Friday, March 19, 2010

Happenings



Hi, folks. I'm on the road and things are happening with True Grit. When I get back, I'll be posting lots and lots of event details. In the meantime, here's a link to some photos from a student field trip to downtown. Looks like they went to the Clayton House, the National Historical Site, Miss Laura's, and the Fort Smith City Museum.

In addition, here's a suggestion from Kevin Jones:

You might check out the local festivals coming up as a way to connect our students to TRUE GRIT. The Fort Smith Heritage Festival is April 10, beginning at 10am downtown. For more info, contact the Community Services Clearinghouse 782-5074, the United Way, or the City of Fort Smith. All proceeds benefit the "Meals for Kids," which feeds more than 2,400 hungry children in area Oklahoma and Arkansas schools. I thought the specific presentations at the Fort Smith Museum of History, National Historic Site (Parker's Courthouse), The National Cemetery, Miss Laura's, the Sebastian Co. Courthouse, and the Fort Smith Convention Center would also be of interest.

In addition to FREE tours at many of the above historic places, special presentations will be held at the FS Museum of His., the NPS site, Cemetery, Co. Courthouse, and the Convention Center.

For example, "The Fort Smith National Historic Site will present a living history tour following the experiences of a US MARSHAL bringing in a criminal from the Indian Territory." hmmmm, sounds like a good book.

People could also ride a mule wagon down Rogers Ave. from the Sebastian Co. Courthouse, see a shoot-out on the Sebastian Co. Courthouse Lawn (although I think this would be better at Parker's courthouse), plus, Baridi Nkokheli "brings the heroic" and "legendary US Deputy Marshal, Bass Reeves," to life in the FS Convention Center Children's Area.

Additionally, for the diversity sought after by some on this campus, you might check out the 2nd Annual Natchez Nation Benefit Powwow Honoring Families, or the numerous exhibits and vendors of Native American art, "Beautiful Asian and Spanish dancers," "Cultural Ambassadors," hands-on projects, and meet other living history participants, perhaps?

I am encouraging my students to attend this festival. I believe it would help us connect our chosen novel to a sense of place and help our community connect to our department a bit more, as well?

Some of you may have already known about this information, but in case you did not, I can provide copies of the pamphlet.

For what it is worth,
Kevin Jones

I think it's worth lots, Kevin. Thanks for writing.

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