George Lawler Clip 3: A Blessing in Disguise

Collection: Queens Museum Oral History Project Records at the Archives at Queens Library: George Lawler

Date: Time Period: 1950s; 2014; 2014-08-21; Interview recorded: Aug 21, 2014 Material: Digital audio recording made using Zoom H2 digital recorder and Adobe Audition. Dimension: Total running time: 0:00:53

Creator: George Lawler interviewed by Abigail Banks Identifier: aql:18405 lawler_george_clip3

Description: George Lawler is the biological son of Thomas "Duke" Connelly, one of the men pictured in Andy Warhol's 13 Most Wanted Men series, which was covered up before its debut at the 1964 World's Fair. He and his sister were abandoned by Connelly and his wife following a bank robbery in 1955 and were adopted by Joseph and Mary Lawler, their aunt and uncle (Mary and Ann were sisters). Lawler's adoptive father told him about his past when he was fourteen. In the interview, Lawler talks about his family's history and reflects on the life he was able to have because of his adoption. Lawler describes his adoption as a "blessing in disguise". He wishes that Warhol's exhibit could have been about his adoptive father, whom he misses every day.

Title : George Lawler Clip 3: A Blessing in Disguise

Collection : aql:20455; aql:18354

Creator : George Lawler interviewed by Abigail Banks

Date : Time Period: 1950s; 2014; 2014-08-21; Interview recorded: Aug 21, 2014

Summary/Description : George Lawler is the biological son of Thomas "Duke" Connelly, one of the men pictured in Andy Warhol's 13 Most Wanted Men series, which was covered up before its debut at the 1964 World's Fair. He and his sister were abandoned by Connelly and his wife following a bank robbery in 1955 and were adopted by Joseph and Mary Lawler, their aunt and uncle (Mary and Ann were sisters). Lawler's adoptive father told him about his past when he was fourteen. In the interview, Lawler talks about his family's history and reflects on the life he was able to have because of his adoption. Lawler describes his adoption as a "blessing in disguise". He wishes that Warhol's exhibit could have been about his adoptive father, whom he misses every day.

Subject : Adoption; Father figures; Warhol, Andy, 1928-1987

Relation : Queens Museum Oral History Project Records at the Archives at Queens Library: George Lawler

Rights : Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.

Coverage : Locations discussed: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, NY Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (New York, N.Y.) Queens (New York, N.Y.)

Type : Oral history

Format : Digital audio recording made using Zoom H2 digital recorder and Adobe Audition.; Total running time: 0:00:53

Identifier : aql:18405 lawler_george_clip3