Hi Cindy and Henry, Just a comment on the date selection. The second weekend of August is when the Mark Twain Birth Shrine State Park hosts their Salt River Folk Festival and occasionally a Bass tournament on the lake. This makes it fairly crowded at the MT Birth Shrine. The festival is always good and worth a visit, the MT Shrine is a must visit, but it may not be a good time for researchers. The people at the MT Birthplace would be good to add to the committee. Looking forward to the possibilities. Warren Brown 815.468.0635 -----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, Susan 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 =20 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=3D mira every four years. Barb Snedecor and her colleauges turn out a = flawles=3D s, perfectly executed endeavor that bestows upon each of us unique and = last=3D ing memories in a setting of kinship and camaraderie. No one is a = stranger=3D in Elmira. Many of you have contributed in terms of papers, = presentations=3D , etc.; the collaboration is extensive and necessary. And appreciated. Henry Sweets and I have talked to a few of you in general terms - = throwing =3D out feelers - about the museum hosting a Twain conference here in = Hannibal =3D during the in-between years. We've had enough positive feedback to take = it=3D to the next level: all of you here on the Mark Twain Forum. We would = in n=3D o way want to detract (or distract) from Elmira (knowing full well that = is =3D simply not possible nor desirable) but would only like to provide a wee = "fi=3D x" to sustain us in between those long four year periods. We also = believe =3D that Hannibal (and nearby Florida) have much to offer in our own right = in t=3D erms of Sam Clemens's story, and this would give Twain scholars a chance = to=3D romp through the boyhood haunts. We are now seeking your insights on = the =3D 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=3D c. -Tentatively thinking of August 11-13, 2011 (dates of availability of = campu=3D 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=3D s, Quarry Farm visit, behind the scenes museum tours, cemetery tours, = Jacks=3D on's Island tour, etc.) -If greenlighted by the likes of you all, we'd need a small committee of = vo=3D 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=3D y, "Yes, this just might hold me over until we all get together again in = El=3D 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=3D ack suggests we go no further, no harm done. But we do feel compelled = to p=3D resent Hannibal (and Florida) in an academic forum and believe this idea = ha=3D 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=3D od Home with panels discussing slavery in the Clemens household; period = fur=3D niture in the reconstructed Blankenship home and panels discussing = slavery;=3D etc.),=3D20 -launched a literary journal (The Village Pariah) inspired by = Twain/Hanniba=3D l/"place" (Ron Powers graciously provided our introductory essay) = Subscript=3D ions available! -completed restorations of the exterior of the Laura Hawkins/Becky = Thatcher=3D home; moving indoors this winter to continue work -borrowed the "missing" Rockwell painting (whitewashing scene) for an = exten=3D ded loan, so we now have all 16 under one roof=3D20 -recently hired African American storyteller Gladys Coggswell (author of = St=3D ories from the Heart: Missouri's African America Heritage - U of = Missouri P=3D ress) to do storytelling at the museum (slave narratives, Mary Ann = Cord's s=3D tory, etc.) -begun the historic preservation of the 1844 Van Swearingen house (a = gift f=3D rom Martin Zehr) to sell next year as a benefit for the museum (Thank = you, =3D Martin and Susan!) -completed our 4th series of teacher workshops and 3rd young authors = worksh=3D op=3D20 (If you're interested, young author stories:=3D20 http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/08/mountain_gap_middle_student_wa.html=3D= 20 and=3D20 http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2010/06/05/twai= n-=3D leaves-mark-on-student-bound-for-authors-homeland.html) We also learned recently we will receive the Governor's 2010 Humanites = Awar=3D d in October, and recent visitors included Senator Claire McCaskill and = Pri=3D nce Albert of Monaco. Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley (O Brother, Where = Art=3D Thou?) will perform here this Sunday; Ken Burns' pianist will perform = on t=3D he Gabrilowitsch piano Oct. 28, and our CD tribute to Mark Twain is = schedul=3D ed for release on Nov. 30 (Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, = Vin=3D ce Gill, Doyle Lawson, Carl Jackson, etc.). =3D20 Again, my main reason for this email was to ask for your ideas, thoughts = an=3D d yes, blessings, to give this Hannibal conference a try, but I thought = I'd=3D go ahead and share some other information in case you haven't been to = the =3D website - or Hannibal - lately. We appreciate all of you and your = efforts =3D in preserving the legacy of Sam Clemens, and we are proud to play a = small r=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 = Twain" =3D yet? Click here, sign, and pass it on! = http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/de=3D signate-2010-the-year-of-mark-twain "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker = wi=3D ll be sorry." ~Mark Twain