Monthly E-News from Michael Bouman, Executive Director
Missouri Humanities Council

Contents:

• Chautauqua Program's Future
• "Century Farms" Living History Festival October 6-7 in Cass County
• Children's Books About the U.S. Constitution
• Governor's Humanities Awards Ceremony October 25
• Churchill Museum Opens New Exhibits
• Board and Staff Transitions at MHC

Chautauqua Program's Future

During the past month we've organized several regional meetings to seek advice from community leaders who have hosted the tour of our week-long living history festival called "Chautauqua." We also sought advice from historians who have impersonated historical figures on the Chautauqua stage, from people who have sponsored history festivals without Chautauqua elements, and from Professor Kay Kuhlman, who organized a "Woman Chautauqua Institute" at Cottey College last June.

The Chautauqua festival as we have known it for the past fourteen years is a complex undertaking, for us and for the local committees who help make it succeed. When we asked people what they thought the keys to sustainability were, and what the impediments were, we came away with a mountain (ocean? galaxy? wardrobe?) of ideas and a clear sense that this format, which combines qualities of dramatic arts with fine scholarship and an opportunity for fascinating dialogue, is the most important thing to preserve.

When we looked at the standard configuration (five consecutive days in June, under a tent), we heard such a range of opinion that anyone looking at it would be surprised that it had ever seemed a sustainable enterprise. If MHC is a "supplier" and local organizations are "consumers," we would have to admit that we have a "segmented market."

Part of the market for the "Chautauqua style of programming" wants the freedom to select Chautauqua scholars and array them in combinations to suit local interest, and at times that coincide either with existing festivals or the school year. For these people, we offer a new Directory of Chautauqua Performers, available on our web site, and our grant-making capacity.

Another segment of the Chatuauqua market wants MHC to put the tour together and manage it, but perhaps in a less-complex configuration and with the tent and the technical apparatus being optional. There is, in some places, a sense that the tent is the strong "logo" for the Chautauqua experience. In other places, the tent doesn't serve as a symbol and people are happy to use another venue.

People's preferences diverge when asked about the ideal duration of the festival, too.

Everyone agrees that the theme and title of the Chatuaqua is central to building local support, and that well-known historical figures are necessary to "anchor" the theme in people's minds. Everyone also agrees that high-quality performances by the scholars are essential to sustaining enthusiasm for this kind of program.

The board of the Missouri Humanities Council spent five hours this weekend working on the suggestions and insights from the regional meetings and decided to begin a process of redesigning Chautauqua for 2008. We intend to involve people from the previous sponsoring communities who contacted us in 2006 to express interest. These are in the first circle of the program's stakeholders. We will try to design a more appealing and less-complex model in collaboration with the existing stakeholders, attempt to schedule a tour for 2008 before June of 2007, and then test a new plan for marketing the program to other potential sponsors for 2009 and beyond.

For communities interested in offering the Chautauqua experience in 2007, grant funds from MHC are available and we are able to provide some technical assistance.

For a national Chautauqua Directory of Scholars and their subjects, and "Homegrown Chautauqua How-to," follow the link to http://mohumanities.org/programs/chautauqua/index.htm

"Century Farms" Living History Festival October 6-7, Cass County

Cass County, immediately south of Kansas City, is a hotbed of living history. The high number of enthusiasts in and around Harrisonville count as the most important human asset of the historical society. This year, MHC awarded a grant to the Cass County Historical Society to help pull together oral histories connected with another treasure, the "Century Farms." All the work comes to fruition this coming weekend. Here is the announcement from Carol Bohl, Director of the Historical Society:

"Celebrating Century Farms" is the theme for the 2006 Cass County Living History Festival set for Friday and Saturday, October 6 and 7. The Saturday morning parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. with classic cars and antique tractors to enhance the Century Farm theme.  The parade will cross The Harrisonville Courthouse Square District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Immediately following the motorized entries, the Horse and Mule-drawn parade will feature carriages, buggies, wagons, riders and walkers, all in vintage clothing. A reenactment of Order No. 11 will occur on the Square immediately following the parade. A new Saturday afternoon event is a homes tour and walking tour of West Wall Street featuring an 1852 home, classic Queen Anne and the Episcopal Church which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other popular events will return such as the Quilt Show, Civil War and World War II Battle re-enactments Saturday afternoon, pony rides, petting zoo, living history park encampment with trappers, Native Americans, and pioneers. The square features food, bluegrass and country music.

Friday evening features the Military Ball in City Park which will feature Civil War period music and dancing with the South Fork String Band. They will offer dance lessons from 6 to 7 p.m. and throughout the ball.

A complete schedule is available on their website at www.casscountyhistoricalsociety.org

Children's Books about the U.S. Constitution

Although "Constitution Day" was two weeks ago, it's a topic that has a need for attention at all phases of human development. Julie Douglas gave some thought to the literature parents might use and prepared a special report for this edition of E-Passages.

http://mohumanities.org/E-News/Sept06/constitution.htm

Governor's Humanities Awards October 25

Each year the Governor of Missouri confers humanities awards on people of noteworthy achievements and contributions to the humanities. This year, in partnership with the State Historical Society of Missouri, there will also be public recognition of the Missouri students who became national finalists in National History Day, and the teachers who were their mentors.

Complete biographical information on this year's conferees online at: http://www.mohumanities.org/programs/awards/gaward06.htm

Churchill Museum Opens New Exhibits

I was delighted to see recently that the beautiful museum at the Winston Churchill Memorial has completed a major interpretive updating and design. The museum is on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton (central Missouri). What I've heard about the new exhibit techniques has made the 90-minute drive from St. Louis one of my "musts" for the month of October. This is a place that invested in finding a way to maintain interest as the demographics of U.S. society shift away from people who grew up in Churchill's time.

http://www2.westminster-mo.edu/cm/location.asp

Board and Staff Transitions at MHC

Emmy McClelland of Webster Groves has completed six years of service on the board of the Missouri Humanities Council. Ten years ago, when Emmy was the ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, she was one of the "guardian angels" of the first state appropriation for the humanities.

Michele Hansford, Director/Curator of the Powers Museum in Carthage, as been elected to the board, strengthening the Council's presence in southwest Missouri and within the museum community. Michele also has direct experience in the local sponsorship of our Chautauqua tour.

Dr. Gerald B. Lee, a retired cardiologist from Kansas City, comes on the MHC board after serving on the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission. He is President and founder of Bridge Builders Senior Services and is a member of MHC's Kansas City Humanities Roundtable.

Cheryl Tarbox is the new full-time Fiscal Officer of MHC. She brings twenty-six years of experience, most recently with the downtown summer festival, Fair St. Louis.

Terrie Young is retiring as Develpment Director after four years with MHC. She brought a lifetime of marketing experience to us and contributed tremendously to the overall organization and professionalism of her job responsibility.

MHC is currently accepting applications for a Development Officer to manage MHC's annual campaign and grant research and writing. Full details online at: http://www.mohumanities.org/new/job_posting.htm