Steffan Vincent (1 results)

A Former Convict Who Became a Minister Lectures on Capital Punishment [Broadside]. Steffan, Vincent J. Escaped. Prison to Pulpit, Rev. Vincent J. Steffan of Philadelphia, Pa. Lecture on Capital Punishment. Thursday Eve., 7:30 p.m. First Baptist Church. Ames, Iowa. Admission Free. N.p: S.n., c. 1925. 9" x 6" (23 x 15.2 cm) broadside mounted on 8" x 6-1/2" (20.3 x 16.5 cm) sheet, bottom inch folded, text below headline, along with an image of Steffan in striped prison garb. Negligible light shelfwear and soiling, faint horizontal fold line to center, short tear along bottom fold. A well-preserved item. $500. * Steffan served two prison terms in California for burglary, the first in Folsom, the second in San Quentin. While in San Quentin he had a religious awakening. He offered religious counsel to fellow prisoners and began to study for the ministry. These events led to his parole in 1919 and a pardon in 1925. After completing the terms of his parole, he moved to Philadelphia and became a Presbyterian minister. The Pennsylvania Synod elected him the state's prison chaplain at large. Steffan divided his time between his prison ministry and the lecture circuit. State of California, Message of the Governor Regarding Acts of Executive Clemency 12.