|
Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau Presentations: Directory of Speakers: |
|
Roy R. Behrens, University of Northern Iowa Remembering Iowa's Buffalo Bill: Never Missed and He Never Will William F. Cody (1846-1917), better known as "Buffalo Bill," was born near Le Claire, Iowa, in Scott County, just north of Davenport. By the end of his life, he had become what some have called "the most famous American in the world." He had been a Pony Express rider, an Army scout, a buffalo hunter for the railroad, and the founder and central attraction of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which traveled throughout the U.S. and in Europe for thirty years. This talk is an overview of Cody's life, both tragic and heroic. It was tragic because of the role that he played in the near extinction of the American Bison (he himself is said to have shot nearly 3000 buffalo in eight months), and, even more deplorable, in the subjugation of Native Americans. If his life was heroic, it was because of his later support of the rights of Native Americans, his friendship with many of them (most notably with Sitting Bull), and his link with such colorful characters as Annie Oakley and Wild Bill Hickok. As a Wild West performer, it is thought that Cody probably played to a collective audience of more than 50 million, including at various Iowa towns. This is a face-paced and entertaining 45-minute talk, illustrated by projected vintage photographs, film clips and animated graphics. Why Gertrude Stein Loved Iowa: A Writer's Outspoken Affection for A State that She Never Set Foot In Gertrude Stein was born near Pittsburgh, grew up in Oakland, California (about which she once remarked that "there is no there there"), dropped out of medical training, and ended up living in Paris for the rest of her life. An American expatriate of the "lost generation," only once did she come back to visit what she fondly called her "native land." At the same time, she had a surprising affection for the state of Iowa and for Iowans. "I have a weakness for Iowa," she once wrote to a friend, "Iowa is different from the others." When she did come back to America for a book tour in 1934, she agreed to lecture in Iowa City (on the second floor of what is now Prairie Lights Bookstore), but her visit was prevented by (would you believe?) an Iowa snowstorm. "I would like to have seen Iowa," she wrote later in an autobiography, "[because] you are brilliant and subtle if you come from Iowa and really strange and you live as you live and you are always well taken care of if you come from Iowa." Stein's fascination with Iowa largely grew out of her friendships with two Iowa-born artists, William Edwards Cook (an expatriate painter from Independence, who taught her how to drive), and Carl Van Vechten (a writer and photographer from Cedar Rapids, who became her literary executor). This 45-minute presentation is an informative and often amusing account of Stein's life and her Iowa friendships, illustrated by historic photographs. |
|
|
Galin Berrier, Des Moines Area Community College The Underground Railroad in Iowa The Underground Railroad, historians agree, is shrouded in myth and legend. Did it really exist in Iowa, and if so, when and how? Was it highly organized or did its "conductors" and "station agents" mostly improvise? Were fugitive slaves usually hidden beneath trap doors in cellars or were they more likely to be concealed in attics and garrets or outdoors in heavy brush and timber? What part did African Americans themselves play in helping fugitive slaves find their way to freedom? How many fugitives are likely to have passed through Iowa and how do we know if reputed "safe houses" actually existed in our own communities? These are some of the questions addressed in this inquiry into a sometimes controversial but always fascinating episode in Iowa's history. Where did they go from here? The Underground Railroad from Iowa to Canada Where did black freedom seekers go when they left Iowa? Only in rare cases can we trace their steps all the way to Canada, but we can be fairly certain that some were sheltered by Owen Lovejoy at Princeton, Illinois or hidden on board Great Lakes steamships at Racine, Wisconsin or aided by Quakers like Zachariah Shugart in southwestern Michigan. What challenges faced them along the way and what kind of life did they build for themselves after they reached safety in Canada? |
|
 Go to Top |
Richard Caplan, The University of Iowa Medical Ethics, Moral Dilemmas Should you have yourself cloned if you can't have children or need "spare parts" to prevent or repair a fatal illness? If genetic testing reveals a probability of your developing diabetes, would you change your lifestyle? These and many other ethical questions arise frequently for health care professionals. This program offers an opportunity to discuss these important questions with the founder of the Program in Biomedical Ethics and Medical Humanities at the University of Iowa. Sherlock Holmes in Turn-of-the-Century Britain The stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have inspired generations of readers devoted to Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Richard Caplan, an authority on Sherlock Holmes, recently published a book concerning Doyle's famous detective. This special interest in the subject also allows exploration of life in Britain at the start of the twentieth century, as well as providing much enjoyment. Using his background in medicine and his love of literature, Dr. Caplan explores the persisting phenomenon of the great detective's astounding longevity. |
 Go to Top |
