It would be nice to have a Twain conference more convenient to those of
us in the Midwest who can't conveniently get to Elmira.

<-----Original Message----->

 	  	 From: Cindy Lovell [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 9/23/2010 8:04:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Thoughts on Twain Conference in Hannibal? 

Dear Forum Members, 

We are all rightfully addicted to the excellent Twain conference held in
El= 
mira every four years. Barb Snedecor and her colleauges turn out a
flawles= 
s, perfectly executed endeavor that bestows upon each of us unique and
last= 
ing memories in a setting of kinship and camaraderie. No one is a
stranger= 
in Elmira. Many of you have contributed in terms of papers,
presentations= 
, etc.; the collaboration is extensive and necessary. And appreciated. 

Henry Sweets and I have talked to a few of you in general terms -
throwing = 
out feelers - about the museum hosting a Twain conference here in
Hannibal = 
during the in-between years. We've had enough positive feedback to take
it= 
to the next level: all of you here on the Mark Twain Forum. We would in
n= 
o way want to detract (or distract) from Elmira (knowing full well that
is = 
simply not possible nor desirable) but would only like to provide a wee
"fi= 
x" to sustain us in between those long four year periods. We also
believe = 
that Hannibal (and nearby Florida) have much to offer in our own right
in t= 
erms of Sam Clemens's story, and this would give Twain scholars a chance
to= 
romp through the boyhood haunts. We are now seeking your insights on the
= 
possibility of hosting a conference here starting in August 2011. 

A few points: 
-Hannibal-LaGrange College can host us in terms of meeting rooms, dorms,
et= 
c. 
-Tentatively thinking of August 11-13, 2011 (dates of availability of
campu= 
s) - trying to stay ahead of the fall semester (back-up dates: July
28-30) 
-Could provide a menu of tours and activities (riverboat, cave lantern
tour= 
s, Quarry Farm visit, behind the scenes museum tours, cemetery tours,
Jacks= 
on's Island tour, etc.) 
-If greenlighted by the likes of you all, we'd need a small committee of
vo= 
lunteers to oversee a call for papers, etc. 
-If no one sees a problem with this (let's hope you jump up and down and
sa= 
y, "Yes, this just might hold me over until we all get together again in
El= 
mira in 2013!"), we would need to get started right away. 
-We would need a theme (childhood? river? slavery? no theme needed?) 
-We could think of this as a "pilot" conference. If we do it and the
feedb= 
ack suggests we go no further, no harm done. But we do feel compelled to
p= 
resent Hannibal (and Florida) in an academic forum and believe this idea
ha= 
s merit. 
-We can't do it without you. 

Some "FYI" highlights about the museum - This year we have: 
-installed several new permanent exhibits (handmade rug pallet in the
Boyho= 
od Home with panels discussing slavery in the Clemens household; period
fur= 
niture in the reconstructed Blankenship home and panels discussing
slavery;= 
etc.),=20 
-launched a literary journal (The Village Pariah) inspired by
Twain/Hanniba= 
l/"place" (Ron Powers graciously provided our introductory essay)
Subscript= 
ions available! 
-completed restorations of the exterior of the Laura Hawkins/Becky
Thatcher= 
home; moving indoors this winter to continue work 
-borrowed the "missing" Rockwell painting (whitewashing scene) for an
exten= 
ded loan, so we now have all 16 under one roof=20 
-recently hired African American storyteller Gladys Coggswell (author of
St= 
ories from the Heart: Missouri's African America Heritage - U of
Missouri P= 
ress) to do storytelling at the museum (slave narratives, Mary Ann
Cord's s= 
tory, etc.) 
-begun the historic preservation of the 1844 Van Swearingen house (a
gift f= 
rom Martin Zehr) to sell next year as a benefit for the museum (Thank
you, = 
Martin and Susan!) 
-completed our 4th series of teacher workshops and 3rd young authors
worksh= 
op=20 
(If you're interested, young author stories:=20 
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/08/mountain_gap_middle_student_wa.html=
20 
and=20 
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/06/05/twa
in-= 
leaves-mark-on-student-bound-for-authors-homeland.html) 

We also learned recently we will receive the Governor's 2010 Humanites
Awar= 
d in October, and recent visitors included Senator Claire McCaskill and
Pri= 
nce Albert of Monaco. Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley (O Brother, Where
Art= 
Thou?) will perform here this Sunday; Ken Burns' pianist will perform on
t= 
he Gabrilowitsch piano Oct. 28, and our CD tribute to Mark Twain is
schedul= 
ed for release on Nov. 30 (Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley,
Vin= 
ce Gill, Doyle Lawson, Carl Jackson, etc.). =20 

Again, my main reason for this email was to ask for your ideas, thoughts
an= 
d yes, blessings, to give this Hannibal conference a try, but I thought
I'd= 
go ahead and share some other information in case you haven't been to
the = 
website - or Hannibal - lately. We appreciate all of you and your
efforts = 
in preserving the legacy of Sam Clemens, and we are proud to play a
small r= 
ole as well. 

It's been a great 2010 so far! Here's hoping for an even better 2011. 

Thank you, 
Cindy 


Cindy Lovell, Ph.D. 
Executive Director 
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum 

120 N. Main St. 
Hannibal MO 63401 
Phone: 573-221-9010 ext. 402 
Cell: 386-748-1256 
Fax: 573-221-7975 
Email: [log in to unmask] 
Web site: http://marktwainmuseum.org/ 

Have you signed our petition to designate 2010 as "The Year of Mark
Twain" = 
yet? Click here, sign, and pass it on!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/de= 
signate-2010-the-year-of-mark-twain 

"Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker
wi= 
ll be sorry." ~Mark Twain 
.