Missouri Humanities Council e-News | August 2009 | View Online  

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In this issue:

A Special Conference for Museums and Libraries

“Celebrating our Successes, Conquering our Challenges” is the theme of our two-day conference on October 16-17 in Columbia.  We began to offer statewide conferences twice a year last October, and the response has been very positive.  We plan to have sessions on:

  • Risk and Emergency Management
  • Hosting Teacher Seminars
  • Interpreting American Indians Past and Present
  • Creating Unique and Engaging Experiences on a Shoestring
  • Marketing and Branding Your Museum
  • Developing Exciting School Programs that Meet Curriculum Standards
  • Training the Volunteer Trainer


Preliminary information is on our web site at http://www.mohumanities.org/programs/museums/Conference_Oct16-17_2009.htm

Missouri Students Excel at National History Day Finals

This news just in from Debbie Luchenbill, the Coordinator of National History Day in Missouri.  “Twenty-four of Missouri’s thirty-three participating entries in the finals placed in the top half of all national participants.  One of our entries came in second place in her category, one of our entries won a special prize related to his topic, and one of our students won the prestigious Legacy Award!”

NHD is sponsored by the State Historical Society and Western Historical Manuscripts Collection in Columbia.  MHC works in partnership with the State Historical Society to promote the expansion and excellence of this outstanding program.  Read the detailed results at http://mohumanities.org/E-News/August09/NHD_Results.htm

A Civil War Kids Club

I heard about a precocious lad named John Allin a few months ago and asked him to write a piece about his interest in history.  He’s about to start seventh grade and is already a veteran interpreter and producer of dramatized vignettes about the Civil War as it was experienced in Cass County.  A year ago Carol Bohl interviewed John for the Border War Network pod cast library.  You can hear that interview at this URL: http://moksbwn.net/jamesjohnsetup.html

A couple of weeks ago John sat down with Carol for a print interview on his idea to set up a Civil War Kids Club.  That interview is at http://mohumanities.org/E-News/August09/CivilWarKidsClub.htm

A Beautiful Thread

My colleague, Julie Douglas, writes this month about her memory of learning to read, and about a national project to involve readers in sharing memories.  She says, “Who knew that Stephen Colbert was a Swiss Family Robinson fan?”  Read her piece at http://mohumanities.org/E-News/August09/BeautifulThread.htm

Thomas Hart Benton Engages the Crowd at the Benton Home in KC

Quite a large crowd turned out on July 25 to “meet” Thomas Hart Benton (impersonated by historian Bill Worley).  We were able to produce this program for the Benton Home through the NEH “Picturing America Project.”  That project is the special legacy of the former NEH Chair, art historian Bruce Cole. There’s a pictorial account of that special day on the blog of KC resident, Fiske Miles.  http://fiskemiles.blogspot.com/2009/07/thomas-hart-benton.html

Smithsonian Unveils Web Site for “Journey Stories”

Journey Stories is the title of an exhibit that will tour six Missouri communities in 2010.  They are Kingston, Marshall, Walnut Shade, Waynesville, Webb City, and West Plains.  We’re helping these towns create all sorts of public activities to enhance the exhibit.  If past experience is a guide, the attendance at those programs will exceed the population in each sponsoring town.  http://journeystories.org/

Service on the MHC Board

If you or someone you know might be interested in a volunteer opportunity to serve on the MHC Board of Directors, please visit our web site at http://www.mohumanities.org/about/board_service.htm and contact Patricia Zahn for more information.

A Fighter Pilot’s Memory

I wrote a blog this morning that ended up as something other than it began.  It was about my late stepfather-in-law, Wilson Oldhouser.  A few years ago, late in his life, he was asked by a doctor if he had experienced blackouts.  He immediately recalled a day in World War II when his P-38 lost one engine and went into a dive over Venice, Italy.  As Wilson was considering his predicament, he recalled reading a technical leaflet on just such a problem that morning in the latrine.  He pulled a lever as he lost consciousness and thought he’d gone to heaven when he came to and saw only blue sky.  His plane had pulled out of the dive and begun to climb.  When he realized he’d been spared, he leveled off and returned to base.

I didn’t actually write that blog this morning.  I was taken with the remarks of the presiding judge at Wilson’s memorial gathering a couple of weeks ago.  Wilson had practiced law all of his adult life in York, Pennsylvania.  He was remembered in a ritual called “Minutes of Respect.”  I know what the judge said because Wilson’s grandson, Bill, delivered the first of several “minutes” in memory of Wilson, and the entire proceeding was taken down by the Court Reporter.  I’ve posted a link to the transcript of Bill’s eloquent summary of his grandfather’s life, and I’ve added a comment on the sentiments of Judge Uhler, who reminded his colleagues that there is more to a life than billable hours.  My blog is at http://creatinginterest.blogspot.com/2009/08/passing-form-of-institutionalization.html

 

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