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The Archive

A collection in progress

Started: 04/09/25

A Brief History

Murder Pamphlets

The Paris Morgue

Introduction

The Media

The Perfect Victim Archetype

What Are High Profile Cases

Victim Exploitation

- Examples of High Profile Cases:

Elizabeth Short

Sharon Tate

Polly Klaas

Laken Riley

Amber Heard

Sources

My Sister’s Murder Isn’t for Your Entertainment - NY Times

Murder Pamphlets - National Library of Medicine

Murder Pamphlet Collection - New York Heritage

“No somos actores, está es nuestra vida” - CNN España

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Murder Pamphlets

[Trial of Professor John W. Webster Murder Pamphlet, 1850; National Library of Medicine.]

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The origins of the true crime genre can be traced back to 1550’s Britain, with the creation of the murder pamphlet. Ranging from 8 - 200 pages in length, these pamphlets were put together and published by local printers and posted in the town square, newsstands, and other public spaces.

These pamphlets often claimed to be true accounts of a murder, with illustrations and writing describing the trial and confession of the accused before their execution.

Despite this, the majority of them are believed to be fictional due to the prioritization of sensationalism and entertainment over accuracy.