"STILL IS SITTING, STILL IS SITTING": POE'S "THE RAVEN" TURNS 175 - Idaho Humanities Council
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Th e Newsle tt er of t h e Id a h o Hu ma n i ti es C ou n ci l | W i n ter 2 02 1
feature
“STILL IS SITTING, STILL IS SITTING”:
POE’S “THE RAVEN” TURNS 175
By Tom Hillard
EDITOR’S NOTE: The year 2020 The narrator recognizes that
marked the 175th anniversary of the this word is the bird’s “only stock and
publication of Edgar Allan Poe’s world- store,” the only word it can speak, and
famous poem “The Raven.” To mark he responds by pulling up a seat to
the occasion, we asked Boise State ponder, “linking / Fancy unto fancy.”
University American literature scholar What follows is the crux of the tale,
Tom Hillard to reflect on this beloved and the curious shift in events is what
American poem. To find “The Raven” gives the poem so much of its affective
online with Poe’s other works please visit power. The narrator, thinking again of
www.eapoe.org. lost Lenore and wondering if the raven
is “bird or devil,” indulges his grief and
poses a series of increasingly painful
queries: Will he ever have “respite and
nepenthe” from his sad memories?
Will there ever be healing (“is there
balm in Gilead”)? And will he ever
“clasp” his beloved again in an afterlife
(“the distant Aidenn”)? The answer
to each, of course, is “Nevermore.”
Tom Hillard
Finally having had enough, the
narrator shrieks his demand, “Take
Few poems have captured the popular thy beak from out my heart, and take
imagination quite so thoroughly Image is from an 1852 illustrated edition of thy form from off my door!” But we
Poe’s Poetical Works. Original from University of
and powerfully as has Edgar Allan California. know the reply, just as the narrator
Poe’s “The Raven.” Its story is well does—and the poem closes with his
known, and it’s one worth retelling: opening it, in flies “a stately Raven” “soul” still under the “shadow” of the
It begins, late at night, with a tired from “Night’s Plutonian shore” who raven. Marked by its unusual meter
narrator leafing through books to perches on a statue of Athena (the and staggered, repeating rhymes,
distract himself from thoughts of his Greek goddess of wisdom). At first its eerie, dark, and ominous mood,
deceased, beloved “lost Lenore.” A smiling at the unexpected presence, and that unforgettable refrain, Poe’s
tapping at his door disrupts him and, the narrator playfully asks its name, poem has a way of sticking with you—
startled and nervous, expecting an and to his surprise the raven replies, lodging itself in memory just as the
unknown visitor, he opens it to find “Nevermore.” Marveling, his thoughts titular raven haunts the chamber of the
only a worrisome darkness. With his turn toward absent friends, and when poem’s narrator.
“soul within [him] burning,” he returns he wonders aloud if the raven will At the time I write this, in the
into the chamber only to hear another also leave him, the response is again, frosty late-December of 2020, Poe’s
tapping, this time at the window. Upon “Nevermore.” raven has been haunting readers for
feature continued on page 4
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from the Chair
Idaho Humanities is published two to
three times a year by the
MARGARET JOHNSON
Idaho Humanities Council
Ardinger House
I write these notes in the final days of 2020, a year
217 W. State St. Boise, ID 83702 Should auld acquaintance be forgot
unlike any that preceded it. Though I will not be
(208) 345-5346 And never brought to mind?
attending any New Year’s Eve parties this year, I
Toll Free: (888) 345-5346 Should auld acquaintance be forgot
expect I will still hear the song “Auld Lang Syne”
www. idahohumanities.org And days of auld lang syne?
played on TV or radio. Scottish poet Robert Burns is
For auld lang syne, my dear
credited with writing the plaintive lyrics, which begin
For auld lang syne
with two rhetorical questions—should we forget our
BOARD OF DIRECTORS We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet past acquaintances and should we forget the days that
For days of auld lang syne have past? These questions resonate powerfully this
Chair year.
Margaret Johnson, Pocatello
Throughout Idaho and the rest of the world, COVID-19 has taken a toll: Idahoans have
Vice Chair lost friends and family members, lost jobs, and lost much of what makes life normal.
Shelley McEuen-Howard, Twin Falls But even through this challenging year, the humanities have sustained and engaged us.
Virtual art tours and historical lectures have proliferated. According to NPR, library
Mary Ann Allison, Idaho Falls checkouts have increased as people have more time to read.
Tamara Ansotegui, Boise
At Idaho Humanities Council, we initiated Connected Conversations, our virtual
Eve Chandler, Boise
presentations on subjects as varied as the history of Idaho Falls baseball, the history of
Dan English, Coeur d’Alene Idaho state parks, the refugee experience in Boise, and independent film, just to name
Murray Feldman, Boise a few. And the IHC was able to award $386,107 in CARES Act grant awards to Idaho
Stephan Flores, Moscow humanities organizations that were affected by COVID-19.
Susan Gibson, Boise
Jan Johnson, Lewiston Like the Roman god Janus, who is depicted with two faces, one looking to the past
Dulce Kersting-Lark, Moscow and one to the future, I hope we can all continue to honor the memory of our “auld
Matthew Levay, Pocatello acquaintance” while looking forward to 2021 with appreciation for all we have
Bill Manny, Boise accomplished and what we will continue to create in the coming year.
Christina Olson, Idaho Falls
Rocky Owens, Coeur d’Alene
Andrea Partington, Coeur d’Alene
Mac Test, Boise from the Director
Garry Wenske, Boise DAVID PETTYJOHN
STAFF Like most gatherings this past year, the 2020 National
David Pettyjohn, Executive Director Humanities Conference was a virtual event featuring dozens
david@idahohumanities.org of sessions, engaging plenaries, and opportunities to learn
about the work of our fellow councils. The conference had
Doug Exton, Program Officer over 900 attendees including six IHC board members and
doug@idahohumanities.org four staff members.
Jennifer Holley, Director of Programs and One session I attended focused on the importance of
Development diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work. I learned a lot
jennifer@idahohumanities.org in that session but one comment particularly resonated: “if
you have one voice included in the conversation then you’ll
Debra Schlechte, Office Manager get one outcome.” The humanities are all about the stories, experiences, and ideas of
debra@idahohumanities.org
everyone and if some of those stories aren’t included then our understanding of the
Cindy Wang, Director of Operations human experience is incomplete.
cindy@idahohumanities.org
Here at IHC, we are actively working towards including more voices to the conversation.
We have established a DEI Task Force, participated in the Human Rights Certification
MISSION STATEMENT: program of the Wassmuth Center, and continue to develop programs the explore
Idaho’s diverse voices. I am also honored to serve on the Racial Equity Task Force of the
The mission of the IHC is to deepen Federation of State Humanities Councils and will share the knowledge gained with our
understanding of human experience by board and staff.
connecting people with ideas.
We realize that much works needs to be done, but as we head into the new year, I am
Opinions expressed in Idaho Humanities do not excited that our journey towards full inclusiveness is well under way.
necessarily reflect views of the Idaho Humanities
Council or the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
2
opportunity
IHC TO OFFER PROGRAMS ON
CIVIC AND ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION
Thanks to support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Federation of State
Humanities Councils, IHC will provide free humanities programs based on a national
initiative called “Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation.”
