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Kern, Bonnie, 1945-

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1945-

Biography

Bonnie Kern was born in Dexter, Iowa, in 1945. She completed her BA in Sociology at Drake University in 2000 and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling, also from Drake University, in 2009. A victim of physical and sexual abuse throughout her childhood, Kern was sentenced to prison for writing a bad check in 1963, two years after the death of her nine-month-old daughter in a car accident. She was released in 1969, the first woman in Iowa to be placed on the work release program. Her citizenship was restored in 1974 and eight years later she received an executive pardon. In 2007, Bonnie Kern published her book, Proclivity, a fictionalized memoir detailing sexual abuse, the death of her mother and daughter, and how Kern dealt with these issues afterward.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Bonnie Kern papers

 Collection
Identifier: IWA0797
Abstract

Iowa author who was a victim of sexual and physical abuse, served time in prison and later placed into Iowa's work release program.



Arrangement

Bonnie Kern's book, Proclivity, is shelved in the printed works collection in IWA.

Dates: 1945 - 2014