Lecture and Book Signing with Art Burton

Art Burton, professor of history at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois, will present a program on Bass Reeves, the legendary U. S. Marshal from Fort Smith, on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at 6:00 pm at the Fort Smith Museum of History, 320 Rogers Avenue.

In celebration of the opening of the exhibit “Bass Reeves and Fort Smith’s African-American History,” the museum is honored to host Mr. Burton. An accomplished author, Burton’s most recent book is “Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves.” Earlier books include “Black, Buckskin and Blue: African American Scouts and Soldiers on the American Frontier” and “Black, Red and Deadly: Black Indian Gunfighters of the Indian Territory, 1870-1907.” Mr. Burton will lecture on the life of Bass Reeves and his time as marshal under Judge Isaac C. Parker and will also be available to sign copies of his books. An opening reception preceding the lecture will be held at 5:00 pm.

Accompanying Art Burton will be T. Baridi Nkokheli, Director of the Department of Sanitation for the City of Fort Smith. Mr. Nkokheli has depicted Marshal Bass Reeves since 2007 on behalf of the City of Fort Smith and has lent his support in fundraising with the Bass Reeves Legacy Initiative for the statue of the legendary marshal to be placed in downtown Fort Smith. For over twenty-six years he has been active in efforts to bring awareness of African American contributions to history to schools, churches and civic organizations.

Please join the Fort Smith Museum of History in welcoming our distinguished guest, Mr. Art Burton. This event is sponsored by the “Lincoln Echo,” the Bass Reeves Legacy Initiative, “Entertainment Fort Smith” and the Fort Smith Museum of History. Call the museum at 479-783-7841 for further information.