Talk:Ma Barker

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[edit] Ma Barker's date of birth

Wikipedia is the only reference where I have seen this birthdate (October 8, 1873) for Ma Barker, and I am wondering what the source for this date might be. I have seen other sources that give her year of birth as 1871, 1872, 1873, and 1877. There's a photo of her gravesite in Oklahoma at www.findagrave.com, which gives her age at the time of death, but it is exasperatingly difficult for me to read. I am trying to contact the photographer to confirm the exact date. Jim Deutsch 19:54, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

In the brief biography in Bankston, Carl L. Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives Salem Press, it list her as born: c. 1871. Axelrod, Alan and Phillips, Charles (1996) Cops, Crooks, and Criminologists. An international biographical dictionary of law enforcement New York: Facts on File, New York, listed her birth as 1871-?. Halliwell, Leslie (1988) Halliwell's Filmgoer's Companion (9th ed.) Charles Scribner's Sons, New York; and Amende, Coral (1994) Legends in Their Own Time Prentice Hall General Reference, New York, list her birth as 1880. Rafter, Nicole Hahn (ed.) (2000) Encyclopedia of Women and Crime Oryx Press, Phoenix, AZ; Gottesman, Ronald (ed.) (1999) Violence in America: An encyclopedia Charles Scribner's Sons, New York; McDowell, Barbara and Umlauf, Hana (1977) The Good Housekeeping Woman's Almanac Newspaper Enterprise Association, New York; editors of The World Almanac (1990) The World Almanac Biographical Dictionary World Almanac Publications, New York; and Women in World History: A biographical encyclopedia Yorkin Publications, Waterford, CT, list 1872. I did not find any 1877 reference. I do think that 1880 is unlikely. I think that October 8, 1873 is just as good as any other date, given the lack of unanimity. c. 1872 would seem to be the most conservatively judicious choice. --Bejnar 23:23, 5 January 2007 (UTC)
The Oct 8 Month/Day is consistent with the "3 months" on her grave marker. I cannot make out whether it says 58 or 63 years and 3 months, or 53 or 68. Nor am I convinced that that grave marker is necessarily accurate. --Bejnar 19:36, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

Well the U.S. federal census of 1880 lists Arizona Clark as being age 6 (thus born in 1873 or 1874), born in Missouri and living with mother Emeline and siblings in the household of stepfather Reuben Reynolds in Ash Grove, Missouri. Mapjc 03:14, 23 October 2007 (UTC)


The date of marriage is also pretty suspect. While I suppose that marriage at age 11 would not be outside the realm of plausibility, I think it's somewhat improbable. Other online sources put the date of her marriage at 1892, but they are not themselves sourced, so I wouldn't change without something more solid to cite. Ceekane 04:02, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Maylene and the Sons of Disaster

I question whether the following paragraph is appropriate. --Bejnar 00:06, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

The Story of Ma Barker and her sons is also an inspiration to a Southern hardcore band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.Their Lyrics include perspectives of her sons, committing crimes. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster are currently signed to Ferret Records and have release one self titled album and their second album "II" will be released March 20, 2007.
  • I would like to achieve consensus that this type of material is not appropriate in the Ma Barker article, even though it may be appropriate in the Maylene and the Sons of Disaster article. No one has seen fit to add it there yet. Today I reverted the material just below. --Bejnar 01:59, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
Ma Barker and her sons were also the inspiration behind the Christian metal band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster (http://www.myspace.com/mayleneandthesonsofdisaster), founded by former Underoath (http://www.myspace.com/Underoath) vocalist, Dallas Taylor.
Yeah well there is a section of POPULAR CULTURE. Throw it in there with the other mislabled trivia that still basically has no reason to be in wikipedia. If you're gonna put the other 'popular culture' stuff in, put more of it, or one that is actually more relevant than just a name. (-Kid. 12:15, 26 March 2007 (UTC))
I can't quite distill out the meaning of the previous message. Is it sarcastic? To what does just a name refer? --Bejnar 22:37, 26 March 2007 (UTC)
Sorry, it was sloppy I know. I'm saying that the band is more than just a name. Most of the songs somehow tie in to Ma Barker and her boys which I think should make it more than relevant. (-Kid. 12:05, 29 March 2007 (UTC))

Yea! I am the second cousin to the Barker Boys. My father moved in with George when Ma and the boys moved out. They were living in Carterville Missouri at the time. She moved with the boys to Tulsa while George and my father Charlie Barker stayed on the goat dairy. I was born at Neosho Mo. and most of the relatives are there today. Ma and the boys are buried at Welch Oklahoma. I have all of the records of Doc's incarceration papers while locked up in Oklahoma. All corrispondence between law officers, postal inspectors and magazine reporters.The notification to Oklahoma prison from Alkatrez warden of his death, as he was to be returned to Okla. after he completed his life sentence there.My father whom is now deceased had many great tales about his uncle George, Ma, and his cousins as the grew up together as children. As you would expect all that you hear is not true and my father too may have changed a little bit of the truth just to polish it up a smidge to make it a little more hair raising. George may have had a little more to do with all this than one may expect. It was ok to be thought of as a drunk if it kept him from being suspect. He was never once thought of as having anything to do with the crimes yet the boy's and Ma loved him dearly.After all he is the one that took care of their bodies.Maybe was the real master mind behind the crime !!!!!!! Well that would sure put a big twist on all the other thoughts and facts. You know he kept a brand new model t. in the barn covered up with a tarp. ( not bad for a drunk in the depression days ) Huh ? Have fun with the stories . Roy Barker —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.245.32.113 (talk) 04:38, 11 November 2007 (UTC)