The State Historical Library has announced its schedule of statewide events to promote reading and literature in Iowa as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ “The Big Read” program.
The Big Read is an NEA initiative designed to restore reading to the center of American culture and is presented in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
NEA awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants to 127 libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture and higher education, and science organizations throughout the country to host a Big Read celebration of one of 16 classic novels January-June 2008.
The State Historical Library received a $16,300 NEA grant to promote the program this year in Iowa, choosing Jack London’s The Call of the Wild for a series of events throughout the state April 18-May 28, 2008.
See the SHSI Calendar of Events in this newsletter or visit www.neabigread.org for the complete schedule and more information.
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The State Historical Society of Iowa is now accepting applications for the FY09 REAP/HRDP grant cycle.
Last year, the State Historical Society of Iowa awarded $504,895 in REAP/HRDP grants to 30 organizations across the state for historic preservation, museum and documentary collections projects.
The Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) is funded by the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP), passed by the Iowa General Assembly in 1989.
Through REAP, local government units, various organizations and private individuals can receive funding for eligible projects. REAP/HRDP provides grants to preserve, conserve, interpret and educate the public about historical resources. REAP/HRDP grants require organizations to supply matching funds.
Projects funded in this grant cycle will begin July 1 and must be completed by Oct. 31, 2010. Projects are evaluated based on the significance of the historical resource; the proposed scope of work; the project’s impact on the local community; and the degree to which the budget is reasonable, appropriate to the project, complete and mathematically correct.
Visit www.iowahistory.org for new grant guidelines and application procedure or contact grants manager Kristen Vander Molen at (515) 281-4228.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has awarded 21 Iowa Community Cultural Grants totaling $327,420 for arts, historical and cultural programs in 14 Iowa communities.
The ICCG program encourages strong cultural growth and development throughout the state and provides matching grants to support organizations and projects that provide lasting employment for Iowans while also enhancing Iowa’s artistic, cultural and historical resources. Projects include museum exhibits, historic restoration and archeology projects, folk life and other festivals public art projects, ethnic heritage projects and performing arts events and companies.
DCA received 80 ICCG requests totaling $1,146,357 this year, an increase over last year’s 79 ICCG requests totaling $1,258,036. The 21 grants will be awarded July 1, 2008 pending legislative budget approval.
A summary of recipients appears below. Complete project details will soon be available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
Subjective
Theater of Des Moines,
Des Moines:
$22,500
“The
Des
Moines Social Club Initial Development”
Villisca
Historical Society, Villisca: $11,070
“Armory Preservation and Restoration”
World of
Difference, Grimes: $22,500
“Valuing Culture”
Metro Arts
Alliance of Greater
Des Moines,
Des Moines: $13,500
“Metro Arts Jazz in July”
New Bohemia
Group, Inc.,
Cedar Rapids;
$10,350
“New
Bohemia
Arts and Music Festival”
Red Cedar
Chamber Music,
Marion:
$10,800
“Roots: Influences on the American Music We Love”
Iowa Fringe
Festival,
Des Moines:
$9,000
“
Iowa
Fringe Festival”
Johnson
County Historical Society, Coralville: $22,500
“Community and Special Events Coordinator”
Little
Sioux
Valley
Conservation Association, Peterson: $8,820
“Place-Based Archaeology”
French
Icarian Colony Foundation,
Corning:
$2,070
“
French
Icarian
Village
Horticultural Program Position”
Geode
Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.,
Burlington: $22,500
“Iowa-Shining NaturalLee: Exploring Natural Resources
in
Lee
County”
H.W. Grout
Trust,
Waterloo:
$11,250
“Our History Unplugged: Living History Re-Enactments”
Employee and
Family Resources, Inc.,
Des Moines:
$22,500
“KFMG-LP Radio, the ‘Voice of the Community’”
Fairfield Arts and
Convention Center,
Fairfield:
$22,500
“
Fairfield
Arts & Convention Center Grant Writer Position”
Felix Adler
Memorial Association, Inc., Clinton: $22,500
“Discovery Guaranteed: Children’s Center Director”
Amana
Heritage Society, Amana: $2,880
“History in Motion: Interactive
Tours of the Amana Colonies”
City of
Dubuque,
Dubuque:
$12,330
“Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator Position”
Community
Foundation of Greater
Dubuque,
Dubuque: $18,000
“Historical Preservation of the
Iowa Legends: Ghost Players/Field of Dreams”
Des Moines Playhouse,
Des Moines: $19,980
“Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters”
Dubuque
County Historical Society,
Dubuque: $22,500
“
Great
Rivers
Center
Building Preparation”
Dubuque Symphony
Orchestra,
Dubuque:
$17,370
“Classical Madness Free Community Concerts”
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Like many blues singers, Kevin “B.F.” Burt grew up listening to blues music that would eventually tie its influences into his own musical style. Born and reared in Waterloo, Burt went to college and became a social worker. When a co-worker praised his powerful voice several years ago, Kevin began attending local blues jams where he met a group of talented musicians who decided to form their own band, Kevin Burt & the Instigators, which include Burt on lead vocals, John Lane on bass, Eric Madson on drums, and Matt Panek on guitar.