These virtual events will explore the history of civic participation and electoral
engagement, highlight and elevate perspectives, and bring people together to talk, share,
learn, and listen using the humanities to promote understanding through historical
context and conversation.
Programming will take place from February to April 2021. Please visit
www.idahohumanities.org for more information.
This program was funded by the “Why it
Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation”
initiative, administered by the Federation
of State Humanities Councils and funded
by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
IHC TO OFFER SUMMER 2021
MAJOR GRANT ROUND
Because of the unpredictability of planning fall events due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
IHC is offering a one-time major grant round in summer 2021. This round is for
programs and activities that will take place after July 1, 2021. The deadline for initial
applications is April 15, 2021. Staff will review the applications and provide feedback
and recommendations. Final applications are due on May 17th, 2021. Applications will
be reviewed by the IHC board at their June 2021 meeting.
More information, including IHC grant guidelines, can be found at
www.idahohumanities.org/grants. Please contact Doug Exton, IHC Program Officer,
with any questions at doug@idahohumanities.org.
3
feature
continued from cover
175 years. Its history is a curious one, comics to the now-famous rendition in his cousin when she was only thirteen,
beginning in early 1845 when Poe a Halloween episode of The Simpsons. ostensibly to help provide for her after
authorized two nearly simultaneous Even the world of professional sports the death of their grandmother, who
printings of “The Raven,” in the has felt its effect: the city of Baltimore, had been supporting her.
February issue of The American where Poe is buried, honored him by Their loving relationship,
Review and the January 29 edition naming its NFL football team the however, came to an
of New York’s Evening Mirror. The Baltimore Ravens. end in 1846, when
poem was an immediate sensation, Given this Virginia succumbed
so much so that before July that year pervasiveness of Poe’s poem, it to tuberculosis after
it had been reprinted at least 30 can be a challenge for modern- years of declining
times, in newspapers and magazines day readers to see through the health. And Poe’s
throughout the northeast and from layers of accumulated allusions own death (in
such far-reaching places as Arkansas and almost mythic folklore October 1849) is
and Indiana, and even England and that have attached to the author shrouded in strange
Ireland. Perennially struggling for and his famous bird. Our vision mystery—found
income, Poe cashed in on this success itself has become darkened, and delirious in the streets
Poe in 1849
by releasing that November the Poe’s biography at times distorted. For of Baltimore, wearing
collection The Raven and Other Poems. many readers, the allure of Poe arises someone else’s clothes, and later
To put it in contemporary from a dark intrigue. As with so many dying of “congestion of the brain.”
terms, Poe’s poem had “gone viral.” Gothic and horror writers, we want to Such sensational qualities,
And in the 175 years since, its know: Who conjures such creations? however, are often overemphasized
popularity has hardly waned. In fact, What kind of mind thinks up stories (and, in fact, originate partly from
“The Raven” has become such a pop like “Berenice,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” posthumous character attacks by his
or “The Black Cat”? literary executor, Rufus Griswold).
Consequently, the popular For Poe was also fiercely committed
mythos surrounding Poe tends to to his craft, possessing an astonishing
emphasize the darkness. Indeed, his work ethic that resulted in a prolific
life wasn’t easy. Born in Boston on output as a writer during the 1830s
January 19, 1809 to actors Elizabeth and 40s. While best known today for
Arnold and David Poe, Edgar Poe his short fiction (such as “The Cask
was orphaned by age three: his father of Amontillado” and “The Fall of the
deserted the family, and his mother, House of Usher”) and poetry, during
while in Richmond, Virginia, died his own lifetime Poe was recognized as
of tuberculosis. Young Edgar was much or more for his editing work and
taken in by Richmond merchant often controversial literary criticism
John Allan, who became his foster as he was his stories and poems. As a
father (and whose surname Poe review writer (for the Southern Literary
adopted as his middle name). But Poe Messenger, Graham’s Magazine,
acquired habits that strained that New York Mirror, and Broadway
relationship, including racking up Journal) Poe never hesitated to poke
Image is from an 1884 edition of “The Raven” substantial gambling debt while at fun at or outright attack writers and
illustrated by William Ladd Taylor. the University of Virginia (all while works he found fault with (including
emulating the lifestyle of a wealthy leveling accusations of plagiarism).
culture touchstone that even those Southern gentleman). This ne’er-do- He derided the cliquishness of many
who’ve never read a stanza or page of well behavior continued throughout contemporary Northern literary
Poe are likely familiar with its ominous his life: he was frivolous with money circles, including Henry Wadsworth
“Nevermore.” The poem’s artistic and prone to alcohol abuse, which Longfellow and the group of authors
influence is wide, having inspired were destructive forces personally and associated with the Knickerbocker
almost countless allusions in stories, professionally. He suffered from ill magazine (a rivalry that became
books, television shows, and films; health, and he was no stranger to death known as the “Longfellow War”); and
and the parodies and spoofs of “The among those who were close to him, while Poe disdained authors who
Raven” are nearly as prolific, ranging including his wife, Virginia. Fourteen imitated British literary models, he
from Mad magazine and Donald Duck years her senior, in 1836 Poe married equally dismissed the push for an
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American nationalism in literature rigid consequence of a mathematical I remember it was in that bleak
when it resulted in praising inferior problem.” Thus he uses rigorous December,” the narrator recalls,
art simply because it was American. logic and process to determine that and in that winter half-light of a
Outspoken at nearly every turn, as a “Melancholy is . . . the most legitimate “midnight dreary,” where “each
scathing critic Poe eventually earned of all the poetical tones,” and separate dying ember wrought its
the nickname, “the man with the concludes that “the death, then, of a ghost upon the floor,” I suspect we
tomahawk.” beautiful woman is, unquestionably, as modern readers might be able to
What often seems a grim the most poetical topic in the world.” find a story for our own times. Truth
somberness in Poe’s literary I realize that all of these be told, as 2020 comes to a close,
subject matter is frequently offset musings on Poe and the legacy of most of us are living in some
by his over-the-top flourishes and his famous poem may seem an version of a ghost story, reckoning
inclination toward outright satire unusual—even macabre—topic in with the haunting memories of
and parody. Critics still frequently late December: For many of us, the “life as normal” that may never
struggle with whether to read year’s end is a time for holiday cheer, return. The pandemic of the past
many of his tales, in all of their celebration, and gathering family. year has brought each of us almost
outrageousness, as earnestly serious unimaginable hardships,
or ironically comic. Poe himself loved and many of us, like
duping people, in person and in Poe’s narrator, have been
print, and seemed to find pleasure in alone and lonely, forced
highlighting the gullibility of others. to contend with grief,
Take, for instance, “Hans Phaal—A reckon with loss, and
Tale,” an 1835 story presented as a face difficult questions—
true account of a man who used a about ourselves, our lives
balloon to fly to the moon! A similar and loved ones, even the
1844 tale in New York’s The Sun, cultures in which we live.
about a manned balloon flight over What will come next? Will
the Atlantic, created an overnight there be respite? Will we
sensation (before the story was find the “nepenthe” or the
eventually retracted). “balm of Gilead” that the
In addition to these proto- Image from an illustrated 1869 edition of Dickens’s A narrator himself seeks?
science fiction tales, it’s helpful also Christmas Carol. Will we ever reunite with
to remember Poe as the author of our loved ones?