Michael Carey, Poet, Farragut * Reading and Writing the Land/Farm Poetry Michael Carey will read from his popular essays, "Reading and Writing the Land" and "Translations," the latter of which concerns his move from New York City to a farm outside the small town of Farragut, Iowa. He will also present selections from "Local History, Poetry and Myth," which deals with how we mythologize our local histories through art. His humorous and insightful prose explores how culture and "agri"-culture cross-pollinate in the fertile Iowa soil. After reading the essays, Carey will read a selection of his poetry from his acclaimed books The Noise the Earth Makes, Honest Effort and Nishnabotna. All three books are inspired by the Iowa farm landscape. Carpenter of Song- Poems of Trees Mr. Carey will read a cycle of poems based on the Celtic alphabet of ancient Ireland. Every letter represents a tree, a month of the year and an aspect of being. Carey gives a rich and personal talk on the redemptive qualities of Irish natural, spiritual and poetic symbolism. He also writes and talks about trees native to the Iowa landscape. The ancient word for "poet" literally translated meant "Carpenter of Song." * Prior to booking Michael please contact our Humanities Iowa office. |
 Go to Top |
Hal Chase, Des Moines Area Community College Outside In: African American History in Iowa The program is a 15 minute audio-visual survey of the major people, organizations, and events in Iowa's African-American history from its territorial beginning in 1838 to the present. It also emphasizes the African-American history of the place where the presentation is made, and Dr. Chase works with local people prior to the presentation to uncover and incorporate this material into the program. In addition, audience members are encouraged to bring their stories, scrapbooks, and family albums to the presentation and share their content. Additional Resources: Outside In: African-American History in Iowa, 1838-2000 ($40, including shipping, from the State Historical Society of Iowa-Des Moines. 515-283-1757) All receipts from the sale of Outside In go into an account in the State Historical Society Foundation and can only be used to acquire, preserve, and promote the African-American history of Iowa. None of the authors has or will receive any compensation for their contributions. |
 Go to Top |
Robert Dana, Iowa Poet Laureate (2004-08) Poetry, Teaching, and the Public Robert Dana is available for readings, workshops, or discussions of the role of poetry and the arts in the 21st century. |
 Go to Top |
Rudolph Daniels, Western Iowa Tech Community College Trains Across Iowa Rudy Daniels describes the past, present and future of the Hawkeye State's railroads. The program explores Iowa's unique position in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and Iowa's great contribution to railroad safety. The talk also describes the famous streamliners that rode Iowa's rails. All aboard for an Iowa rail adventure! Additional resources: Tales of the Rails (Video) |
 Go to Top |
Debra DeLaet, Drake University Justice, War Crimes, and Human Rights Abuses War-torn societies face several difficult questions as they seek to pursue justice in the aftermath of violent conflict. To what extent shall individuals guilty of war crimes and human rights abuses be punished? How should new leaders balance potential tradeoffs between the goals of justice and peace? How can renewed cycles of violence best be prevented? This presentation will explore these questions while providing an overview of the wide variety of mechanism that have been used in an effort to pursue justice in war-torn societies, including trials, truth commissions, reparations, and official apologies. Universal Human Rights The idea of human rights first achieved a prominent place on the international agenda of states in the aftermath of World War II. Since that time, a large body of international human rights law has been created. Nevertheless, states with egregious human rights records are often parties to major human rights documents, and human rights abuses continue to be perpetrated across the globe. This presentation will present an overview of international human rights law and will consider the current status of universal human rights in international relations.
|
 Go to Top |
Darrel Draper, Omaha George Drouillard: Hunter, Interpreter, and Sign Talker for Lewis and Clark
Drouillard (1774-1810?), half French and half Shawnee Indian, was the
most valuable member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. When the two
Captains needed someone who could shoot straight, talk to Indians who
had never seen white men before, provide the 400 pounds of game needed
each day, bring back a deserter, or stand his ground in the face of a
wounded and raging grizzly bear, they almost always chose this amazing
frontiersman. Adapted from the James Alexander Thom novel, Sign-Talker,
this 45 minutes presentation, in full costume and French accent gives
the audience a taste of Shawnee culture and spiritualism as you join
Drouillard in the excitement of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. The Life and Times of J. Sterling Morton This two-act living history program introduces the audience to the life of J. Sterling Morton, from his birth in New York to his death in Nebraska City. Within five years after his arrival at Bellevue, Morton was twice elected to the Territorial Legislature, appointed Clerk of Supreme Court, became Territorial Secretary and was made acting Governor at the age of 26. The founder of Arbor Day would later become secretary of agriculture. Draper lends insight into Morton's failures and successes.
|
 Go to Top |
O.J. Fargo, Green Valley Education Agency, Creston Just Before the Battle Mother- A Visit from a Civil War Soldier After
a brief overview of Iowa's involvement in the Civil War, the audience
is introduced to a returning Civil War soldier (played by O. J. Fargo).
