Date of Award

5-2011

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

History

First Advisor

Dr. Jan Roush

Abstract

The following thesis is based on the role a legend plays in establishing and influencing a sense of identity and reality within a community and area, in this case the legend is of a massacre occurring in Almo, Idaho in the early 1860s. I found this legend of the Almo massacre while looking for an excuse to rock climb in the nearby City of Rocks National Reserve. I explored the Almo legend through interviews, historical documents and books and came to think that the Almo legend played a critical role in defining a sense of local reality for Almo, Idaho, both in the past and present. As time went on and I became more acquainted with the Almo legend and involved with the community, I came to realize the implications of the Almo legend were far more complex than I originally imagined. What follows is a description of both what I found in exploring the Almo legend and what I think it means

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on June 13, 2011

6-13-2011

Copyright for this work is retained by the student.