Voicing a Cause, Voicing a Self: Jane Addams at Hull House
Helen Lewis, Western Iowa Tech Community College

Throughout her long career advocating the needs of impoverished immigrants, exploited laborers, youth criminals, and war victims, Jane Addams valued Hull House, her settlement house in Chicago, as the center from which she and her colleagues could assist others, improve society, and benefit themselves. She trusted social democracy to restore dignity to the marginal. Her many publications reveal a person finding identity and purpose through her causes. The presentation, done in costume of the period, helps the audience to understand the path chosen by this Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

A Year With a Pioneer Family
Living History Farms Historical Interpreters

Pioneers often saw the passing of times as cycles of reoccurring activities—planting, summer, harvest, winter—each coming around again with its chores and pleasures. "A Year with a Pioneer Family" explores the rhythms of farm life and those who settled Iowa’s fertile prairies through their diaries, newspapers, and journals. Characters dress in typical pioneer clothing.

Stepping Stones: Rural Women’s Lives
Living History Farms Historical Interpreters

The critical milestones of the past in rural women’s lives may be illuminated by examining historical records such as women’s letters and diaries. This reader’s theater presentation, based on women’s letters and diaries, offers perspectives about topics rarely discussed in public in the past: Adolescence, courtship, marriage, childbirth and maturity. Characters dress in period costumes.

Additional Resources:

A Town Divided: Marshal Hank Horton Remembers the Villisca Ax Murder
Ed Epperly, Luther College

Sometime during the night of June 9, 1912, a killer or killers unknown entered the home of Josiah Moore in Villisca, Iowa, and bludgeoned to death a family of six plus two neighbor girls spending the night. These murders are referred to collectively as "The Villisca Ax Murder," and together represent one of the most celebrated crimes in Iowa history. It split the local community into warring camps, spawned several grand jury actions, a slander suit, two murder trials, several minor litigations, and was largely responsible for the formation of the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Marshal Hank Horton of 1912 Villisca, played by Ed Epperly in this one man performance, recounts his memories of this infamous event.

Additional Resources:

• The Rainsbargers: A Lynching in Hardin County (Video)
• Remembrance of a Robbery: Documentary of the Robbery of Strawberry Point (Video)

Building the First Transcontinental Railroad: A Visit with General Dodge
R. H. Fanders, Historian, Council Bluffs

This presentation attempts a first-person account of the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad by General Dodge, who was the chief engineer of the project. General Dodge recounts the reasons he was chosen, his reluctance to take the job, the incredible obstacles he faced and how he solved them. The presentation portrays the vivid struggles of shrinking time and distance to link the two halves of the growing country. The character is presented in full makeup and costume of the early 1900s.

A Journey of Discovery: A Visit with Captain Merriwether Lewis
R.H. Fanders, Historian, Council Bluffs

This presentation attempts to give a first-person account of the expedition sent by Thomas Jefferson to explore the Northwest Territory. Captain Lewis explains why Jefferson chose him, what his assignment was in detail, and how he went about preparing, organizing and supplying the expedition. He also gives highlights of the journey including numerous encounters with grizzly bears, stampeding bison and friendly and hostile Indians. The presentation is delivered in clothing worn at the time as well as with flint-lock rifles, ball and cap pistol, powder horns and other items from that period in time.

Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel
Tom Milligan, Professional Actor, Des Moines

In this 45-minute, one-man show, Grant Wood chats with the audience as if talking to an old friend across the backyard fence, or maybe at his home at Five Turner Alley in Cedar Rapids. He tells us about his life and how he changed the art world forever with his work. It is the man behind American Gothic that we hear and see in this prize-winning play, and the story of how he took the moments, the memories, and the people of our state, and showed the whole world the specialness of this Iowa. After the presentation, the audience is encouraged to ask questions of the actor about Grant Wood and his life.

A Visit with Walt Whitman
Bill Koch, Hawkeye Community College

Dr. Bill Koch has created a one man re-enactment of Walt Whitman, one of America’s most important poets. In this 50-minute presentation, Dr. Koch as Walt Whitman addresses a variety of themes of interest: Whitman’s Civil War experiences as a volunteer nurse; Whitman’s memories of Lincoln and a description of the Lincoln Obsequies; Whitman’s conceptualization of and explanation of the Soul in the American experience; the conception of personality and work in the American experience; and the American prairie landscape and the literature rising from the prairie. Slides and sound effects add to the enjoyment of this presentation. Audiences may also request that the show be tailored to specifically address one of the themes mentioned above.

Iowa Civil War Soldier: A Visit from the Front
O. J. Fargo, Green Valley Education Agency, Creston

After a brief overview of Iowa’s role in the Civil War, Iowans are introduced to a local Civil War soldier (played by O.J. Fargo) and the everyday life of a soldier. Audiences are encouraged to ask questions of the returning Iowa Civil War veteran, examine his attire, and look over his weapons.

President George Washington Conducts a Historic Press Conference
Clair W. Keller, Iowa State University

George Washington Historic Press Conferences are designed to engage the audience in a discussion with America’s founding father. After George Washington delivers opening remarks, the audience assumes the role of reporters and asks questions. Participants can even represent specific colonial newspapers (titles of newspapers are provided)! Clair Keller, who portrays Washington, can tailor the circumstance of the press conference to meet the interest of the sponsoring organization: "Reasons for Declaring Independence," "Review of the American Revolution," "Writing the Constitution," "Assuming the Presidency," "Retirement from the Presidency," or "George Washington as Colonial Farmer."

African Americans in the Civil War
Joe McGill, The African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa, Cedar Rapids

This presentation explores the African American experience in the Civil War. Presenting in a Civil War uniform, Joe McGill takes on the character of James Carroll, a soldier from Ottumwa, Iowa who actually served in the First Regiment Iowa African Infantry. Mr. McGill will also talk about Civil War uniforms and equipment, the history of the First Regiment Iowa African Infantry and the purpose of re-enacting.