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February 2012 Chautauqua scholars to explore impact of legislation
Scholars will portray six prominent historical figures and explore the impact of three important pieces of legislation passed within six weeks of each other in 1862 when the “Free Land” Chautauqua comes to Beatrice May 20-25.
The Nebraska Humanities Council (NHC) presents the 2012 Nebraska Chautauqua, “Free Land? 1862 and the Shaping of Modern America” in partnership with Homestead National Monument of America and the community of Beatrice. The Chautauqua coincides with the start of a year of events Homestead Monument has planned to observe the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act.
Scholars will be in character costume to attend a May 20 event featuring entertainment and speeches commemorating the signing of the Homestead Act. The actual document will be on loan from National Archives April 25-May 28 at Homestead Monument.
“The significance of the occasion offers a great opportunity for the public to examine the intertwined impacts of these three pieces of 1862 legislation, not only from a historical perspective, but also looking at the continued influences today,” said Kristi Hayek, NHC Chautauqua coordinator. “We feel that it is important for the many stories surrounding these 1862 acts to be told—those who benefited, those who took advantage of the potential, and those who suffered as a result. We are very excited to have Chautauqua play an important role in the 150th anniversary plans at Homestead National Monument and in Beatrice and look forward to a great week of exploration and community interaction through Chautauqua.”
Patrick E. McGinnis will portray Grenville Dodge, U.S. Army general and chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. McGinnis holds a Ph.D. from Tulane University and is emeritus professor of history at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Paxton Williams will portray George Washington Carver, noted inventor and botanist. Williams is the former executive director of the George Washington Carver Birthplace Association in Diamond, Mo.
Taylor Keen will portray Standing Bear, Ponca chief who was involved in a court case in 1879 that was the first step in establishing basic civil rights for Native Americans. Keen serves as director of the Native American Center and lecturer at Creighton University.
Karen Vuranch will portray Laura Ingalls Wilder, homesteader and author of the beloved “Little House” books. Vuranch is an instructor at Concord University in West Virginia and has participated in living-history presentations portraying 10 different characters.
Betty Jean Steinshouer will portray Willa Cather, Pulitzer Prize-winning author from Nebraska. Steinshouer has portrayed Cather in 44 states and in Canada and portrays a number of other female authors in the Chautauqua-style for the Florida Humanities Council.
Warren Brown will portray Mark Twain, humorist and author who wrote on American culture and politics. As moderator, he will provide context and offer a national perspective to the observations and experiences of the other characters. Brown has portrayed Mark Twain in more than 1,000 performances nationwide.
The Chautauqua runs Monday through Friday, with a different scholar portraying his or her character each evening. Adults and youth will explore related topics at daytime workshops led by Chautauquans and other experts, and a Youth Chautauqua Camp will be conducted by Drs. Ann Birney and Joyce Thierer of Ride Into History. A pre-Chautauqua Homestead Express is planned for May 19-20 in Lincoln.
For details about Chautauqua visit www.nebraskachautauqua.org or contact the Nebraska Humanities Council at (402) 474-2131. For more on events surrounding the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act, visit Homestead National Monument’s website at www.nps.gov/home.
Chautauqua is made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Friends of Homestead National Monument and the state of Nebraska.
September 2011 “Free Land” Chautauqua comes to Beatrice in 2012
The community of Beatrice and Homestead National Monument will host the “Free Land? 1862 and the Shaping of Modern America” Chautauqua the week of May 20-25, in conjunction with the kick-off of a year of events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Homestead Act.
Continuing the Nebraska
Humanities Council’s tradition of more
than 25 years of sponsoring educational and entertaining Chautauquas
throughout the state,
Nebraska audiences will have an opportunity to examine five themes that were set in motion by the catalyst of the 1862 legislation and that remain relevant: The unfolding of the “free soil, free labor” ideal for America held by Republican policy-makers of the time; the rapid economic development of the West and the nation, especially through the building of railroads; the accelerated displacement of Native Americans; a broader access to public education that resulted in more opportunities for people of the West; and an increasingly landed and educated populace—both emigrants and immigrants—who had more potential for social mobility in a developing American West.
Homestead National Monument will observe the actual 150th anniversary of the signing of the Homestead Act on May 20, with an evening program featuring a variety of special guests, including the historical figures of the Chautauqua. The Chautauqua events will then continue Monday through Friday (May 21-25) with a different scholar portraying his or her character each evening under the Chautauqua tent. Each will give a 40-minute, first-person presentation as the historical character, then answer questions. Workshops for children and adults along with other activities will be held during the day throughout Chautauqua week.
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![The 2012 Chautauqua scholars are (clockwise from upper left) Warren Brown as Mark Twain, Taylor Keen as Standing Bear, Patrick E. McGinniss as Grenville Dodge, Paxton Williams as George Washington Carver, Betty Jean Steinshouer as Willa Cather and Karen Vuranch as Laura Ingalls Wilder. [File Photo]](images/2012Chautauquans.jpg)
In
their discussion of the Homestead Act, the Pacific Railway Act, and
the Morrill Act and their influences on Nebraska, the Great Plains
and the nation, scholars will portray Grenville Dodge, Willa Cather,
Standing Bear, Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Washington Carver, and
Mark Twain, who will also serve as moderator.
the “Free Land” Chautauqua will address the
collective impact of the Homestead Act, the Pacific Railway Act, and
the Morrill Act on Nebraska, the Great Plains and the nation. The
influences of these three pieces of legislation, all passed within
six weeks of each other in 1862, will be explored through scholar
portrayals of six prominent historical figures: Union general and
railroad builder Grenville Dodge, author Willa Cather, Ponca chief
Standing Bear, author and homesteader Laura Ingalls Wilder,
homesteader and inventor George Washington Carver, and humorist Mark
Twain as moderator.Phone 402-474-2131 or e-mail nhc@nebraskahumanities.org. |
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