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

In this issue:

• "Virtual Reading Room" on The Civil War in the Ozarks
• See Thomas Hart Benton in His Studio, July 25, K.C.
• Sac and Fox History on "History Detectives" July 27
• Julie Douglas on Paying Attention
• Steps Toward Better Museums
  

"Virtual Reading Room" on the Civil War in the Ozarks

The internet just became a much more interesting experience. Last week, the Springfield-Greene County Library unveiled a superb web site that provides access to a treasure-trove of primary documents. These letters, diaries, and photographs illustrate the toll of a war on everyday people. You can peruse first-person accounts by a menu of themes, or by a geographic area, or by the battles in the region. You can see the actual handwriting and read a transcription. If you need to learn the context, the web pages will fill you in.

Most of the documents on this web site are not in the collection of the Springfield-Greene County Library. Before this site went on line, people interested in studying these materials would have spent years finding the scattered pieces that add up to a story. Only serious researchers would have undertaken such labors. Read how this project changed everything...

See Thomas Hart Benton in His Studio

Historian Bill Worley will interact with visitors as "Thomas Hart Benton" on Saturday, July 25 at the Benton Home Historic Site in Downtown Kansas City. We're sponsoring this event with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as part of a national program called "Picturing America." The event will be from 12 – 4 PM and is open to the public. Guided tours of the home at 3616 Belleview will also be offered for $2.50 per adult.

The Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio ( http://www.mostateparks.com/benton.htm) preserves the home of Missouri’s most famous 20th Century artist, and the studio in which he painted many of his famous works. Benton lived in the house from 1939 until his death in 1975. The home is open to the public year-round, 7 days per week; and is furnished with Benton possessions and art.

See also: The Eulogy for Thomas Hart Benton, written by his friend, Lyman Field. This is a PDF document from the Missouri Humanities Council web site.

Sac and Fox History on "History Detectives" July 27

Last fall, Sandra Massey came to the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis to be interviewed for a segment of the PBS program, "History Detectives." Sandra is a cultural preservation officer with the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. She curated the "Homelands" exhibit on the Sac and Fox that we still circulate throughout Missouri and the Midwest.

Episode 6, "The Fillmore Pardon," is set to air on your local PBS station on July 27. The episode concerns a letter from President Millard Fillmore commuting the death sentence of a Native American. You'll be fascinated by Sandra's take on the story.

Julie Douglas on Family Reading

There is something deep-down good in Julie's piece this month. It's all about taking the time to notice things. What a wonderful step in becoming a child's mentor and teacher. I marvel at how she does this month after month, but I suppose that's what writers do.

Steps Toward Better Museums

There's a new program in the works at AASLH (American Association for State and Local History) that I think will enable small museums to improve their operations and programs in doable units of action. It's being managed by Cherie Cook, a Senior Program Manager for AASLH who works out of a home office in Jefferson City. I met with Cherie last month to learn about the STEPs program, and I recommend it highly.

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