“The Purloined Letter” and “The However, it wasn’t too long ago that Poe’s poem ends with its
Murders in the Rue Morgue”— “bleak December,” as Poe phrases it own haunting finale: “And the raven,
stories about logical analysis and in “The Raven,” was a traditional time never flitting, still is sitting, still is
things hidden in plain sight—which for ghost stories. Charles Dickens sitting . . .” Even now, 175 years later,
effectively inaugurated the detective cemented this connection with his despite the narrator’s command to
story genre as we know it. In fact, 1843 A Christmas Carol, but the “Take thy beak from out my heart,”
to return to “The Raven,” Poe’s tradition of ghosts and the cold dark Poe’s raven has not moved. Still it
fascination with rational thinking of wintertime is actually much older. sits, and the poem closes without
and his fondness for stretching the In Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, for tidy resolution. Such uncertainty
truth come together in his 1846 essay, example, the character Mamillius is unsettling, for sure, but peering
“The Philosophy of Composition,” tells us that “A sad tale’s best for into the darkness, facing the hard
in which he ostensibly outlines winter: I have one / Of sprites and things always is. Yet that’s what life
his principles and methods for goblins.” Even the original Gothic is like, isn’t it? Even in the best of
composing the poem. As Poe would novel, Horace Walpole’s The Castle times it’s messy, without resolution,
have us believe (and there is strong of Otranto, was first published on ambiguous, impermanent. The magic
evidence that he’s pulling our leg), Christmas Eve in 1764; and likewise, of the “The Raven,” like so many
he began “The Raven” with a specific Henry James’s 1898 classic The Turn works of literature, is that it reminds
“effect” in mind and from there of the Screw is framed as a ghost us we’re not alone in our grief, and
methodically reverse-engineered a story told the night before Christmas. that in the catharsis of facing it, amid
poem to create that effect—applying “The Raven” itself is an all the darkness, ours is also a world
what he calls “the precision and end-of-the-year tale: “Distinctly of beauty and love.
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grants
IDAHO HUMANITIES COUNCIL AWARDS $66,807 IN GRANTS IN OCTOBER
IHC recently awarded $66,807 in grants to organizations and City of McCall, McCall, was awarded $4,000 for development of a
individuals. Twenty-nine awards include fifteen major grants new public humanities project. This project will tie in Idaho History
for public humanities programs, four Research Fellowships, six to the public in Downtown McCall through the lens of literature with
Opportunity Grants, and four Teacher Incentive Grants. The grants an accompanied event open to the public. The project director is Meg
were supported in part by funding from the National Endowment for Lojek.
the Humanities and the Idaho Humanities Council’s Endowment for
Humanities Education. The City Club of Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls, was awarded $3,500 for
program support for the 2021 program year for City Club of Idaho
Falls. The project director is Jerry Scheid.
MAJOR GRANTS:
Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise, was awarded $4,000 for the
Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce, Shakespearience program which will take a Shakespeare play into
Wallace, was awarded $2,500 for a new map the schools virtually. The 2021 play is a recorded version of Hamlet.
and guide of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District. The program includes study guides for advance student preparation,
This project is a collaboration between the including historical references and discussion about Shakespeare. The
Wallace Chamber of Commerce, the Wallace project director is Christine Zimowsky.
Mining Museum, the Capt. John Mullan
Museum, the Kellogg Staff House Museum, the Wallace Mine Heritage Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation, Inc.,
Exhibition, and the Historic Wallace Preservation Society. The project Boise, was awarded $2,000 for their annual
director is David S. Copelan. PHOTO: Wallace District Mining Museum Nuestros Corridos Concert event and associated
workshops. The event involves multiple
Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene, was awarded $4,000 for a cultural components of Latinx heritage. The
new podcast with twelve different themes aligned with the heritage project director is Ana Maria Schachtell.
associated with each month. The project director is Jocelyn Whitfield-
Babcock. Magic Valley Arts Council, Twin Falls, was awarded $2,000 for
program support of PBS’s Indie-Lens Film Festival in a COVID-19 era
Blaine County Historical Museum, Hailey, was awarded $1,250 for format. The festival will promote community-driven conversation
software and hardware upgrades to improve their digital archive. This around six documentaries. The project director is Melissa Crane.
grant will allow multiple users and enable public access to the digital
archive once it is created. The project director is Rebecca Cox. RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS:
White Spring Ranch Museum/Archive Library, Genesee, was David Lawrimore, Idaho State University, Pocatello,
awarded $2,030 for infrastructure upgrades to assist in original was awarded $3,500 for a book-length study of the early
document preservation. The project director is Diane Conroy. American novel’s role in class and partisan conflicts of
the 1780-1820 early national period. He plans to discuss
Community Library Network, Hayden was awarded how many authors’ writings advocate for this “Natural
$5,000 for the North Idaho Reads Program in 2021. Aristocracy.”
Funds will help bring Emily Ruskovich to Hayden to
discuss her novel, Idaho. The project director is Twylla Justin Stover, Idaho State University, Pocatello, was awarded $3,500
Rehder. to build on recent work in environmental destruction and sexual
violence during the Irish revolution. His current project will examine
City Club of Boise, Boise, was awarded $2,500 for program support personal compensation and property reconstruction efforts after
for the 2021 City of Club of Boise: Compelling, Inclusive, Nonpartisan, the revolution. Stover will include exploration of bias against Irish
Civil Conversations. The project director is Morgan Keating. women filing claims during this period.
Boise Art Museum, Boise, was awarded $4,650 for a new exhibit Arunima Datta, Idaho State University, Pocatello,
hosted at the Boise Art Museum, titled “The World Stage.” This exhibit was awarded $3,500 for research on issues of labor
will feature 90 artworks from 35 artists, with a focus on today’s global migration from the beginning of the 19th century in
influencers alongside prominent 20th century artists such as Andy Britain, focusing on servants and nannies (ayahs).
Warhol and Kehinde Wiley, an artist best known for his presidential These ayahs traveled between India and Britain and
portrait of Barack Obama which hangs in the National Portrait were often forced to wait and faced destitution in
Gallery. The project director is Melanie Fales. Britain while waiting to return home. Through this exploration, Datta
will examine “waiting” as a social experience.
Global Lounge Incorporated, Boise, was awarded $2,500 for the 2021
World Village Festival. This event focuses on the various cultures that Evan Rodriguez, Idaho State University, Pocatello, was awarded
make up the Treasure Valley. The project director is Dayo Ayodele. $3,500 for research on challenging narratives about Plato’s rivalry
with contemporaries. He suggests a closer look will reveal that the
The Cabin, Boise, was awarded $3,000 for program two sides were part of a broader conversation that deepened each
support for the 2020-2021 yearly readings and respective approach.
conversations season. This would help bring James
McBride, Mary Roach, and Laila Lalami in for the OPPORTUNITY GRANTS:
series. The project director is Kurt Zwolfer.