The audience is encouraged to ask questions and engage in a dialogue
with the "soldier" who will stay in character while answering. The
speaker will bring along a full roster of all men who served in and
from Iowa in the Civil war to enable the participants to check for
ancestors who served. Mr. Fargo dresses in full Union Army regalia for
the presentation and focuses the presentation on an individual
soldier's experience. Greyhounds and Hawkeyes- Iowa in the Civil War The program details Iowa's involvement in the Civil War from Ft. Sumter to the surrender at Appomattox. Although he focuses on the everyday experiences of a soldier in the field, Mr. Fargo also describes the situation on the home front and politics of the era. Audience questions are welcomed.
|
 Go to Top |
Dennis Goldford, Drake University Prayer in the Schools- Religion and Politics in America
Despite, or perhaps even because of, the lack of an established church
in the United States, religion has always been a factor in American
politics. Is a truly secular society possible? Does a government have
the capacity to be neutral regarding religious belief, or does any
government in effect amount to the establishment of a set of religious
beliefs? Additionally, in what sense and to what extent is it
legitimate to appeal to religious doctrine and belief when engaged in
political argument? Audience members are invited to discuss these
questions and raise other issues. Politics and Elections 2008 With the end of the two-term Bush presidency, the 2008 elections will mark a significant change in the American political landscape. With an eye toward the meaning of these elections for American democracy, this talk will explore the electoral dynamics and the historical and political context of the 2008 races for control of the presidency and Congress.
|
 Go to Top |
Phil Hey, Briar Cliff College From Clay Tablets to Chatrooms: Writing, Society, and Technology
Would society be better if all our poems and documents were written
with quill pen on parchment, as the Declaration of Independence was?
Could Dashiell Hammett have written "The Maltese Falcon" on a
word-processor instead of a manual typewriter? What we can be sure of
is that our writing media make more difference than we can measure.
Phil Hey, an Iowa writer and "writing coach" for over thirty years,
demonstrates the unique qualities of writing instruments such as quill
pens, rubber stamps, and calligraphy pens and talks about the history
of writing and how its technology has changed our society. Learning Where We Are: Natural History as Science for the Common Reader Twentieth-century science has increasingly become abstract, theoretical and removed from experience—a subject "not for amateurs." However, an older, more direct view of the world—natural history—is an area of science where the average person may easily explore the questions and values that have made science a great adventure for the human mind. This presentation introduces some of the most interesting questions raised by natural history writers and by the study of science.
|
 Go to Top |
Beverly Hinds, Sioux City Sacajawea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Sakakawea, Sagagawea, “Bird Woman”, or “Janey”:
Shoshoni Girl/Woman of History - however you pronounce it or spell it,
this strong young woman had a unique place in the history of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806. What is myth? What is fact? What is
fiction? One Sacagawea, or two? Guide, Interpreter, Wife, or slave? A
fascinating young woman and what the past almost 200 years and the
records have told us about her. Sgt. Charles Floyd: Who Was or Wasn't He, and His Untimely Death
One of the "9 Young Men From Kentucky" who joined the Lewis and Clark
Expedition in Oct. of 1803, time and genealogical studies have given us
more insight into his parentage and his life. The first American
soldier to die West of the Mississippi, buried on a bluff (4 times!)
near what is now Sioux City, IA, Sgt. Floyd has a never to be forgotten
place in the history of the 1803-1806 Expedition. The Medicines of Lewis and Clark The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 that took approximately 28 months, covered nearly 8000 miles and lost the life of only one member, had a very interesting medical supply list. What were the medicines and the medical practices of the time? Why didn't Thomas Jefferson send a doctor along? What allowed the members to survive the incidents that occurred? Could this feat be accomplished again today? What we know, what we surmise, and what time and records have given us, can make history fun.
|
 Go to Top |
Edwin Holtum, University of Iowa Revealing an Iowa Gem - The John Martin Rare Book Room The history of medicine comes alive as audiences see the images of and hear the stories behind the most important works in the collection, including Andreas Vesalius' epoch-making 1543 anatomy atlas and the fist edition of William Harvey's humble little book on circulation that overturned years of entrenched tradition and authority. Modern medicine is the story of bold initiatives, blind alleys, outlandish notions, discouragement and perseverance. Seeing the works and learning their significance engenders in us a much needed sense of wonderment, humility and gratitude. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made The human body has been a source of mystery, curiosity, and amazement since antiquity. Our curiosity continues today as evidenced by the interest we take in displays such as Gunther von Hagens' widely attended "Body Worlds." This presentation offers a glimpse at the human body as depicted by anatomists and artists through a firsthand look at images taken from the great anatomical atlases of the past. From the sometimes crude drawings of the early incunables to the lavish and striking engravings and lithographs of subsequent generations, these depictions parallel our increasing understanding of the structure and function of the most complex of all creations.
|
 Go to Top |
Gail Geo. Holmes, Historical Writer Lewis and Clark's Perilous 1804 Middle Passage
The Middle Missouri Valley between Iowa and Nebraska and halfway
through South Dakota was a severe 1804 test for Captain's Lewis and
Clark. Burdened with the responsibility of informing Indian tribes of
the shift from French and Spanish to American government oversight,
they found it was difficult to find tribes at home during the hunting
season. Here they experienced their only desertion and death of the
entire expedition and, unbeknownst to them and due to their prompt
dispatch, they escaped a Spanish military attempt to arrest or destroy
the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Nebraska or Iowa. With the aid of
audio-visual material, audiences at this presentation will learn many
facts about the expedition in the Middle Missouri Valley that are
traditionally overlooked or dismissed. Lewis and Clark's Footprints in the Middle Missouri Valley Many
famous men have traveled up and down - and across- the Middle Missouri
Valley in the last 300 years. Few have left more than a reported note
of their passage. American Captains Lewis and Clark, however, left foot
prints which are still visible or calculable 200 years later. Burial
sites of American presidents are hardly known, but the one Corps of
Discovery burial is popularly known and constantly visited yet today.
