The Iowa Historical Foundation presents A Gala Evening at the President’s Table, a benefit to support the State Historical Society of Iowa’s educational programs and exhibits.
The gala will be Friday, Oct. 24 at the State Historical Museum, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 and requests for invitations may be made by calling Barb Filer at (515) 281-8823 by Oct. 17.
Barry H. Landau, author of The President’s Table: 200 Years of Dining and Diplomacy will be the special guest and speaker for the evening. Landau is a presidential historian and one of the foremost collectors of presidential memorabilia and artifacts. He has planned historic events in service to eight presidents, dating back to Lyndon Johnson. The book will be available for purchase at the Museum Store and guests may have their copies signed by the author during the event.
The evening will feature a tasting menu of presidential favorites from cocktails to dinner. Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy the State Historical Museum exhibits, including The Working White House: 200 Years of Tradition and Memories open through March 1, 2009, and vote in a presidential straw poll.
Governors Terry Branstad, Tom Vilsack and Robert Ray and their wives will co-host the event and be the distinguished guests.
For more information, contact Barb Filer, Iowa Historical Foundation Executive Director, at (515) 281-8823 or barb.filer@iowa.gov.
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A major exhibition of more than 300 pieces of Iowa stoneware spanning the period 1830-1930 is now open at the State Historical Museum.
“Made from Mud: Iowa’s Potters and Potteries, 1830-1930” will be on display through April 12, 2009.
During the 19th century, the discovery of superior clay deposits in conjunction with the state’s rich coal seams gave birth to a thriving ceramics industry, especially in Boone, Mahaska, Muscatine, Polk, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Webster counties.
The presence of potters in Iowa can be documented as early as 1836. Records indicate more than 300 individuals identified by name were actively engaged in the production of Iowa ceramics.
“Without a doubt, more have yet to be identified,” Smith said. “The marks of about 80 potters have been located on pieces for inclusion in the exhibition, with the earliest of these dating from around 1836.”
Compared to the highly decorated stoneware of the eastern United States, Iowa’s stoneware is plain and utilitarian, occasionally bearing the mark of the maker impressed or transfer-printed on the body.
Although machine techniques were increasingly adopted beginning around 1870, the exhibition concentrates on wheel thrown jugs, jars, pans and churns produced in a variety of sizes for storing, preserving and preparing food.
The State Historical Museum is at 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines’ Historic East Village. Hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public. Visit www.iowahistory.org for more information.
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A photograph album recently acquired by the State Historical Society of Iowa contains rare snapshots showing students and faculty of the Cumming School of Art in Des Moines, including its director and chief instructor, Charles Atherton Cumming (b.1858-d.1932).
Cumming, a noted Iowa painter who studied at the Chicago Academy of Design and the Académie Julian (Paris), became director of the Des Moines Academy of Art in 1895. That school was later renamed in his honor and moved to the top floor of the new public library building (now home to the World Food Prize Foundation). With his solid credentials as an artist, Cumming would subsequently be asked to develop an art program for the State University and Iowa, and the State Historical Society of Iowa would commission and acquire a significant collection of his paintings.
A Des Moines resident and graduate of North High School, Margaret “Lenore” Heefner began compiling her photo album while a student at the Cumming School of Art (approx. 1916-1921). Candid pictures show sketching and painting classes (often conducted in local parks) and annual school picnics. In other views classmates are captured relaxing on the bank of the Des Moines River during lunch break. One photo taken at the 1920 school picnic on the state fairgrounds shows Charles A. Cumming posing with a showman’s lasso.
Other classmates of Heefner pictured in the album are Alice McKee, who would become Charles A. Cumming’s wife in 1926, and Gerard Rayness and Velma Wallace a couple who later married, taught private art classes in Ames, and were members of the Iowa Art Guild.