PHOTO: Laila Lalami College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, was awarded $1,000 for a
2-night, 3-day humanities-centered event will be held June 9-11, 2021,
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in McCall, Idaho, at MOSS (the University of Idaho’s McCall Outdoor
Science School) and will enable participants to share research,
writing, teaching ideas, and future plans in a spirit of inquiry and
collaboration. The project director is Jan Simpkin.
College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, was awarded
$1,000 for Dr. Martin Nekola to visit CSI to discuss Czech
history within the US and Idaho. There will be both
academic and public events associated with Nekola’s visit.
The project director is Jim Gentry.
PHOTO: Dr. Martin Nekola
Liberating Spirit Metropolitan Community Church, Boise, was What is your family’s legendary
awarded $1,000 to support the production of a documentary focusing
on the Boise 7, a group of women fired in 1977 for alleged Lesbianism.
recipe? We’d like to know!
The producers plan on premiering the film in Boise and hope to enter
it in major U.S. film festivals and beyond. The project director is When a family recipe is passed down from
Andrea Scott. one generation to another, it can become so
Barnard Stockbridge Museum, Wallace, was awarded $1,000 to help much more than a entrée. Beyond a list of
produce a museum brochure for the Barnard Stockbridge Museum. ingredients and cooking methods, it can tell
The project director is Tammy Copelan. a story and evoke the feeling of home, family,
Boise State University, Boise, was awarded $1,000 to support a
and history. Where did the recipe come from?
diverse public lecture series complimenting a new course (Language, Who do you remember making this recipe for
Race, and Ethnicity) for the Spring of 2021 term at BSU. The project you? Who taught you to make it? When and
director is Chris VanderStouwe.
where did you typically eat this food growing
Community Library Network, Post Falls, was awarded $1,000 to up? Was this a special occasion food, or an
create and preserve local history in a digital archive. The Rathdrum everyday food? Why is this food special or
and Post Falls historical societies agreed to partner with the meaningful for you?
Community Library Network on the project and will assist in taking
items from their respective collections and digitizing them so they are
fully searchable and accessible on a web-based platform. The project A lot of us are cooking from home these days.
director is Nathan A. Hansen. We’d like to know if you are using those classic
recipes. We want to hear from you about your
TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANTS
favorite recipes, what you love about them,
Garden City Library Foundation, Garden City, was awarded $1,000 what the smell of the ingredients evoke, and
to purchase new books for the Bells for Books bookmobile program. especially what the history is or what the
The program serves a high number of non-English speaking children
and bilingual books are included on the bus. The project director is recipe means to you.
Suzy Cavanagh.
Please send your recipes and the stories
Pend Oreille Arts Council, Sandpoint, was awarded $977 to bring
in Living Voices: “Within Silence.” The story provides students with
behind them to Debra Schlechte, IHC Office
access to the Japanese American Internment period in U.S. history, Manager, at debra@idahohumanities.org and
and to the other themes of justice, equality, freedom, and the U.S. we will share them on our website. We would
immigrant experience. The performance will be followed by an love to see photos of the finished dish, the
in-depth discussion with students about these themes. The project
director is Tone Lund. cooking process, and even the original recipe
card!
Children’s Museum of Idaho, Inc., Meridian, was awarded $900 to
support four camps to children ages 4-6 and their parents. Literature,
art, music, history and language are all included in the camps. The
project director is Erin Brown.
Holy Spirit Catholic School, Pocatello, was awarded
$1,000 for a social justice book club for teachers. This
book club will read and discuss multiple themes and
books throughout first half of 2021. Discussions and
books will be used to teach themes of social justice to
the students as well. The project director is Margie
Gabiola. PHOTO: Margie Gabiola
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IHC PROVIDED CARES FUNDS TO IDAHO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Idaho Humanities Council received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The funding was for grants to eligible Idaho
humanities organizations. These funds were used for the organization’s general operating support, public
humanities programming, and for the development of specific humanities programming in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. IHC provided $386,107 to 80 different Idaho organizations.
CARES Act Grant Recipients: • Magic Valley Arts Council, Twin Falls: $1,500
• McCall Arts and Humanities Council, McCall: $2,500
• Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center Foundation, Inc., • McCall Public Library - City of McCall, McCall: $4,885
Moscow: $5,000 • Middleton Public Library, Middleton: $5,000
• Bannock County Historical Museum, Pocatello: $2,500 • Mladi Behar the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Cultural Center
• Barnard Stockbridge Museum Wallace Extension, Wallace: of Idaho, Meridian: $2,500
$2,500 • Mountain Home Historical Society, Mountain Home: $2,500
• Basque Museum & Cultural Center, Boise: $7,500 • Mud Lake Historical Society and Museum, Terreton: $2,500
• Bear Lake County Library, Montpelier: $5,000 • Museum of Idaho, Idaho Falls: $20,000
• Boise Art Museum, Boise: $20,000 • Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene: $5,000
• Boise Contemporary Theater, Boise: $5,000 • Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, Sandpoint: $2,500
• Boise Rock School, Boise: $2,500 • NP Depot Foundation, Inc., Wallace: $5,000
• Boundary County Historical Society, Bonners Ferry: $5,000 • Oregon Trail Center Inc., Montpelier: $5,000
• Burley Public Library, Burley: $5,000 • Panida Theater, Sandpoint: $2,500
• Caldwell Fine Arts, Caldwell: $4,500 • Pend Oreille Arts Council, Sandpoint: $1,500
• Cascade Public Library, Cascade: $820 • Post Falls Historical Society, Inc., Post Falls: $1,500
• Cascade School District #422, Cascade: $850 • Preservation Idaho (Idaho Historic Preservation Council),
• Children’s Museum of Idaho, Inc., Meridian: $3,000 Boise: $7,500
• City Club of Boise, Boise: $7,500 • Rathdrum Westwood Historical Society, Rathdrum: $2,500
• City of Rexburg, Rexburg: $7,750 • Regents of the University of Idaho, Moscow: $8,000
• Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation, Coeur d’Alene: • Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, and Educational Center,
$5,000 Salmon: $5,000
• Death Rattle Writer’s Fest, Nampa: $2,460 • Salmon Arts Council, Salmon: $2,500
• Eli M Oboler Library at Idaho State University, Pocatello: • Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association, Salmon:
$3,786 $5,000
• Emmett Public Library, Emmett: $5,000 • Sixth Street Melodrama Inc., Wallace: $2,500
• Foundation for Idaho History on behalf of the Idaho State • Sugar Salem School District, Sugar City: $4,000
Historical Society, Boise: $10,000 • Sun Valley Museum of Art, Ketchum: $10,000
• Global Lounge Incorporated, Boise: $2,500 • Tetonia Library, Tetonia: $2,500
• Hailey Public Library, Hailey: $7,446 • The Alturas Institute, Idaho Falls: $8,360
• Heart of the Arts, Inc., Moscow: $2,250 • The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, Idaho Falls: $5,000
• Hemingway Literary Center’s Literature for Lunch, Boise: • The Cabin, Boise: $12,000
$2,500 • The Community Library, Ketchum: $17,500
• Hipeexnu Kii U Nuun Wisiix. Inc., Lapwai: $2,500 • The Frank Church Institute, Boise: $2,500
• Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho, Nampa: $5,000 • The Idaho Mythweaver, Sandpoint: $2,500
• Horizons Lifestyle and Education Team (dba Cascade • The Post Falls Historical Society, Inc., Post Falls: $1,500
Cultural Arts Center), Cascade: $1,500 • Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center, Inc., Hailey:
• Human Rights Education Institute, Coeur d’Alene: $5,000 $3,000
• Idaho City Historical Foundation, Idaho City: $5,000 • Treefort Community Fund, Boise: $2,500
• Idaho Falls Arts Council, Inc., Idaho Falls: $2,500 • TRIO Rising Scholars Peer Mentor Program at Boise State
• Idaho Museum of Natural History, Pocatello: $5,000 University, Boise: $2,500
• Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise: $5,000 • Valley of the Tetons Library, Victor: $7,500
• Idaho State University College of Arts and Letters, Pocatello: • Wallace District Mining Museum, Inc., Wallace: $2,500
$7,500 • Warhawk Air Museum, Nampa: $7,500
• Jefferson County Historical Society and Philo T. Farnsworth • Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, Boise: $12,500
TV & Pioneer Museum, Rigby: $2,500
• Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre Inc., Moscow: $2,500 Funding for these grants has been provided by
• Lapwai School District #341, Lapwai: $4,500 the National Endowment for the Humanities
• Latah County Historical Society, Moscow: $3,500 (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief
• Learning Lab, Inc., Garden City: $2,500 and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic
• Lemhi County Historical Society, Inc., Salmon: $2,500 stabilization plan.