These good captains casually noted a good Nebraska spot for a fort
overlooking the Missouri River. The next generation of U.S. military
built a fort there - and it has been restored in our day as a memorial.
Lewis and Clark broke a native blockade in south central South Dakota
which had prevented the French and later the Spanish from reaching the
American northwest by way of the Missouri River. Native American and
United States history yet today reverberates from that showdown. The
Lewis and Clark legacy still generates historic keelboats, visitor
centers, and the trooping of numerous school children, families and
history enthusiasts. Historic Pioneer Trails Bleeding West Out of Iowa
Fur traders, explorers, scientists, and artists first reached the
American West in boats by way of the Missouri River. That river traffic
continued, but covered wagons crisscrossed southwestern Iowa and blazed
trails over the Missouri River into the land of sunset. Iowa's pioneer
history was engraved on the land by wheels and etched in sweat and
blood. Those willing to sacrifice all in their travels were hoping for
trade, discovery , a new home, refuge, speculation or military
achievement. Fifteen distinct Iowa trails were cut by wheels. Three
only by horse, mule, or human footprints. Historic Pioneer Trails Through Southwestern Iowa
This presentation on trails of southwestern Iowa covers the explosive
years between 1804-1857 for the still relatively new American republic.
Descriptions of great river traffic and covered wagon trails of
Southwestern Iowa will demonstrate how broad Iowa's heritage really is.
Some of the trails to be discussed include the 1804-1806 Lewis and
Clark Trail, 1811 Overland Astorian's Trail, 1837 US Dragoon Trail,
1846 Mormon Trail, 1846 Mormon Battalion Trail, 1849 California Gold
Rush Trail and the 1856-1857 Handcart Trail. American Indians & Mormons in the Middle Missouri Valley, 1700-1866 The seven-year stay in southwestern Iowa of migrating Mormons, 1846-1853, is a watershed in its history. Indian fur trade business, 1700 -1850, was replaced in those seven years by farming, milling, light manufacturing, and massive merchandising to Gold Rushers, Oregon migrants, etc. in more than 90 temporary Mormon communities. After the Mormons moved west to the Great Salt Lake Valley, permanent settlers flooded in and Indians were moved to small reservations. Gail Holmes, for 50 years, has lectured, written about, and helped memorialize this history.
|
 Go to Top |
Loren Horton, Independent Scholar, Iowa City Through the Eyes of Pioneers: Iowa As Described in 19th Century Diaries
Hundreds of thousands of people immigrated to Iowa during the 19th
century. Additional hundreds of thousands of people crossed Iowa on
their way to new homes farther west. Many of these pioneers kept
diaries and wrote letters, which offer a wonderful view of this period.
These documents describe the land, the people, the towns, and the
experience of traveling across the prairie. This program presents 19th
century Iowa in the words of the people who actually traversed the
state. Additional Resources:
|
 Go to Top |
Danuta Zamjoska Hutchins Dr. Hutchins and her husband, professor of
Chemistry at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, have two grown
children, Edward and Maria. She can be reached at (712) 732-6779 or
hutchinsd@bvu.edu. Presentations offered include: The Butterfly Effect Why Do We Feel Empathy with the Victims of War, Hunger, Terror and Natural Disasters?
Referring to her book "Torn Out Memories", Dr. Hutchins tells the
experiences of a child living under the Nazi occupation of Poland and
during the Warsaw Uprising. She relates her personal trauma to the
terrors suffered by the victims of 9/11 attacks. Herbert Hoover's Role in Distributing Food in Post WWI and WWII in Europe
As a child, Dr. Hutchins experienced firsthand President Hoover¹s
distribution of food in Poland after WWII. A chapter in her book "Torn
Out Memories" gives details of those experiences and her connection
with the Hoover birthplace in West Branch. Sacred and Profane Art Presented in Power Point
are the issues and images of human body in European art of the Middle
Ages through the present. Images selected include examples of
figurative paintings, drawings, and caricature as well as sculpture.
