All - I just received the message below from Connie Ritter at the birthplace. It looks like our August date (which our local college suggested) will still work. Thanks to EVERYONE who is making suggestions and contacting us about this idea. We are truly grateful. --Cindy Lovell
Hi Cindy,
I tried to send this thru the Mark Twain Forum, but the email was returned. Said we could post...another day.
I was answering the comment made by Warren Brown, The Salt River Festival is no longer sponsored by the Birthplace, it is an event of the Friends of Florida and they have changed their date to May. I think they now call it the Founder's Day Picnic. I don't think Warren knows that John retired.
If we can be of help in anyway, please let us know when, where and how.
Thanks,
Connie Ritter, IRS II
Mark Twain Birthplace SHS
________________________________________
From: Mark Twain Forum [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of JULES AUSTIN HOJNOWSKI [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 12:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Twain Conference in Hannibal?
Excellent point! Maybe just before or just after would be good :)
Jules
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Warren Brown
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 8:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Twain Conference in Hannibal?
Hi Cindy and Henry,
Just a comment on the date selection. The second weekend of August is when=
=3D the Mark Twain Birth Shrine State Park hosts their Salt River Folk Fes=
tiv=3D al and occasionally a Bass tournament on the lake. This makes it fai=
rly cr=3D owded at the MT Birth Shrine. The festival is always good and wor=
th a visi=3D t, the MT Shrine is a must visit, but it may not be a good tim=
e for resear=3D chers. The people at the MT Birthplace would be good to add=
to the committ=3D ee. Looking forward to the possibilities.
Warren Brown
815.468.0635
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
=3D20
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Talbot <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, Oct 5, 2010 8:13 pm
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Twain Conference in Hannibal?
Count me in too. Also, invite Hal Holbrook.
Rick Talbot
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Harris, Susa=
=3D n Kumin
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 10:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Twain Conference in Hannibal?
Count me in, too. --susan harris
=3D3D20
Susan K. Harris
Hall Professor of American Literature & Culture Department of English Unive=
rsity of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66042
________________________________
From: Mark Twain Forum on behalf of Cindy Lovell
Sent: Thu 9/23/2010 20:04
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=3D=
=3D3D El=3D3D3D mira every four years. Barb Snedecor and her colleauges =
turn out a =3D3D flawles=3D3D3D s, perfectly executed endeavor that bestows=
upon each of us unique and =3D3D last=3D3D3D ing memories in a setting of =
kinship and camaraderie. No one is a =3D3D stranger=3D3D3D in Elmira. Ma=
ny of you have contributed in terms of papers, =3D3D presentations=3D3D3D ,=
etc.; the collaboration is extensive and necessary. And appreciated.
Henry Sweets and I have talked to a few of you in general terms - =3D3D thr=
owing =3D3D3D out feelers - about the museum hosting a Twain conference her=
e in =3D3D Hannibal =3D3D3D during the in-between years. We've had enough =
positive feedback to take=3D =3D3D it=3D3D3D to the next level: all of yo=
u here on the Mark Twain Forum. We would =3D3D in n=3D3D3D o way want to d=
etract (or distract) from Elmira (knowing full well that =3D =3D3D is =3D3D=
3D simply not possible nor desirable) but would only like to provide a wee =
=3D =3D3D "fi=3D3D3D x" to sustain us in between those long four year perio=
ds. We also =3D3D believe =3D3D3D that Hannibal (and nearby Florida) have =
much to offer in our own right =3D3D in t=3D3D3D erms of Sam Clemens's stor=
y, and this would give Twain scholars a chance=3D =3D3D to=3D3D3D romp th=
rough the boyhood haunts. We are now seeking your insights on =3D3D the =
=3D3D3D 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,=3D=
=3D3D et=3D3D3D c.
-Tentatively thinking of August 11-13, 2011 (dates of availability of =3D3D=
campu=3D3D3D
s) - trying to stay ahead of the fall semester (back-up dates: July =3D3D
28-30)
-Could provide a menu of tours and activities (riverboat, cave lantern =3D3=
D tour=3D3D3D s, Quarry Farm visit, behind the scenes museum tours, cemeter=
y tours, =3D3D Jacks=3D3D3D on's Island tour, etc.) -If greenlighted by the=
likes of you all, we'd need a small committee of=3D =3D3D vo=3D3D3D lunte=
ers to oversee a call for papers, etc.