• Long Valley Preservation Society, Donnelly: $2,500
8
CARES Act Grants by County
Funding Awarded
Quotes from CARES Act Grant Recipients:
“Thank you to the IHC. We are SO grateful. These grants have made such a difference for us this year. It’s been the only
significant source of support we have been able to find.”
- Paula Benson, Preservation Idaho, Boise
“The generous grant is an incredible source in seeing our educational mission through under these tremendously
challenging conditions that, in turn, will serve to strengthen our capabilities in serving our Gem State altogether.”
- Barry Bilderback, Lionel Hampton School of Music, University of Idaho, Moscow
“This grant is so needed for us to continue our work on preserving
our historic buildings during this crazy time. The Idaho Humanities
Council has been a key partner through the years as we work to save our
community’s history and tell its story. Once again you are there for us.”
- Beth Wilson, Idaho City Historical Foundation, Idaho City
“This grant is indispensable to the work of Alturas in advancing American Democracy through promotion of the
Constitution, civic education, equal protection and gender equality, all areas of central interest and importance to the
humanities.”
- Dave Adler, Alturas Institute, Idaho Falls
9
UP-COMING
TEACHERS! SAVE THE DATE: JULY 19-24, 2021
SUMMER TEACHER INSTITUTE
Image courtesy of The Library of Congress
Get Up, Stand Up:
Resistance Through Popular Music and Poetry
The Idaho Humanities Council’s 2021 weeklong summer teacher institute, titled
“Get Up, Stand Up: Resistance Through Popular Music and Poetry,” will be held
July 19-24, 2021 (Monday through Saturday), on the campus of the College of
Idaho in Caldwell.
During this extraordinary time in U.S. history, institute participants will
examine protest poetry and music as scholars focus on an exploration
of historical and contemporary protest expressions around the country.
Selected teachers will join in lectures and discussions, watch films, attend
workshops, and collaborate with one another and the leading scholars to
immerse themselves for the week. They will return to their classrooms armed
with resources and renewed motivation to incorporate the topic into their
curriculum. Evening presentations on the topic will be scheduled during the
week and will be free and open to the public.
Scholar presenters include poet Major Jackson, Margaret Johnson, Idaho State
University, Carolyn González, California State University, Monterey Bay, Jan
Johnson, University of Idaho, and Bob Santelli, Director, Grammy Museum.
More information, including application details, will be available late January
2021 at www.idahohumanities.org.
10IHC news
THREE NEW MEMBERS JOIN IDAHO HUMANITIES COUNCIL BOARD
The IHC board of directors elected three new members to its 19-member board at their fall meeting in Boise.
The new members will serve three-year terms and attend their first meeting in February 2021.
STEPHAN DULCE MATTHEW
FLORES KERSTING-LARK LEVAY
Stephan Flores, Moscow, is Dulce Kersting-Lark, Moscow, Matthew Levay, Pocatello, is
Associate Professor of English, is Executive Director of the Latah Associate Professor of English
Emeritus, at the University of County Historical Society. She and Director of Graduate
Idaho. He holds a Ph.D. in English holds an M.A. in Public History Studies in English at Idaho State
Language and Literature from from Washington State University University. He also serves as an
the University of Michigan, Ann and served as the project manager Instructor at Harvard Summer
Arbor. He is a member of the and primary author of Legendary School. He holds a Ph.D. in
Advisory Board for artAbility, a Locals of Moscow (Arcadia English from the University of
student-led project supported by Publishing, 2015). She is a past Washington and is the author of
the University of Idaho’s Center President of the Idaho Association Violent Minds: Modernism and the
on Disabilities and Human of Museums. Her personal Criminal (Cambridge: Cambridge
Development in collaboration with research interests focus on U.S. University Press, 2019). He
the Idaho Self-Advocate Leadership environmental history and the currently teaches twentieth-
Network, Moscow Chapter. He is cultural history of the American century literature and popular
the recipient of two Alumni Awards West, including the experiences of culture and serves as the Director
for Faculty Excellence and an ASUI open range cowboys. of the only English Ph.D. program
Outstanding Faculty Award. in the state.
The IHC board meets three times a year to review council-conducted humanities projects and programs. They
also award grants to organizations throughout Idaho to promote greater public awareness, appreciation, and
understanding of literature, history, cultural anthropology, law, and other humanities disciplines.
The IHC board is comprised of academic, public, and at-large members representing all regions of the state
(N, SW, and SE). Four members are appointed by the governor. Terms are three years, renewable once. Several
members rotate off the board each fall as terms expire and new members are elected.
11honors
IDAHO BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM
RECEIVES STATE’S HIGHEST HONOR FOR MUSEUMS,
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, & INTERPRETIVE ORGANIZATIONS
The Idaho Black History Museum in Boise received the Sister Alfreda Elsensohn Award for its outstanding work as an Idaho
museum. Given annually by the Idaho Humanities Council and Idaho State Historical Society, the Sister Alfreda recognition
includes a $10,000 award to be used by the awarded museum, historical society, or interpretive organization to continue its
educational efforts.
The Award is named for Sister Alfreda Elsensohn, who founded the Historical Museum at St. Gertrude in Cottonwood in the
1930s. Sister Alfreda, one of Idaho’s outstanding historians, sought to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts from Idaho
County and the surrounding area to better educate the public. “A museum is a bridge which links the present with the
past,” she said. It is her vision of Idaho museums as exciting, interactive, and educational institutions that the Award seeks
to recognize by honoring one outstanding Idaho museum each year.