Discussion centers on both the aesthetic and the philosophic
considerations of human image as a vehicle of veneration and beauty
versus that of scorn and distortion. Flowers of the Prairie With a copy of the "Prairie and Woodland Flowers Coloring Book" as reference this presentation identifies prairie wildflowers, their common English names and Linnaeus based classification in Latin. It informs when they blossom, where they grow, and in what medicinal and food uses have they served during the times of early pioneers and Native American Peoples. With the "hands-on" component of drawing/coloring images of those flowers this presentation can be taken to the local prairies or prairie gardens and tailored to specific ages and interests upon request.
|
 Go to Top |
Martin Kelly Hollywood Cowboys Remember singing cowboys? Western serial movies? Shane? Hopalong Cassidy? Roy Rogers and Dale Evans? Even if you are too young to have experienced the era of Westerns in movie theaters, you will "thrill" to the tales of heros, villains, stuntmen and the many characters that portrayed the pioneer days on the silver screen.
|
 Go to Top |
Wayne Kobberdahl The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Captain Clark's Perspective Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark were real people. They had their faults, and they made mistakes but their perseverance and dedication to the ideals of President Thomas Jefferson and a new America culminated in a saga of historic proportions that will be told and retold. It has particular relevance for Iowans because this multicultural Corps of Discovery traversed western Iowa from one end to the other. This presentation will give special emphasis to Captain William Clark, as Dr. Kobberdahl reenacts, in costume, segments of the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He has a dramatic flair and a great sense of humor that enables him to connect very well with his audiences.
|
 Go to Top |
Bill Koch Walt Whitman Live!! In this one hour program, Walt Whitman, portrayed by Dr. Bill Koch, will highlight major poems from his collection Leaves of Grass, as he celebrates 2005 as the 150th anniversary of the publication of Leaves of Grass.
In addition, Whitman will pay tribute to Abraham Lincoln, on the
occasion of the 140th anniversary of the Lincoln assassination, with a
description of the nation's obsequies, and recitations of the
Gettysburg Address and "O Captain, My Captain." Prairie Whitman Walt Whitman's poetry of nature is highlighted. In this presentation, we see an older Whitman, as portrayed by Koch, hobbled by a stroke and watch him as he finds strength from his contact with trees, babbling brooks, the prairie and the night sky. The show can be done with little technical support, though it can be staged in theatre like settings.
|
 Go to Top |
Brooks Landon, The University of Iowa Two New Programs Coming Soon. |
 Go to Top |
Helen Lewis, Western Iowa Tech Community College Voicing a Cause, Voicing a Self: Jane Addams at the Hull House
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. Women of Warmth, Wisdom and War: Images of Native American Women in Westerns Although film critics and viewers frequently dismiss Native American women in Westerns as stereotypes providing background for the action, a reexamination of Westerns reveals that Native American women characters often have more than a mere setting or sexual purpose. Despite the lack of Native American actresses in the films, the Westerns have depicted the Native American cultures with women as healers, counselors, and even warriors. This presentation considers those Westerns readily available on video in order to offer the audience a new way to view old Westerns. (Includes film clips.)
|
 Go to Top |
Living History Farms Historical Interpreters A Year with a Pioneer Family 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 readings from their diaries, newspapers, and journals. Characters dress in typical pioneer clothing.
|
 Go to Top |
Barbara Lounsberry, University of Northern Iowa Yup...Nope...and Why Midwesterners Don't Say Much
The writer Ernest Hemingway made a virtue of Midwestern reserve.
Reticence became part of the Hemingway "code" and the strong, silent
type came to be associated with honor and heroism. This half-in-jest,
whole-in-earnest presentation (with slides) explores the historical
roots of Midwestern reserve, along with contemporary illustrations. As
one Midwesterner deadpanned on return from the East: "We think we are
being polite; they think we are slow-witted." Nancy Drew: Iowa's Heroine to the World Nancy Drew is the most popular female detective in fiction. Few know, however, that Nancy is an Iowa heroine and that her creator was Mildred Augustine of Ladora. Because of this secrecy and neglect, 75th and 100th birthday parties for Nancy and her creator are in order throughout 2005. Nancy Drew and Mildred Augustine are extraordinary role models for Iowa girls and boys, women and men. An academic pioneer (the first woman to earn a master's degree from the University of Iowa's School of Journalism), Augustine earned 6 airplane pilots' licenses, including one for seaplaning; wrote 130 stories for young people; and continued her newspaper column "On the Go" through her 98th and last year of her life. Augustine wrote in the first Nancy Drew volume, The Secret of the Old Clock published in 1930, "Nancy Drew took pride in the fertility of her state and saw beauty in a crop of waving green corn as well as in the rolling hills and the expanse of prairie land."Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first Nancy Drew mystery and the centennial of Mildred Augustine's birth with Barbara Lounsberry's multi-media presentation.
|
 Go to Top |
Kenneth Lyftogt Iowa Stories of the Civil War The program has two major themes: The first is that one can understand both the causes of the war and the battle history of the war by studying Iowa's role in that struggle. The second is that the stories of Iowa's participation are too often overlooked. Stories are gleaned from diaries, letters and personal accounts and include soldiers such as John Rath, George Butler and Matthew Mark Turnbull as well as influential citizens like Annie Turner Wittenmyer and Zimri Streeter. To tell such stories is to address the major issues of the war: slavery, racism, heroism, tragedy, politics and patriotism. Iowa ranks second to none in this part of the nation's history.