-If no one sees a problem with this (let's hope you jump up and down and=3D=
=3D3D sa=3D3D3D y, "Yes, this just might hold me over until we all get to=
gether again in=3D =3D3D El=3D3D3D mira in 2013!"), we would need to get s=
tarted right away.
-We would need a theme (childhood? river? slavery? no theme needed?) -We co=
uld think of this as a "pilot" conference. If we do it and the =3D3D feedb=
=3D3D3D ack suggests we go no further, no harm done. But we do feel compel=
led =3D3D to p=3D3D3D resent Hannibal (and Florida) in an academic forum an=
d believe this idea=3D =3D3D ha=3D3D3D 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 =3D3D=
Boyho=3D3D3D od Home with panels discussing slavery in the Clemens househo=
ld; period =3D =3D3D fur=3D3D3D niture in the reconstructed Blankenship hom=
e and panels discussing =3D3D slavery;=3D3D3D
etc.),=3D3D3D20
-launched a literary journal (The Village Pariah) inspired by =3D3D Twain/H=
anniba=3D3D3D l/"place" (Ron Powers graciously provided our introductory es=
say) =3D3D Subscript=3D3D3D ions available!
-completed restorations of the exterior of the Laura Hawkins/Becky =3D3D Th=
atcher=3D3D3D home; moving indoors this winter to continue work -borrowed =
the "missing" Rockwell painting (whitewashing scene) for an =3D3D exten=3D3=
D3D ded loan, so we now have all 16 under one roof=3D3D3D20 -recently hired=
African American storyteller Gladys Coggswell (author of=3D =3D3D St=3D3D=
3D ories from the Heart: Missouri's African America Heritage - U of =3D3D M=
issouri P=3D3D3D
ress) to do storytelling at the museum (slave narratives, Mary Ann =3D3D Co=
rd's s=3D3D3D tory, etc.) -begun the historic preservation of the 1844 Van =
Swearingen house (a =3D3D gift f=3D3D3D rom Martin Zehr) to sell next year =
as a benefit for the museum (Thank =3D3D you, =3D3D3D Martin and Susan!) -c=
ompleted our 4th series of teacher workshops and 3rd young authors =3D3D wo=
rksh=3D3D3D
op=3D3D3D20
(If you're interested, young author stories:=3D3D3D20 http://blog.al.com/br=
eaking/2010/08/mountain_gap_middle_student_wa.html=3D3D=3D
3D=3D3D
20
and=3D3D3D20
http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/06/05/twai=
=3D
=3D3D
n-=3D3D3D
leaves-mark-on-student-bound-for-authors-homeland.html)
We also learned recently we will receive the Governor's 2010 Humanites =3D3=
D Awar=3D3D3D d in October, and recent visitors included Senator Claire McC=
askill and =3D =3D3D Pri=3D3D3D nce Albert of Monaco. Bluegrass legend Ral=
ph Stanley (O Brother, Where =3D =3D3D Art=3D3D3D
Thou?) will perform here this Sunday; Ken Burns' pianist will perform =3D3=
D on t=3D3D3D he Gabrilowitsch piano Oct. 28, and our CD tribute to Mark Tw=
ain is =3D3D schedul=3D3D3D ed for release on Nov. 30 (Alison Krauss, Emmyl=
ou Harris, Brad Paisley, =3D =3D3D Vin=3D3D3D ce Gill, Doyle Lawson, Carl J=
ackson, etc.). =3D3D3D20
Again, my main reason for this email was to ask for your ideas, thoughts=3D=
=3D3D an=3D3D3D d yes, blessings, to give this Hannibal conference a try,=
but I thought =3D =3D3D I'd=3D3D3D go ahead and share some other informat=
ion in case you haven't been to =3D3D the =3D3D3D website - or Hannibal - l=
ately. We appreciate all of you and your =3D3D efforts =3D3D3D in preservi=
ng the legacy of Sam Clemens, and we are proud to play a =3D3D small r=3D3D=
3D 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 =3D3D T=
wain" =3D3D3D yet? Click here, sign, and pass it on! =3D3D http://www.thep=
etitionsite.com/1/de=3D3D3D
signate-2010-the-year-of-mark-twain
"Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker=3D=
=3D3D wi=3D3D3D ll be sorry." ~Mark Twain
=3D20
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