“It’s easy to become completely absorbed in the photo and manuscripts collections that the Historical Society regularly receives,” said Plunkett. “But, once I have tended to the preservation needs of the materials, organized them, and extracted enough information to describe them for cataloging purposes, it’s time to pass them on to the public for further exploration and discovery.”
The Lenore Heefner photo album is one of many primary sources that can be researched at the reading rooms of the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines and Iowa City.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs continues its series of Iowa Cultural Trust workshops in September and October in Cedar Falls, Davenport and Fairfield.
The workshops will include an overview of the Iowa Cultural Trust; a two-hour interactive session focusing on board development and short and long-term strategic planning, conducted by Michael Audino of Syverson Strege & Company of Des Moines; and a discussion about the benefits of working with local community foundations.
Iowa arts, cultural and historical organizations must send a leader, staff member or volunteer to an Iowa Cultural Trust workshop to become eligible for the Trust’s grant program that will be established in 2009.
Seating is limited and pre-registration is strongly recommended. Visit www.iowatix.com to pre-register by credit card or the Iowa Cultural Trust Web site at http://www.culturalaffairs.org/funding/cultural_trust/index.htm to pre-register by check. Each workshop requires a minimum of 10 confirmed reservations. Pre-registration is $20 and must be made by Sept. 23, 2008. Registration at the door is $25.
For more information, contact Barb Filer at 515-281-8823 or barb.filer@iowa.gov. Following is the schedule for Iowa Cultural Trust workshops:
Fairfield– Sept. 29, 1-5 p.m.
ArtsConvention Center, 200 N Main Street
Davenport – Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Eastern Iowa Community College - Kahl Education Center, Room 1006
326 West Third Street
Cedar Falls – Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
McLeod Center – Alumni Suite (Northwest entrance)
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has announced the schedule for site visits to four Iowa Great Places finalists.
Great Places Citizen Advisory Board members and DCA staff will tour Marquette/McGregor, Spencer, Warren County and West Union Sept. 22-24, 2008. Iowa’s newest Great Places will be identified Sept. 30, 2008.
Iowa Great Places is a program that calls on state agencies to partner with Iowans in a new way by combining state resources with local assets to make Iowa’s communities, neighborhoods, districts and regions great places where people want to live, work and raise a family.
In developing their proposals, Iowans were asked to address seven unique and authentic dimensions that make places special: engaging experiences; rich, diverse populations and cultures; a vital, creative economy; clean and accessible natural and built environments; well-designed infrastructure; a shared attitude of optimism that welcomes new ideas; and based on a diverse and inclusive cultural mosaic.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is accepting applications for Cultural & Entertainment Districts through Monday, Oct. 6.
A cultural district is a well-recognized, labeled, mixed-use, compact area of a community in which a high concentration of cultural facilities serves as the anchor. Cultural districts can be found in small rural communities or in large urban areas and are established to encourage city and county governments to partner with a local community nonprofit or for-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals to enhance the quality of life for citizens of Iowa. Cultural districts also enrich local economies through developing and sustaining cultural facilities in a synergetic fashion.
Designated Cultural & Entertainment Districts can boost revitalization of communities by attracting residents and tourists to the area, expanding the tax base and attracting well-educated employees.
Applications must be postmarked by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. If an application is hand-delivered, it must be in the cultural district program office by 4:30 p.m. October 6, 2008. Fax and electronic submissions are not acceptable. Include $250 fee. Late applications will not be considered.
One (1) complete, signed original and 14 copies should be sent to: Kathy Gourley, Cultural District Program Manager, Department of Cultural Affairs, 600 E Locust,
Des Moines, IA 50319-0290.
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Terry Brady of Eddyville was so intrigued with the historical information the State Historical Library and Special Collections staff compiled to augment their The Big Read project on Jack London’s The Call of the Wild that he did more research on his own. Since May, Brady’s been writing a series of newspaper columns about London’s 1894 trek across Iowa when he was a member of Kelly’s Army.