|
 Go to Top |
Steve McGuire, The University of Iowa Brimming with Stories Iceland
exists as a landscape thick with place names, many dating from the Age
of Saga, approximately 930-1030. In 2002 and 2003 Steve traveled
Iceland by cycle, completing 1400 miles along the route of the "ring
road" and into the North Fjords, West Fjords, and Snæfellsnes
Peninsula. Along the way residents shared their stories. For instance:
Axel, a farmer at the farmstead Bjarg, dating back to before the year
1000, took Steve to the place on his farmstead where saga hero Grettir
The Strong's head is buried; Einar, whose family has lived on Hofsnes
farm since before 1400, told him of Ingolfshofdi, where Ingolfur
Arnason, Iceland's first settler made landfall; at Helgafell on the
north of Snæfellsnes Peninsula Steve was taken to the grave of
saga heroine Gudrun dating 1085. What is remarkable is that every
person Steve visited with wove place and saga, their daily experience
of the relationship between landscape and story. In this presentation,
Steve will tell these stories and show some of the still images and
video of Iceland. The American Discovery Trail: Iowa Route This program consists of stories of Iowans and the landscape of the 504 miles of the American Discovery Trail, part of Iowa's Millennium Legacy Trails system.
|
 Go to Top |
Tom Milligan, Professional Actor, Des Moines The Not So Quiet Librarian. What
state fired the shot heard round the world - the library world, that
is? Iowa! Who was the man that fired that shot? Forrest Spaulding. In
1938, Forrest Spaulding wrote the Library Bill of Rights, which was
adopted by the American Library Council in 1938, and in Spaulding's own
words "means as much today as it did yesterday and will tomorrow."
Spaulding served as director of the Des Moines Public Library from 1917
to 1919 and again from 1927 to 1952. His story, however, is bigger than
Des Moines, bigger even than Iowa. A recognized leader in the library
world, Spaulding's words and his life touched everyone who loves not
just books, but freedom of expression. This one man play about
Spaulding, written by Cynthia Mercati, nationally known playwright, and
performed by Tom Milligan, runs about 30 minutes and portrays Spaulding
with the gentle, good humor, he was known for, as well as his devotion
to the library and to civil rights. Spaulding was a very unquiet
librarian and the play shows what good one man can do in the world. Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel 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, 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. American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace In this one-act play based on the award-winning book of the same name by Senator John C. Culver and John Hyde, actor Tom Milligan portrays Henry A. Wallace, the agricultural innovator and founder of Pioneer Hi-Bred seed corn company who became US Secretary of Agriculture and later Vice President under Franklin Roosevelt. Admired by many and later branded as a Socialist during his controversial 1948 campaign for the presidency, Wallace always held out a vision for the future.
|
 Go to Top |
Tom Morain, Graceland University * * Tom is currently unavailable. Please contact our Humanities Iowa office.
|
 Go to Top |
Lisa Ossian, Des Moines Area Community
College The Home Fronts of Iowa, 1940-45
The home front contributions of Iowans and Americans divided into four
historical fronts: the farm front, the production front, the community
front, and the kitchen front. Food for Freedom directed American
farmers in the all-out production needed for the war effort and the
Allies' relief, and Iowa farmers lead the nation in crop and livestock
production. Iowa's small businesses and industries such as Maytag added
to the "Arsenal of Democracy" by filling many military sub-contract
orders while the two newly constructed ordnance plants in Burlington
and Ankeny produced thousands of bombs and millions of machine gun
bullets. Iowa's small towns and cities matched and exceeded records in
the eight War Bond Drives as well as the numerous scrap drives for
iron, paper, rubber, and tin, and Iowa's women met the rationing and
production requirements demanded from the federal government in all
home kitchens. The Early Depression Dilemmas of Rural Iowa, October 1929 to November 1932
The early depression years from October 1929 through November 1932
during President Herbert Hoover's administration marked the depths of
the Great Depression for the United States. For Iowa and other
Midwestern States, these years actually marked the middle of two
decades of agricultural depression which began shortly after the Great
War. The years imply desperation—both economically and
emotionally—but Iowans—rural and urban—met the
challenges often with great wit, humor, and intelligence. Rural Iowans
especially wrestled with several economic and social dilemmas—the
aftermath of the 1929 New York Stock Exchange crash, the increasing
tariffs and agricultural consequences, the politics of farm children's
health, the continuation and effectiveness of Prohibition, the demise
of the soft coal mining industry in Iowa's District 13, increasing
rural violence, changing perceptions of rural artistic creations, and
the consequences of the 1932 presidential election for rural Iowans.
