AUBURN — Historian Annette Vance Dorey didn’t realize nearly two decades ago where one small newspaper clipping would take her. She was drawn to the subject — dozens of women and girls incarcerated at the Maine State Prison at Thomaston, some of them convicted murderers.

Relentless research led to the publication of her book, “Maine Mothers Who Murdered 1875?1925: Doing Time in State Prison,” which Dorey will discuss from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 11, at the Auburn Public Library.

“Maine Mothers Who Murdered” reveals the long-forgotten stories of more than 30 mothers, ranging from 18 to 53 years old, who ended the lives of their children. Their sentences to hard labor varied from one year to life in prison.

Dorey tells the women’s stories with details of their disturbing murderous acts, desperate situations and dilemmas, family lives and vivid trial accounts, as well as some biographical sketches of their judges and attorneys. 

Her research led to discoveries about the early conditions and staff at the Maine State Prison and the pardon process, and the lack of services for female inmates. 

Dorey is now working on a book about Maine’s earliest female physicians, from 1850 to 1920. Her previous book, “Better Baby Contests: The Scientific Quest for Perfect Childhood Health,” examined the early national campaigns to improve child health and reduce infant mortality.

Dorey, a retired educator, did graduate work in developmental psychology and family relationships at Colorado State University. She was a professor of teacher education and human development at the University of New Brunswick. In recent years, she has been active on the board of directors of Androscoggin Historical Society and a genealogy hobbyist.

The 320-page “Maine Mothers Who Murdered” contains 90 illustrations and 23 data tables. For more information, visit www.Annette-Writes.com or email [email protected].