Brady, an Eddyville City Councilman, is also a regular columnist for the Albia Union-Republican. He said he’s working on plans for a local essay contest that will somewhat emulate the start of Jack London’s writing career. London won a contest with an essay about riding out a typhoon off the coast of Japan.
History could somewhat repeat itself if the winning essay highlights one of the many Iowa weather-related incidents this summer. If interested in reading these columns, the Albia paper can be read at the State Historical Library in Des Moines.
Call (515) 281-6200 for more information.
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The State Historical Society of Iowa is taking applications from Iowans interested in serving on the Iowa Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Committee.
Interested Iowans may download an application at www.iowahistory.org. Applications must be received by Oct. 30, 2008.
Committee members will assist SHSI as it plans, coordinates, and implements activities and programs relating to the commemoration of Iowa’s involvement in the American Civil War. Selected members will represent diverse interests and backgrounds to ensure the widest representation of Civil War interests.
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State Historical Museum docents are participating in many continuing education workshops this fall. Many of them are putting their knowledge to use during specialized tours of the George Washington Carver exhibit which opened July 31.
Tiffany McGettigan, educator with the White House Historical Association, gave a training workshop to 21 docents, teachers and Drake University education students Sept. 5 on using materials to supplement the new Smithsonian exhibit “The Working White House.” There was discussion on the four exhibit themes: Behind the Scenes Work; Witnessing Historic Events; Mirror on America – Reflecting National Demographics; and Supporting the White House Roles of Home, Office, Museum and National Symbol.
Janet Toering with Extension 4-H Youth Development at Iowa State University, presented an Iowa Environmental Science workshop to docents, teachers and students Thursday, Sept. 11. “Where We Live” is designed to help students in 4th through 6th grades understand the connections between themselves and where they live by tracing the history of the Iowa land and the interaction of people.
If you’re interested in becoming a docent at the State Historical Museum, contact Sarah Macht at (515) 242-5193 or Sarah.Macht@iowa.gov.
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Saturday, Sept. 20: George Washington Carver – A Celebration of Life
10 a.m.-2 p.m., State Historical Museum, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines
Handmade paper bookmarks, docented tours of the George Washington Carver exhibit, nature rubbings, seed plantings, puppet making, hat making storytime and more. Admission is free and open to the public.
Sept. 23: History for Lunch
Noon-1 p.m. Centennial Building, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City.
Author Robert Mitchell talks about his new book, Skirmisher: The Life, Times, and Political Career of James B. Weaver. Mitchell describes Weaver as a “courageous 19th-century Iowa politician whose two campaigns for the White House helped change the course of American politics.” Bring a sack lunch and enjoy this free event over the noon hour. Call (319) 335-3916 for information.
Sept. 24: Robert Mitchell Book Signing
12-1:30 p.m., State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines
Robert Mitchell, author of Skirmisher: The Life, Times, and Political Career of James B. Weaver will present a Lunch ‘n’ Learn book signing in the Heritage Classrooms.
Oct. 10-11: Perceptions of the Country School, Annual Country School Preservation Conference
Ames
Speakers include Dr. Pamela Riney-Keherberg, ISU Director of Graduate Education, Program in Agricultural History and Rural Studies; Kristen Vander Molen, grants manager with the State Historical Society of Iowa, and Susan Fineman with the Country School Association of America in Nashua, New Hampshire. Visit http://www.iowapreservation.org/schools.php for more information and to download a brochure.
Oct. 17: Book Discovery Discussion: In for the Long Haul, The Life of John Ruan by William Friedricks.
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., State Historical Building. 600 E. Locust
All Book Discovery selections feature material with an Iowa connection either through the content or the biographical connection of the author. Bring your own lunch. Call (515) 281-6897 for more information.
Oct. 17-18: 2nd Annual Geocaching the Bluffs
Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Avenue, Council Bluffs
Treasure hunt the bluffs with your GPS and see where it leads you. Call (712) 366-4900 for more information.