Iowans not only met the challenges but developed different ideas and
plans which proliferated in the agricultural landscape—truly
depression dilemmas. Equipment required: overhead projector
|
 Go to Top |
Kristy Raine, Reference Librarian and Archivist, Mount Mercy College When Tillage Begins: The Stone City Art Colony A 45-minute, multimedia presentation that captures the history of the Stone City art colony from its genesis to its financial collapse in the fall of 1933. Primary, historical documents and photographs relate the colony’s daily operations and provide biographical details about students and staff considered the core of individuals who attended both summers (1932 and 1933). Three Men and a Painting: Eldon, Iowa, the summer of 1930, and the Birth of American Gothic A 45-minute, multimedia presentation that intertwines the lives of the three men who contributed to the history of this classic painting. Through photographs and primary, historical documents, the audience learns the life stories of (1) Edward Rowan, founder of the Little Gallery in Cedar Rapids (now known as the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art); (2) John Sharp, the Eldon, Iowa painter and Stone City art colony student who showed Grant Wood the iconic house; and (3) Grant Wood, the artist. For each presentation, the lecturer will also demonstrate the online project fostering her Grant Wood research and take questions from visitors. Special emphasis will be shown for local artists or regional artists who participated in the colony, when applicable. Equipment required: computer (preferably, with external speakers), multimedia projector, and microphone. |
 Go to Top |
Denny Rehder, Author, Musician and Photographer, Des Moines Grass Between the Rails The
program celebrates Iowa's railroad heritage with a unique blend of
stories and original folk songs about the development of railroads in
Iowa. The subjects cover events of national importance such as the race
across Iowa to connect with the transcontinental railroad to the West,
and local history, including the poor service offered by the "Slow
Norwegian." Other topics include the somber "Worst Wreck Ever," a farm
boy's remembrance of "The One Elephant Circus," and the rollicking
"Doodlebug." Additional Resources: Tales of the Rails (Video)
|
 Go to Top |
Mary Kay Shanley, Author, West Des Moines The Magic of our Memories
Iowans are a people with roots. We grow well in the black soil that
blankets our state, in this land between two rivers. Here are our
homes, our families, our memories. This program will discuss the
importance of our memories, delighting in the commonality we share, and
we'll discuss ways of interpreting the past - through oral histories,
story telling and journalizing. Our State Fair is a Great State Fair, but then you already knew that! Our State Fair - Iowa's Blue Ribbon Story is the book that chronicles 150 years of Iowans who have made up that unique August experience. Read their stories and you'll discover a bit of yourself - from watching two locomotives collide in front of a packed Grandstand to riding the Roller Coaster or sneaking a smooch with your sweetheart while gliding through Ye Old Mill, from parading your Charolais around the ring to watching judges test your piecrust, from camping in Tent City to eating your noon meal beside your car. Join author Mary Kay Shanley in a discussion of some of the book's very best tales, then share some of your own. Everybody, after all, has a great State Fair story to tell.
|
 Go to Top |
Bill Sherman, Des Moines Media Coverage of the Assassination of John
F. Kennedy The Recycling of Iowa Country Schools This presentation provides a historical overview of Iowa country schools and how these buildings are being used today. More than 180 schools have been preserved as public museum facilities and 1,000 more have been converted to homes. A screen or a clear white wall is required for this presentation. Iowa Country School Milestones This program
reviews important dates and persons who had a significant impact
on country schooling in Iowa and the nation. How "Good" Were Iowa Country Schools? Major research that compares academic performance as measured by standardized tests of elementary students in graded schools and ungraded one-room schools will be reviewed. How country schooling impacts education today also will be discussed. Starting the Day in a Country School This presentation describes how teachers prepared students to begin their studies in country schools. Included is a description of how and why the pledge of allegiance was created and adopted as a school ritual.
|
 Go to Top |
Donald G. Shurr
|
 Go to Top |
Jeff Stein, Wartburg College Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting Radio and television exploded onto the scene in the 20th century and completely changed our lives. Today, we can hardly imagine a day without broadcasting. The development of radio and TV in Iowa was ground breaking, and became the model followed by the rest of America. In his presentation "Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting", journalist and educator Jeff Stein takes us back to the earliest days of both radio and television, highlighted by original broadcasts, photos and memorabilia. The presentation is also specifically tailored for different geographic areas of the state, and is designed to allow audience members to recall special memories and shared experiences.
|
 Go to Top |
Mary Swander, Iowa Poet Laureate (2009- ) Discussions, Readings, and Maybe a Banjo She will talk and discuss the state of poetry in contemporary society, illustrating her ideas with her original work including the classic Driving the Body Back and her recent collection The Girls on the Roof, a Mississippi River flood saga. The author of twelve books, numerous plays and radio commentaries, Swander brings energy and humor to the page and to her audiences. And sometimes she even brings her banjo.
