Author visit with John Mallon
Enid, OK – June 8, 2024- The Enid Public Library will host author John Mallon and expand the Marquis James Room collection with a generous donation from Mr. Mallon.
Event Details:
• Date: June 15, 2024
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Location: 2nd Floor, Enid Public Library, 120Main Street, Enid, OK 73701
John Mallon, author of seven historical novels and a cousin of Marquis James, says he spent 20 years researching and collecting material in order to write his book, Marquis James: A Biographer’s Life.
Journalist, biographer, and Pulitzer Prize winner Marquis James moved to Enid, Oklahoma, at the age of ten. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, James graduated from Enid High School, where he began the school’s newspaper “The Quill.” James also worked as a reporter for the “Enid Events,” and he would go on to work at multiple other newspapers in cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and New York.
Mallon’s book collects information on James’ life from more than 100 books, 1,200 newspaper and magazine articles, and 7,800 letters. Mallon will donate much of his gathered resources on James to the library’s Marquis James Room, a room dedicated to James in 1964 that contains artifacts relating to his life and career.
“It’s clear that the community takes great pride in [Marquis James] being from there,” Mallon said, “I want all that information to be available for people to conduct other research.”
Mallon says he read James’ book “The Cherokee Strip” as a child, and his mother informed him he was a relative of James. As an adult, Mallon would come across another of James’ books and begin his research in order to write James’ biography.
Mallon will be at the Enid Public Library to showcase his new book and answer questions that attendants may have. Copies of the book will be available for purchase along with the opportunity to have Mallon sign copies.
“We are grateful for Mr. Mallon’s willingness to share his book, his experience with research and writing, and the extensive research that informed Marquis James: A Biographer’s Life,” said Library Director Theri Ray. “Marquis James is one of many people who grew up in Enid, Oklahoma, and went on to do great things. Marquis James is a fascinating example of Garfield County excellence. Additionally, Mr. Mallon’s visit is a great opportunity to learn from someone who found an ancestor they wanted to know more about and did the research to write a book. Mr. Mallon’s visit should be enlightening for anyone interested in Marquis James or in researching their family history.”
The event takes place at the Enid Public Library on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. This event is free to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. The library will have a copy of Marquis James: A Biographer’s Life available to check out in the coming days.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/378919591306205 or contact the Library at (580) 234-6313 by email at publiclibrary@enid.org.
About the Enid Public Library
The Enid Public Library is a vibrant community hub dedicated to providing free access to materials and services in a variety of formats while reflecting community standards to meet the informational and recreational needs of the community. The Library promotes freedom of thought, literacy, a love for reading, and lifelong learning.
Written by Hector Lucas, Library Staff
