missouri humanities council

Contents

• Mark Twain recently spotted throughout Missouri
• Dr. Seuss says, “Fun is Good!”
• Hannibal Receives Literary Landmark Designation
• New Harmonies exhibit comes to Hannibal
• Teachers’ Institute on Mark Twain’s Writings

Mark Twain recently spotted throughout Missouri

Have you seen Samuel Clemens recently?  Even though he died a hundred years ago—April  21, 1910—he’s been making appearances throughout Missouri for the last two weeks.   He first appeared in the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis on the Cardinals opening day.  More than sixty people had a chance to speak with Mr. Clemens that day, as they learned about his experiences as a riverboat pilot on the mighty Mississippi.

Thanks to the Missouri Humanities Council for its support of the program and especially for the funding to bring George Frein to so many sites to celebrate the life and work of Mark Twain.                               ~Pam Sanfilippo, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Twain was last seen on Sunday at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site where he talked to a crowd of over a hundred about when he first met President Grant and their ensuing relationship. These appearances were no surprise, though. The ReadMOre project organized the speaking tour by “Mark Twain,” in the impersonation of one of America’s leading Chautauqua performers, George Friein.  Though the tour is concluded, it’s not too late to take part in some of the other ReadMOre activities this year. Pick up a book and read Twain’s writing. Find out which organizations are planning programs in your areas by visiting the ReadMOre website at www.ReadMOremissouri.org.

Dr. Seuss says, “Fun is Good!”

Julie Douglas was there when “Dr. Seuss” welcomed parents and children from Macon to his studio on Sunday, April 18. To many, the studio may have looked suspiciously like the Middle School Auditorium, but those willing to “stir some exaggeration into the imagination” were transported to the La Jolla studio of one of the most beloved children’s authors. George Frein, a historical character interpreter who also is portraying Mark Twain around the state, spoke to the group as Dr. Seuss. He read several of Seuss’s classics, and encouraged young and old to IMAGINE, IMAGINE, IMAGINE!  Learn more about this Read First! event…

Hannibal Receives Literary Landmark Designation

In celebration of the “Year of Mark Twain” the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum was placed on the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations’ Literary Landmark Register on Saturday evening, April 24, 2010 in the middle of a tornado watch and thunderstorm warning.  The storm swirling around the event may have been a tribute to the literary storm that swirled Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) throughout his lifetime. Learn more about the event and award…

New Harmonies exhibit comes to Hannibal

The Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal will host the Smithsonian’s New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music exhibition from May 1 through June 12, 2010. The exhibit is a natural tie-in to the museum’s 2010 year-long celebration of Twain’s life.  Mark Twain was a lover of music and also played several instruments. This is a facet of Twain that the museum had not previously interpreted with much detail. New Harmonies provides an opportunity to highlight Mark Twain’s place in American music. Read more about New Harmonies in Hannibal.

Teachers’ Institutes on Mark Twain’s Writings

The Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal will be hosting three week-long teacher workshops during the summer of 2010. This year the emphasis will be on The Adventures of Tom Sawer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and selected short stories. Learn more…