Missouri Humanities Council e-News | January 2010 | View Online  

In this issue:

• Ste. Genevieve Speakers Bureau
• Teachers Institutes (Wilson's Creek, Twain Museum)
• Nominations for 2010 Governor's Awards
• New Titles for our Family Reading Program
• Boomer Memories: Children's Records
• My Blog on "Design Intelligence"
• New MHC Web Site

Ste. Genevieve's Distinctive Heritage

For a bit over a year, we've been helping the heritage organizations in Ste. Genevieve form an alliance and develop new modes of interpretation. The town is truly one of our state's treasures. It is also an international treasure. Its many historic buildings help tell the story of the French colonists who started new lives on both sides of the Mississippi River. Now the alliance has set up a speakers bureau. Details are on the web page at http://www.historicstegen.org/ under the Education Outreach link.

There's also exciting news involving new interpretive planning at the Gibourd House and the Bolduc House, which has a blog! Read it at http://bolduchousemuseum.blogspot.com

Summer Teachers' Institutes (Wilson's Creek and Mark Twain)

This time of year, teachers are making plans for professional development seminars during the summer. We're happy to announce one on the Battle of Wilson's Creek in southwest Missouri. Download the flyer at http://mohumanities.org/E-News/Jan10/WilsonsCreek2010.pdf

We're also delighted to be the supporters of another summer of study at the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal. Curator Henry Sweets began these outstanding workshops in 2006 and the interest has grow so much that the museum now has to offer three sessions. Application materials will soon be available on the museum web site at http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/. Or contact Henry Sweets at Henry.Sweets@marktwainmuseum.org

Nominations Sought for Governor's Awards

Each year the Governor of Missouri and the Missouri Humanities Council confer the Governor's Humanities Awards on individuals and organizations whose achievements set an example worthy of statewide attention.  The awards recognize outstanding teaching in Missouri schools, outstanding community outreach activities by individuals and humanities institutions, and exemplary interpretive practices in libraries, history organizations, or other humanities organizations.  In addition, the Governor's Humanities Awards recognize outstanding books that have increased our understanding and appreciation of Missouri's history and culture.

See: http://www.mohumanities.org/the-missouri-humanities-council/the-humanities/celebration-and-recognition/2010-governors-awards/

Download nomination form: http://www.mohumanities.org/resources/ Scroll down to "Celebrations of Recognition."

New Titles for our Family Reading Program

We've been working with a team of advisors to select a second book list for our READ from the START program, and now Julie Douglas can unveil it. We developed a second list for use with parents who want a refresher course after taking the standard two-session training we offer. See Julie's write-up about the new titles in her column "On Family Reading."

Boomer Memories: Children's Records

We who were the earliest of the Baby Boomers grew up with records. These were thick, 78 RPM records that would shortly become obsolete. They opened up worlds of discovery much like the magical medium of radio. There's a web site out there that makes available audio files of a huge number of records we grew up with: http://www.kiddierecords.com/. I gather that Kiddie Records ended its run in 2009, but that the founder is going to keep the existing web site alive. I gave a listen to the Hopalong Cassidy recording. While it's not the one my parents bought for me, it does bring back memories of an inquisitive childhood!

My Blog on "Design Intelligence"

I was in Charleston, Missouri at the end of December to take a look at the Mississippi County Museum. There are so many distinctive touches in that museum, thanks to Tom Graham, who gave me a tour. I posted some photos on the Missouri Humanities Council Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298280273&ref=ts

I got to thinking about how many people I've met who do a fantastic job as museum volunteers. Thus, there's a new blog at Creating Interest on a special form of intelligence. http://creatinginterest.blogspot.com/2010/01/design-intelligence-and-its-enemy.html

The New MHC Web Site

We have just completed a transformation of our web site to a more beautiful and more up-to-date platform. The beautiful page designs are by Kathleen Wilkinson, who has been creating graphic pieces for us since early in 2008. The technical work was done by Schilling/Sellmeyer in Springfield. The new site is at our same address: http://mohumanities.org

Reminders Department

Transformations Museum & Libraries conference, March 12 & 13, Columbia, MO
If you are planning to attend, please contact Clarice at MHC, (800) 357-0909 or clarice@mohumanities.org, to pre-register.

New Harmonies:  Celebrating American Roots Music opens on January 23rd at the Inman E. Page Library, Lincoln University in Jefferson City.  Contact Mark Schleer at (573) 681-5514 for more information.