|
 Go to Top |
Rich Tyler, University of Iowa If Barns Could Talk Old barns
are more than just solid functional buildings. They represent the soul
of our farming heritage, and perhaps more! What is a barn,
architecturally and emotionally? Barn design was based on experience,
needs and ambition. Their function indicated both the farm operation
and the farmer's personal touch. Barn construction was a community
affair comprised of hard work, huge meals, and a barn dance. Few of us
today have the products of our labor on display for all to see,
appreciate and criticize. But what's happening to our old barns? Will
metal replace wood? Can we smell and touch the metal in the same
fashion? What does our interest in barns tell us about ourselves? Why
should we care about old barns today? These and other questions
discussed as we explore the history and current importance of barns. Your Grampa and Gramma's Farm
Farming in the late 1800s and early 1900s represents a lifestyle of
hard work, inventions, prosperity and depression. This presentation
focuses on a typical farmer, Joshua Secrest, who developed a successful
livestock farm. It also reviews the dramatic development of ingenious
farm machinery and tools that enabled growth and prosperity. Secrest
built a large octagonal barn in 1883. The barn and farmstead were lost
in the depression. Old farm tools are shared as part of the
presentation. Some you won't recognize. Why Save an Old Barn? Should we let them fall down? What is the real value of preserving our past? The example used in this presentation is the restoration of The Secrest 1883 Octagonal Barn. A story is told about how individuals and organizations rallied around Iowa farm history, to contribute to the saving of this barn. The barn is open to the public, and photographers, artists and school children have all played an important role. How can you save your barn? What will they mean to future generations who grow up without them?
Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern (Video)
Call Me a Farmer (Video): Women tell their side of the farming story
|
 Go to Top |
Sarah Uthoff, Iowa City General Laura Program The
basic Laura program gives a general overview of Laura's life. It
features slides taken at all the Laura sites and is good for any age
group. Packing Up This twist on the
general program has us looking in on Laura as she is packing up to move
to Missouri. Each artifact in the old chest holds a story. Laura's Life in Mansfield
This in-depth program answers the question, "What happened next?" and
picks up after her books. It examines Laura's role as farmwife,
businesswoman, beginning writer, and famous author. Following in Laura's Footsteps
Having visited many of the Wilder sites multiple times, Sarah gives
inside information about what there is to see at the main Wilder sites
and the best way to see it. A Visit With Laura Have an
interactive visit with Laura using some of Laura's own words. Questions
will be culled from actual letters written to her. What's My Story? This session
shares stories of Laura's life. Audience members are invited to pick an
object from a nearby table and hear its story. There are lots of
opportunities for everyone to take part. Stories from Pa's Big Green Animal Book This specialized storytelling session focuses on animal stories. These stories come from Laura's life and other historic animal tales. Also, a copy of Popular and Tropical Worlds (Pa's Big Green Animal Book) will be brought along for everyone to see.
A Day in a One-Room School A set of slides takes you though a typical day in a one-room school house.
|
 Go to Top |
Michael Vogt, Curator, Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, Johnston, Iowa Soldier's Voices: The Iowa National Guard and the Spanish-American War Forty-five minute presentation utilizing excerpts from diaries, letters, and recollections of Iowa veterans to provide a synthesis of experiences on combat, overseas duty, military service, disease, food, camp life and quarters, and other facets of soldiering in the late nineteenth-century. The presentation includes an accompanying slide show of period photographs of Iowa National Guard troops from around the state and color images of surviving artifacts that are part of the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum collection. Camp Dodge: Home Away From Home, 1917-1918 Forty-five minute presentation utilizing excerpts from diaries, letters, and recollections of Iowa veterans to provide a synthesis of experiences on combat, overseas duty, military service, disease, food, camp life and quarters, and other facets of soldiering in the late nineteenth-century. The presentation includes an accompanying slide show of period photographs of Iowa National Guard troops from around the state and color images of surviving artifacts that are part of the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum collection. The Battleship USS Iowa at the Battle of Santiago Bay, 1898 Forty minute presentation on the participation of the US Navy’s first “sea-going” battleship USS Iowa in the pivotal 3 July 1898 Spanish-American War battle of Santiago Bay, Cuba. Combining veterans’ eyewitness accounts with period images, the presentation provides a rousing illustrated narrative detailing the significant role played by the USS Iowa in one of the most celebrated victories in US Navy history. Equipment required: Slide Projector and screen |
 Go to Top |
Phillip E. Webber, Central College Iowa's Cultural Kaleidoscope In this program, Phil Webber presents a rich variety of photographic images that suggest some of the major historical settlement patterns in Iowa, and current trends in new immigration from areas as diverse as Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
|
 Go to Top |
Layton Zbornik Juke Boxes, Pool Halls and Ducktails This
program is an entertaining look at those good old days of the 40s, 50s,
and 60s, seen from the perspective of a young man who grew up in rural
small town Iowa and experienced the cultural changes to his society
brought on by the music of the time. This fun and entertaining program
is full of great memories and music and good for all ages. The 4Rs (Readin', Ritin', Rithmatic and Rock & Roll) This program has proven itself a winner with students and teachers alike. It is designed for students from grades four through 12 and fits into any curriculum as it is extremely versatile. The 4Rs can be given in a classroom setting to a small group, or in an auditorium. There is even a "Build Your Own Band" feature that gives talented students a chance to be in their own rock band and actually perform. Opportunities for questions are welcomed.
|