“The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) engages
communities by building upon shared experiences to
inspire further action in preserving and sharing Idaho’s
history,” noted Janet Gallimore, Executive Director.
“To help meet that goal, the ISHS and IHC recognizes
organizations throughout the state that are thoughtfully and
conscientiously working on sharing their history. The Idaho
Black History Museum is well deserving of this award. The
Museum is being recognized for their truly exceptional work
in building bridges between cultures and exploring issues
that affect Americans of all cultures and ethnicity.”
“The IHC encourages public awareness and understanding
of history and other humanities disciplines,” noted David
Pettyjohn, Executive Director. “The Idaho Black History
Museum is being acknowledged for their exceptional
exhibits, educational programs, and community outreach.
We are honored to acknowledge them with the Sister Alfreda
award.”
While IHC and ISHS collaborate on many projects, this is their only joint award. Prior awards include the Bonner County
Historical Museum in Sandpoint (2008), the South Bannock County Historical Center in Lava Hot Springs (2009), the
Historical Museum at St. Gertrude in Cottonwood (2010), the Lemhi County Historical Society in Salmon (2011), the
Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise (2012), the Wallace District Mining Museum in Wallace (2013), the Sawtooth
Interpretive and Historical Association in Stanley (2014), the Owyhee County Historical Society and Museum in Murphy
(2017), the Lost River Museum in Mackay (2018) and the White Spring Ranch Museum/Archive Library in Genesee (2019).
12CONNECT WITH THE HUMANITIES AT HOME
Since June 2020 the IHC has been facilitating a virtual conversation program on Tuesday evenings, titled
Connected Conversations, to help bring the humanities to your home. These conversations with diverse
speakers last about an hour, opening with a presentation on a humanities topic, followed by Q and A from
attendees. Topics have varied from American wildland fire history to women in art during the Renaissance
and Reformation to Idaho novelist Vardis Fisher. We have also held conversations about more timely topics
such as news literacy and the Black Experience in Idaho.
The 2020 conversations were recorded and can be found on our website, under the Connected Conversations
Program page. Our conversations will resume mid-January and run every other week with engaging new
topics.
If you would like to receive updates on these conversations, including dates and topics, please reach out to
Doug Exton at doug@iahohumanities.org.
Remember to send back that envelope …
When you opened this issue of Idaho Humanities you saw the donation envelope – please
don’t throw it away. Show your support for the work of the Idaho Humanities Council today by
sending it back with your tax-deductible gift enclosed. The IHC is dependent on donations from
our readers, program attendees, civic leaders, community activists, and others who believe that
lifelong learning in the humanities helps build a more literate, empathetic, and intellectually
inquisitive Idaho citizenry.
The IHC will put your gift to good use funding innovative programming, sparking thought
provoking conversations, seeking out eye-opening cultural experiences, and generating new
ideas to bring people together
around the state.
Return your envelope or make
your donation securely online
at www.idahohumanities.org,
and help IHC promote the
humanities in your community
today!
13IDAHO HUMANITIES COUNCIL DONORS - THANK YOU!
Many donors make multiple gifts Kathleen Hardcastle David Giles Charles and Mary Reed
throughout the year. Donors are Mary Lynn Hartwell Jerry Glenn Peter and Marjorie Reedy
listed at the level of their cumulative Anne Marie and Harold Jones Catherine Gray Linda and Dan Rickard
giving for the following term – gifts Arthur and Annelies Kull Mary dee Gutierrez Chris and Petra Riggs
received between January 14, 2020 Patti Lachiondo Dean and Cindy Haagenson Ed and Sheila Robertson
and January 14, 2021. These donations Ray and Jane Morgan Helen Harrington Ken and Betty Rodgers
support IHC statewide humanities Christina Olson Ron and Linda Hatzenbuehler Susan and Ron Rope
programming. D. Nels and Joyce Reese Anne and Alan Hausrath Gary and Jo Ann Rose
Sylvia and Jim Robison Michael and Irene Healy Peggy Ann Rupp
Joe and Deborah Stegner Tom and Roberta Heinrich Tom and Pam Rybus
POET ($100,000) Greg and Linda Teske Alice Hennessey Donnel Schmidt
This gift was made by the family Tom and Sue Thilo Bob and Lois Hibbs Mary and Jim Schmidt
of Robert & Klara Hansberger to Harry and Barb Tumanjan Cameron and Marilyn Hinman Robert and Carol Schreiber
commemorate their interest in and Tim Weill Butch Hjelm Judge John R. and Sher R. Sellman
support of the Idaho Humanities Lyle and Kathy Wendling Mark and Lynn Hofflund Michael and Deborah Sexton
Council Julie Weston through the Wood River Jennifer Holley Gary and Dorothy Shue
Women’s Foundation Member’s Sharon Hubler Elizabeth Sims
SCHOLAR ($2,500 + ) Fund in the Idaho Community Jim and Lorna Irwin Rick and Carole Skinner
Klara Hansberger Foundation Cynthia Carr Jenkins Wally Smith and Mary Clagett Smith
Judy Wong through the Idaho Women’s Elwyn and Dixie Johnson Dorothy Ann Snowball
HISTORIAN ($1,000 to $2,499) Charitable Foundation Jan Johnson Susan Spafford
Anonymous Tom Riggs and Georgia York John and Betty Johnson Norman C. Steadman
Rick and Rosemary Ardinger James and Karen Young Kyle Johnson Stephan, Kvanvig, Stone & Trainor
AJ and Susie Balukoff Patricia Young Richard Johnson and Mary Callan Michel and Becky Swartz
Nick and Shannon Crawford Stephanie Youngerman and Robert John and Diane Peavey Fay and Wayne Sweney
Chris Davidson and Sharon Christoph Jahn Steven and Linda Kahn Kathleen Taylor
Tom and Diane Dickinson Chris and Marie Kantarian Wayne and Peggy Thiessen
Jenny Emery Davidson and Mark LINGUIST ($100 to $249) Susan Kelley-Harbke Michael and Sue Tomlin
Davidson Kathy Aiken and Joe Schwartz Virginia Kelly Ed and Judy Torgerson
Don and Iris Hendrickson Jeri St Clair and Robert Allen Joanne Klein Jeff and Karan Tucker
Margaret Johnson Bob and Denise Allred Richard Kohles John and Jeanette Ullery