This four-member band has toured the Midwest for 13 years playing songs on the funky side of the blues. They perform a blues repertoire of old and new songs by such artists as Bill Withers, Muddy Waters and Creedence Clearwater Revival to create an indigenous Iowa sound. Kevin Burt & the Instigators perform at various blues venues and festivals from small towns to major cities such as Kansas City, Chicago and St. Louis.
Burt, along with his
sideman, Matt Panek, was a featured performer at the Smithsonian Institution’s
1996 Festival of Am
Cultural Express: History of the Blues April 12! Kevin Burt and the Instigators will present a program
on African Am
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The State Historical Society Board of Trustees has issued a call for nominations for members to serve on its 12-person board. The governor appoints nine trustees, and every year the members of the Society elect one trustee for a three-year term.
Nominations for the elected position must be received in the Historical Society office or postmarked by March 22. The three-year term begins July 1, 2008. Nominees must be members of the State Historical Society of Iowa, willing to attend six meetings per year and willing to serve on various committees.
Nominations should be accompanied by a brief biography (no more than 250 words) of the nominee.
To submit a nomination or to receive more information, contact Deirdre Giesler, SHSI, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319; Phone (515) 281-7471; or by e-mail at Deirdre.Giesler@iowa.gov.
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The Iowa Studies Center at Des Moines Area Community College will host the 2008 Iowa Studies Forum: A Celebration of Iowa’s History, Science, Politics, Literature & Art Friday, April 11. The theme of the forum is “The World in Iowa: Immigrants and Immigration.”
The morning session and luncheon will take place on the DMACC Ankeny Campus. Late afternoon and an evening dinner will be at the State Historical Building.
Agenda (DMACC):
Agenda (Historical Building):
Cost to attend the morning session and luncheon is $20; the Historical Building events and dinner are $25; or $40 for the entire day. High school and college students may attend at no charge.
For more information, visit www.dmacc.edu/iowastudies or call (515) 964-6568.
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The State Historical Society of Iowa 2008/2009 Research Grant deadline will be Tuesday, April 15.
SHSI will award up to 10 stipends of $1,000 each to support original research and interpretive writing related to the history of Iowa or Iowa and the Midwest.
Preference will be given to applicants proposing to pursue previously neglected topics or new approaches to or interpretations of previously treated topics.
SHSI invites applicants from a variety of backgrounds, including academic and public historians, graduate students, and independent researchers and writers.
Applications will be judged on the basis of their potential for producing work appropriate for publication in The Annals of Iowa. Grant recipients will be expected to produce an annotated manuscript targeted for The Annals of Iowa, SHSI’s scholarly journal.
Applications for the 2008-2009 awards must be postmarked by April 15, 2008. Contact: Marvin Bergman, marvin-bergman@uiowa.edu; (319) 335-3931 or visit www.iowahistory.org for more information.
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Movies at the Museum: “Our Brand is Crisis”
April 3 at 7 p.m.; April 5 at
2 p.m.
State Historical Building,
600 E. Locust,
Des Moines
An astounding look at one
group’s campaign to elect the President of Bolivia. Tickets are $5 on www.iowatix.com or at the door. Bring a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank of
Iowa and receive $1 off.
Iowa Studies
Forum
April 11
DMACC-Ankeny & State
Historical Building
(See related article)
Cultural Express: History of the Blues
April 12, 1-3 p.m.
State Historical Building,
600 E. Locust,
Des Moines
The Big Read: “A Walk on the Wild Side”
April 18, 2-4 p.m.
Council Bluffs Public
Library,
Council Bluffs, Jack London, Kelly’s Army and Railroads display,
plus book discussion, “Call of the Wild”
The Big Read: “
Klondike
Kick-Off”
April 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Western Historic
Trails
Center,
With demonstrations, Jack
London trivia contest; Montana Mountain Mushers; Hero Dogs Sled Team display
and program; screening of the film, “Call of the Wild: A Dog of the
Yukon”
The Big Read Program
April 21, 12-5 p.m.
