Count me in, too.  --susan harris
 
Susan K. Harris
Hall Professor of American Literature & Culture
Department of English
University 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 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/twain-=
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