I'm in On 9/23/10 8:04 PM, "Cindy Lovell" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > 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