Walnut Visitor’s Center,
Antiques and History: When
Jack London and Kelly’s Army Came to Town (display); book discussion: “Rewards
of Reading The Call of the Wild”; and feature film: The Call of the
Wild
The Big Read: “A Call to
Reading”
April
22, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Adair
Public Library,
Celebrating Library Week with
Jack London; reception with historical display
The Big Read: Discussion & Display
April 23, 12-2 p.m.
Iowa City Historical Library,
The Big Read: Book Talk & Library Week Reception
April 26, 9 a.m.-noon
Earlham Public Library,
“Different Time, Same Place:
Jack London’s Earlham Connection;’ plus reception with a Call of the Wild
readers’ contest.
The Big Read: Display, book talk & contest
April 27, 1-4:30 p.m.
West Des Moines Public
Library, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Jack London/Kelly’s Army historic display; Book Talk: Rewards and
Risks To
Reading
; The Call of The Wild contest.
Organ Recital at Union Sunday
School, Clermont
April 27, 2:30 p.m.
Featuring Lois Roose of Allison. Call (563) 423-7173 for details.
National History Day in
Iowa
April 28: Junior Division
May 5: Senior Division
State Historical Building,
600 E. Locust,
Des Moines
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One of the most mystifying flags in the State Historical Society of Iowa collection is the one known as the Irish Harp Flag. Battle flag preservation staff unveiled the flag during Irish Fest at the Historical Museum Monday, March 17.
Members of the Des Moines-based Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums were part of a special presentation to unveil the flag.
The Irish Harp Flag is a
37-star
“This is the first time this particular flag has been viewed by the public to our knowledge,” said Department of Cultural Affairs Director Cyndi Pederson during the unveiling ceremony. “While we are charged with the preservation of artifacts, historical documents, photographs and other items of historic significance, the State Historical Museum and its collection belongs to the people of Iowa. So on behalf of Governor Chet Culver, First Lady Mari Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge, I am pleased to unveil this state and national treasure for the people of Iowa and visitors to our great state.”
The flag is located in the “Honor the Colors” exhibit on the 2nd Floor of the State Historical Museum, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines; and will be on display through May.
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The State Historical Society
of Iowa recently hosted a visit by descendants of Martha “Patsey” Triplett, an
African Am
Triplett is the subject of an exhibit in the Des Moines reading room that documents the family’s presence in Iowa using items in the SHSI collection. Descendants of Martha Triplett from Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska gathered at the State Historical Building March 15 to view the exhibit and to be hosted in an informal reception by SHSI.
State Archivist
After refreshments in the building atrium, family members were joined by battle flag conservators Sheila Hanke and Laura Lee Ramirez to view the 1st Iowa Colored Infantry (later reorganized as 60th U.S. Colored Infantry) flag that had been presented to the regiment by Mrs. Susan Triplett, wife of 1st Sergeant Isaac Newton Triplett, on November 20, 1863.
Attendees were pleased their family history had been chosen as the theme of the exhibit, and appreciated reference assistance Avery provided to Estelene Bell in her genealogical research.
State Historical Society of Iowa staff, for their part, were honored to meet and host the Triplett family descendants for the afternoon.
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency that oversees museums and libraries, has issued a series of reports that look at the relation between how people use museums, libraries, and the Internet. Data from the reports are organized around five main conclusions:
According to the report, there has been a perception by many that the vast amount of information provided by the Internet will replace the need for museums and public libraries.
Substantial evidence refutes this notion. Internet users are more likely than non-users to visit museums and public libraries and to visit them more frequently, particularly in the case of museums.
Other findings in the report:
Details of the study with links to all the reports are at http://interconnectionsreport.org/.
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AASLH is once again partnering with The History Channel on the Save Our History Grant Program, an initiative that focuses on preserving local history. The History Channel will award grants up to $10,000 to fund partnerships between history organizations and schools or youth groups on projects that teach students about their local history and actively engage them in its preservation.
Applications are due June 6 and can be completed at www.history.org.
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State Historical Society of Iowa State Curator Jerome Thompson will present “Two Sheets of Paper, One BIG Idea” 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.
Thompson will discuss the
“Morrill Act of 1862,” considered by many to be one of the most important
legislative documents in Am
The exhibition, “The Morrill Act of July 2, 1862: The Land-grant Act and the People’s College,” will open March 22 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum, 1017 Morrill Hall, ISU campus. The exhibition will consist of historical artistic objects, quotes, timelines, illustrations, maps and photographs that explore the correlation of events and history that led to the transformation and evolution of ISU. The exhibition is on loan from the National Archives and Records Administration.
Other programs and presentations in conjunction with the exhibition will be held throughout the month of April until the exhibition closes April 27. Visit the Christian Petersen Art Museum Web page for additional information.