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The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu

June 22, 2007

UNM’s Hutton Moderates Billy the Kid Symposium June 30

A symposium, in conjunction with the current Albuquerque Museum exhibit “Billy the Kid and the Outlaw in America,” is scheduled Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The symposium is free with museum admission. The museum is located at 2000 Mountain Road NW.

Moderated by University of New Mexico History Professor Paul Hutton, the symposium gives Kid aficionados the chance to learn more than what is presented in the exhibit. Hutton is also guest curator of the exhibit.

“More than 125 years after his death, New Mexico’s most famous outlaw, Billy the Kid, is the inspiration for more than a century’s worth of books, movies and songs, yet so much of his life is unknown. He was even the subject of a recent state investigation to authenticate his death,” Hutton said.

The symposium will examine the reasons why Billy holds people captive to this day.

Following introductions, Robert McCubbin presents a reader and collector’s perspective on the Kid – his name and fame including the famous tintype photo, butcher knife and early books about him.

At 11 a.m., ¿Quién es? Billy the Kid in fiction, will be presented by Western writer Johnny Boggs. He will address what attracts fiction writers to Billy’s story – and how they keep it fresh and relevant.

Following a noontime break, the program resumes at 1 p.m. with writer Michael Wallis addressing how Billy the Kid continues to make news.

At 1:50 p.m., Frederick Nolan, founder of the English Westerners Society, will present “Where Do We Go From Here,” an inquiry into the unanswered questions about the Kid’s birth, father, childhood and more.

The program concludes with a panel discussion from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

The exhibit will be open until July 22. For museum hours of operation and admission fees, visit http://www.cabq.gov/museum/


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

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