Key to the Kingdom

The Kingdom is Southern Illinois, and The Key Ben Gelman writes about in yesterday's Southern Illinoisan newspaper, is a reliquary magazine that flourished in Carbondale and vicinity in the 1940's.

Gelman, who is himself something of a Carbondale relic himself, continues to write interesting pieces for The Southern, even after stepping down as Sunday news editor for that publication. He should have his own web page, if he doesn't.

In his piece, Gelman gives a fascinating account of the first issue of Egyptian Key, an unabashedly pro-Southern Illinois publication overseen by Will Griffith, published in an office on Monroe St. The first issue has articles on the Trail of Tears (which Griffith renamed "The Tragic Trek" because "Indians would never shed tears," and how Southern Illinois got the name "Egypt" (Never "Little Egypt," Griffith said, that name belonged to a 19th century stripper). You can read more about Egyptian Key, in Gelman's own words. Judging by his account, Will Griffith magazine also deserves a website of his own. I feel a grant application coming on.