Gregory Kaslo and Kay Hardy Amazon Smile Martin Kokol Shirley Van Zandt
Jon and Nikole King Anonymous (4) Peter Kozisek and Julia Robinson Alan and Sheryl Vaterlaus
Morris and Marla Krigbaum Tamara Ansotegui Allyn McCain Krueger Anne Voillequé and Louise Nelson
Carolyn M. Lanning Scott Arnold and Maura Goddard Mark and Susie Kubiak Thomas and Jeanette Von Alten
Sidney and Kathy Smith Bruce Ballenger and Karen Kelley Skip Kuck Cindy and Mark Wang
Garry Wenske and Yvonne McCoy Warren and Kristen Barrash Meggan Laxalt and Dennis Mackey Fritz and Janet Ward
Thomas and Marilyn Beck Gail LeBow Henry Whiting
PHILOSOPHER ($500 to $999) Nancy Benson Larry and Lucy Lepinski Ronald and Connie Whitney
Jane Ahrens Pamela Bernard John and Nancy Lindgren Effie Wildman
Anonymous (2) Jean Betebenner Kristina Lysne Philip and Rebecca Winston
William Appleton Kenton Bird and Gerri Sayler Robert and April MacLeod Dick and Gerry Wisdom
Eve and Tom Chandler Bruce and Susan Bistline Jim and Sharon Manning Sheila and Robert Wood
Melissa Lloyd Dodworth Bert Bowler and Susan Whaley Joan and Frank Mattern Matt and Debbie Woodard
Gary Eller and Teri Devine Lisa Brady John Matthew and Judy McKay Jim and Cyndie Woods
Ford and Jean Elsaesser Chris and Lanie Bragg Laurie and Lon McCurdy Teresa Yata
Murray and Nancy Feldman Don and Karen Burnett Kjel and Shelley McEuen-Howard
Art and Nancy Flagan Amy Canfield and Joel Mills Knox and Sue McMillan ARCHIVIST ($50 to $99)
Robert Freedman and Anne Cirillo Ann Carlson Ken and Amy Mecham Jan Alden
Bill Manny and Jennifer Matheson Steven Carr Steve and Judy Meyer Robert Ancker and Rebecca White
Betsy and John McTear Carol Casler Dave and Sheila Mills Anonymous (3)
JoAnn and K.V. Nelson Claire and Lennard Chin Rebecca Mills and Jeff Kuhns Toni Ansotegui
Dick and Susan Parrish Gail and Chad Chumbley James Wolf and Dinu Mistry Wolf Hamlat and Anthes Family
David Pettyjohn and Geoffrey Parks Trent and Rebecca Clark Don Mitchell Margaret Scott Arnhart
Ron Pisaneschi and Virginia Bennett Pete and Audrey Cole Louisa Moats Gail Baccheschi
Park and Sharon Price Linda Cook Connie and Terry Montanye Fran Bahr
Elizabeth Pursley Linda Copple Trout Clay and Barbara Morgan Dennis and Lynn Baird
Jeffrey L. and Jo Anne Smith Gail Corlett-Trueba Caroline Morris and David Monsees David Barber
Jane and Craig Spencer Shirley Crowe Charles and Janet Mosier Janice Batt
Jennifer Stevens Nancy Dafoe Marty and Barbara Mueller Chris and Sue Baughn
Nick and Carole Stokes Kathy Deinhardt Hill Bill and Sue Myers Laureen and Larry Belmont
Susan Swetnam Tony Edmondson and John Murray Ralph and Judith Riba Nelson Frederick Belzer and Theresa
Denise Thomson Sandy and Jeanne Emerson John R and Katherine J Nice Kaufmann
Betty Weston Mary F. Emery Charlie and Susan Nipp Gaymon and Evelyn Bennett
Dan English Beret Norman and Seth Thomas Marilyn Bischoff
ARCHAEOLOGIST ($250 to $499) Dick and Mary Lou Ennis Susan Norton Christine Bishop
Art and Michelle Beale Maria and Don Essig Ashely and Aaron Notestine Marsha and Steve Bjornn
Anonymous (2) Karen Estes June Oler Catherine Black
Warren and Natalie Bergholz Shirley Ewing John Ottenhoff Glida and Glenn Bothwell
John and Alex Bieter Lauren Fins Judi and Bruce Owens Carolyn Bowler
Judy Austin Stephan Flores Arlene Oyer Bruce Bradberry and Susan Mecum
Bob and Elaine Carpenter Henriette Folkner Tom and Molly Page Maura Brantley
Virginia DeLong Jeff and Evin Fox Andrea and Joseph Partington Mike Burkett
Tom and Linda Dixon Rodney Frey and Kristine Roby Keith Petersen and Mary Reed Rebecca Casper
Ted and Darlene Dyer Wayne and Margaret Fuller Richard Peterson Philip and Phyllis Conran
Michael Faison and Gisela Zechmeister Janet Gallimore and Bill Barron Sara and Cameron Phillips Lyn Creswell
Steven Fields Sheila Gary Doug Powell Pamela Danielson
Allan and Fran Frost Forrest Geerken Picabo Livestock Nancy DiFelici
Jacqueline Groves Susan and Paul Gibson Tim and Wanda Quinn Julia DiGrazia
Chuck Guilford and Pam Peterson Kathy Giesa Montgomery Chuck Randolph Dale and Dennis Drew
14Carolyn and Charles Eiriksson Network for Good WRITER (Up to $49) Judith Marineau
Ethel Farnsworth Birgid Niedenzu Lori Andre Ron and Cay Marquart
Jim Francis and Karen Leibert NPR Depot Museum Anonymous (3) Len and Daralyn Mattei
Jim and Barbara Gentry Vera Noyce Kathryn Arneson Kendal and Tina McDevitt
Rod and Julie Gramer Rich and Sandy Ostrogorsky Kirk Baker Gene McVey
Cheryl Gratton Rockford W. Owens Donna and Roger Boe Jan Moseley
Dean Hagerman Del Parkinson Nancy Brown Clark and Kathyrn Muscat
Craig Harline Donna and Lew Pence Elaine and Danny Bryant Sarah Nelson
Larry and Barbara Harrison Ormond and Kathleen Rankin Max and Darlene Burke Dayle Ohlau
Terry and Lyn Haun Idaho Accounting Services, LLC Robert and Eleanor Carriker Barbara Olic-Hamilton
Nina Hawkins Mike and Sharon Ripley Evelyn Cates Virginia Overland
Teena Hill Bruce Robbins and Maggie Chase Jean Chantrill Suzanne Radeke
Tom Bacon and Judith Horton Shauna and Zeke Robinson Dax Chizum Nancy and Tom Renk
Bill and Cheryl Johnson Ilene Rounsefell Deborah Cordes Maria Salazar
Bonnie Krafchuk Joe and Laurie Ryan Ann and Joe Delmastro Margaret Schiff
John and Carol Cronin Kriz Sue Schaper Mary DeWalt Debra and Shain Schlechte
Kroger Jerry and Ann Shively Doug Exton Carolyn Sherman
Erika Kuhlman and Kevin Marsh Betty and Steve Slifer Judith Gaarder Richard and Delores Smith
Brigid Lawrence Robert Sobba Mary Gehrke Gavin Sorensen
Melinda Lindsey Barbara Spafford Todd and Lynn Giesler William and Myrna Speirs
Grace and Clark Lusk Kirk and Pam Starry Elaine and Charles Gill Fran Sprague
Randy and Elizabeth Lyons Kay and Brent Stauff Patricia Gunderson Denney Twitchell
Jody Mabe Wendy and Jack Stevens Hagerman Valley Historical Society Sue Uranga
Paula and Gene Marano Kathleen Sutherland and Philippe JoAnn Harvey James and Carrie Warr
Steve and Debi Maughan Masser HannaLore Hein Carolyn White
Alberta Mayo John Thomsen JoAnn Hertz
Laura and Kevin McCarthy Lin Tull Cannell Nikki Hyer
Mary G. McGown Robert Vestal and Jyl Hoyt Joe and Lorie Icenhower DONORS WHO GIVE MONTHLY
Jason McGrath Sue and Bruce Vogelsinger Dick Jensen Tamara Ansotegui
Tom Michael and Katherine Mary Ellen and Stan Voshell Jamie Keller-Mann Rick and Rosemary Ardinger
