on prohibition will shed light on the natin’s unique centuries-long effort to control and regulate alcohol consumption….
The Shadow of the Gallows: Capital Punishment in America – A Delaware Humanities Sponsored Lecture
Delaware Humanities has selected one of my research topics for inclusion in its 2025–2026 Speakers Bureau. My lecture series, titled “The Shadow of the Gallows: The History of Capital Punishment in America,” will be available for public programming across the state beginning November 1, 2025, and continuing throughout the 2026 calendar year. This selection followed…
The Dark Legacy of Patty Cannon: A Presentation at the Corbit-Calloway Library
SHADOWS OF THE PAST: THE DARK LEGACY OF PATTY CANNON SEPT 8, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. CORBIT-CALLOWAY MEMORIAL LIBRARY BY MIKE DIXON This program delves into the chilling history of Patty Cannon, one of the most notorious figures to prowl the Delmarva Peninsula in the early 1800s. Over the years, the Cannon story has been…
The Keeper of the Standards: Weights, Measures, and County Oversight in Maryland
In early America, local governments played a pivotal role in the daily lives of citizens, overseeing an array of public services — from administering justice to maintaining poorhouses, repairing roads, and collecting taxes. Among these essential functions was the regulation of weights and measures, a cornerstone of commercial markets and consumer protection. To safeguard trade…