Shaughnessy Susan and Deck Waters Jamie Kelley Tom Bacon and Judith Horton
Patty Miller Linda Werner Dulce and Tonda Kersting-Lark Gail and Chad Chumbley
Susanne Miller Janet Wood Grove and Maggie Koger David Pettyjohn and Geoffrey Parks
Gayle L. Moore Kathy Yamamoto Carly Latimore Ron Pisaneschi and Virginia Bennett
George and Sharon Moses Nadine York Annamarie Lavieri Ronald and Connie Whitney
Dave and Diane Myklegard Joni Lueck
IN MEMORIAM
In memory of Glenn Balch In memory of Judy Stamey
Betty Weston Suzanne Radeke
In memory of Lois and Leon Whitmire In memory of Loretta Reed
Kathy Aiken Joe and Lorie Icenhower
Amy Canfield and Joel Mills In memory of Ford Swetnam
In memory of Priscilla Bendemeer Susan Swetnam
Martin and Barbara Mueller In memory of Lee and Addie Taylor
In memory of Alice Dieter Kathleen Taylor
Kay Hardy In memory of Harold and Bertha Gesell
In memory of Franklin Specht Jennifer Holley IN HONOR
Debi and Steve Maughan In memory of Robert Sims
In memory of John Freemuth Rick and Rosemary Ardinger
Rick and Rosemary Ardinger Ron and Linda Hatzenbuehler In honor of Patricia Crandall
Jennifer Holley In memory of Vickie J. Simmons Randy and Patricia Lyons
In memory of Carol Brassey Melinda Lindsey In honor of Jenny Emery Davidson
Jennifer Holley In memory of Arthur Hart Danny and Elaine Bryant
In memory of Margo Aragon Herrington Rick and Rosemary Ardinger Michael and Irene Healy
Jennifer Holley Kathy Aiken Margaret Scott Arnhart
Rick and Rosemary Ardinger Margaret Schiff In honor of Judy Austin
In memory of Dee Gore Kathy Deinhardt Hill Don Bott
Richard Peterson In memory of Glenda Annette Robertson Patricia Young
In memory of David Lachiondo Carolyn Sherman In honor of Mary Lou Reed
John and Alex Bieter In memory of Jean Kohles Kathy Giesa Mongomery
Melissa Dodworth Richard Kohles In honor of Linda Strohmeyer
Jody Mabe In memory of Ellie Schroeder John Thomsen
Sue Schaper Jeri St. Clair and Robert Allen In honor of Cherie Buckner-Webb
Meggan Laxalt and Dennis Mackey In memory of Richard Schultz Garry Wenske and Yvonne McCoy
Cheryl Gratton Tom and Pam Rybus In honor of Rick Ardinger
Rick and Rosemary Ardinger In memory of Rob Roy Spafford Patricia Young
Jennifer Holley Susan Spafford In honor of Rick and Rosemary Ardinger
In memory of Catherine Wood In memory of Fay Pettyjohn Gene McVey
Janet Wood Jane and Craig Spencer Jennifer Holley
In memory of Ben Dicus In memory of Vivian K. Yamamoto In honor of Margaret Johnson
Melissa Dodworth Kathy Yamamoto JoAnn Hertz
In memory of Margaret and Bill Giesa In memory of Errol Jones In honor of Garth Cates
Kathy Giesa Montgomery Joanne Klein Evelyn Cates
In memory of Bill Studebaker In memory of William H. Hielscher In honor of Katherine Aiken
Rick and Rosemary Ardinger Kirk Baker Kenton Bird and Gerri Sayler
Bob and Denise Allred In memory of Jack and Phyllis Ward In honor of Keith Petersen
Jim and Cyndie Woods Jennifer Holley Jerry Glenn
In memory of Wayne Phillips In memory of Ben Dicus
Terry and Lyn Haun Rick and Rosemary Ardinger
15Nonprofit Org.
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what are
you reading?
In each issue of Idaho Humanities, a couple of readers tell us what they’ve been reading and what they recommend.
Reader: Alice Hennessey Reader: Jeanne Anderson
Occupation: Retired Boise Cascade Occupation: PR Consultant to Teton School
executive, subsequently CEO of the Idaho District 401 and former owner of Dark
Community Foundation, Boise Horse Books, Driggs
Book: The British Are Coming: The War for Book: A Crack in the Edge of the World;
America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by America and the Great California Earthquake
Rick Atkinson of 1906 by Simon Winchester
It’s the week after the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The country is After reading a book recalling the San Francisco Earthquake moment-
bitterly divided, the virus continues to rage, and life seems chaotic. by-moment, I wanted to know more, and selected this one as a
In this atmosphere, I feel fortunate that my current book of choice follow-up. Simon Winchester is certainly a noteworthy author (I also
has been Rick Atkinson’s masterful description of the first two highly recommend “The Professor and the Madman.”) His curiosity
years of the American Revolution. It has given me perspective. about all things – not just what happened in the San Francisco
We know how bad things were during the Civil War—but I can’t earthquake but why and both scientific and cultural repercussions
imagine a more difficult period than the years when thirteen – is on full display. He explores the geology of the complicated
disparate colonies were struggling to become a nation. Families 750-mile-long San Andreas Fault in a vibrant, easy-to-understand
and neighbors were divided in their loyalties, towns were burned, way.
landscapes ravaged, Loyalists miserably treated, conspiracies
rampant. It was a fearsome time. Winchester takes us along on road trips across America to better
grasp the power of the North American Plate; along the way,
Atkinson’s research for this book was exhaustive. In addition to he delves into architecture, urban design, turn-of-the-century
all the details of campaigns, battles, and political infighting, he Americana, corruption, seismography, and so much more that make
provides the reader with appreciation for the vital role of logistics the 1906 incident and the broader history of San Francisco come
in a war. The efforts to feed, clothe, and house the troops on to life. A good book like this one feeds interest in so many other
both sides of the war, while also procuring the needed armaments subjects.
and munitions, were monumental. Atkinson breaks his story into
relatively short digestible bites, provides wonderful maps, and Winchester looks at the big picture and ties everything together. How
much human interest material. we reacted to this natural calamity history mapped the anatomy and
pathology of the culture of that day. In our current social upheavals,
If the reader has any interest in history, I heartily recommend this there are lessons we can gain by examining them further. Isn’t that
book. As for me—I can’t wait for Volume II of what is intended as what the humanities is all about?
a trilogy.
16You can also read
