Maud Hart Lovelace: Influencing Young Readers Yet Today
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Deep Valley Sun NEWSLETTER OF THE BETSY-TACY SOCIETY To promote and preserve Maud Hart Lovelace’s legacy and her work, encourage and support literacy and conserve historic landmarks in Mankato VOL. 7 ISSUE 1 SPRING 2011 Maud Hart Lovelace: Influencing Young Readers Yet Today It has been nearly 120 years since Maud But, more importantly, their birth or Palmer Hart was born in Mankato, Minn., childhood homes are both listed as yet her spirit continues to influence and Literary Landmarks by the Association inspire those who encounter her work. of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations. This is quite Her legacy lives on in a variety of forms. significant since there are only three 1961 – DEDICATION OF THE MAUD HART such designations in the entire state of LOVELACE CHILDREN’S WING IN THE Minnesota – Betsy’s house and Tacy’s MANKATO LIBRARY house, both in Mankato, and Fitzgerald’s The Lovelace Wing mural, created birth home in St. Paul. by local Mankato artist Marian ANNUAL YOUNG WRITERS Anderson, depicts scenes from AND ARTIST CONFERENCE Lovelace’s 10 Betsy-Tacy books. Also in 2010 the BTS once again 1980 –MAUD HART LOVELACE BOOK AWARD partnered with South Central Service The year Maud died, the Minnesota Cooperative to hold the annual Young Youth Reading Awards established Writers and Artists Conference at Bethany the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, Lutheran College in Mankato. Nearly a children’s choice award. Children 1,000 students from more than 50 schools in grades 3 through 5 who have read across south central Minnesota, along or listened to at least three titles with their teachers, parents, and other from the Division I nominee list and children in grades 6 chaperones, participated. through 8 who have read or listened to at least three titles Excellent, great, cool, amazing, wonderful, fun – these in the Division II nominee list are eligible to vote for the were just a few of the adjectives used to describe the 2010 award. The winning titles, along with the nominations conference. for the following year, are announced each year around April 25, Maud’s birthday. Local and regional authors, artists, actors, composers, dancers and other talented individuals held sessions for 2009 –INDUCTION INTO MINNESOTA WRITERS HALL OF FAME students in grades Maud was one of the first writers to be inducted into the 3 through 9. Minnesota Writers Hall of Fame in 2009. Inductees’ The BTS offered work “distills the essence of our state – the people, the workshops in In This Issue land, and the spirit of Minnesota.” journal writing, stressing the MHL’s Influence and Impact...........1 2010 – BETSY’S AND TACY’S HOMES DESIGNATED LITERARY importance of President and Director Columns ....3 LANDMARKS BY THE ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES, writing regularly ADVOCATES, FRIENDS AND FOUNDATIONS A decision on Tib’s House ..............4 and document News & Notes ..................................5 What do F. Scott Fitzgerald and Maud Hart Lovelace daily life in the way have in common? We know they were both born in Maud did for her 2012 Convention Information ........6 Minnesota, they both lived in the Twin Cities, and they Betsy-Tacy series. v Membership Form ...........................7 both eventually moved to New York. Deep Valley Sun Spring 2011 The Betsy-Tacy Society Welcome New Members Gifts from $50 to $99 Paver Fundraiser Est. 1990 Nov 1, 2010 – Feb. 28, 2011 Colleen Jacks Nov. 1, 2010 – Feb. 28, 2011 P.O. Box 94 Linda Karow Helen Gift Mankato, MN 56002-0094 Lifetime Members Arlene Kase, In memory of Morris Jim Hilgert 507-345-9777 Patricia Clarke, Pennsylvania & Esther Eidelberg Cheryl Lundgren www.betsy-tacysociety.org Candy Laven* Katie Mendenhall 501(c)3 organization Patron Members K. Kay Lewis Karen Thielen Executive Director Deborah Fors, Minnesota Tamara Merrill* Marilyn and Alan Youel Deborah Fors Coleen Gray, Minnesota Pat Nelson* Sherri Newhouse In Kind Operating Donations Board of Directors Basic Members D’Lene Sandleback Bob and Susan Brown President – Susan Brown Vice President – Jackie Hilgert Marilyn Bickel, Illinois Susan Shanahan Jackie Hilgert Secretary – Laurie Pengra Mary Belmore, Connecticut Denny Weiss Treasurer – Barbara Schnoor Christy Brizendine, Washington Gifts up to $49 Voyageur Web Mary Budge, Minnesota Anonymous* Minnesota Valley Chorale Board Members Barbara Conger, Washington Elizabeth Baer Joan Brown, Katherine Hughes, Candy Laven, Doug Laven, Pat Nelson, Lisa Wolf Nora Freeman, Illinois Pat Baker Artifacts and Archive Donations Madeleine Freeman, Illinois Jean Baughman Nov. 1 2010 – Feb. 28, 2011 Newsletter Editor: Deborah Fors Barbara Halter, Maryland Bob and Susan Brown, In Memory Colleen Canavan Newsletter Copy Editor: Betsy Sherman Katherine Hughes, Minnesota of David Noy Barb and Dennis Huebsch Newsletter Layout: Jackie Hilgert Sarah Jensen, Massachusetts Carol Burger Corinne and Elvin Heiberg Annual Membership Levels Samantha Johnson, Wisconsin Colleen Canavan, Endowment, in Basic $25.00 Kristin Konchar-Schafer, Min- memory of Adeline Hermanson Patron $50.00 nesota Betchwar Thank You, Volunteers! Silver $100.00 Rallah Madison, Minnesota Alyssa Carlson* Nov 1, 2010 – Feb. 28, 2011 Gold $250.00 Lifetime $500.00 Nancy Parode, Maryland Joyce Celinski, Restoration Ana-Brit Asplen For more information, see pg. 11 Megan Santa Ana, Virginia Julie Chuba*, In honor of Margaret Penny Banwart Sharon Shanks, Colorado Chuba Halle Blais Contact information: Karen Takao, California Julie Cohen Bob Brown Mail: Deborah L. Fors P.O. Box 94, Mankato, MN 56002 Laura Taylor,Virginia Audrey Faber Joan Brown [email protected] Elizabeth A. Vanzomeren, Iowa Connie Fahling* Susan Brown Membership: Dena Fleurichamp Lona Falenczykowski [email protected] All Gifts to BTS Carole Huber Brian Fors Shop: [email protected] are Gratefully Appreciated Mary Huntley Kathryn Hanson Shop Catalog: The BTS gratefully acknowledges Susan Hynes* Jackie Hilgert Shop our online catalog: donations received from Theresa Jarosz Alberti* Jim Hilgert www.betsy-tacysociety.org. Nov. 1, 2010 – Feb. 28, 2011 Kimberly Johnson*, In honor of Susan Hynes Credit cards & PayPal available. from the following: Trudi Johnson-Richards Judy Kraft For a catalog: send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 94, Mankato, MN Michele Kronlund* Candy Laven 56002-0094 and mark CATALOG on the Gifts greater than $1,000 Frieda Maheras Doug Laven front of the envelope. Bob and Susan Brown Susan Mavrinac* Jack Madsen Lyle and Kay Jacobson Nora McInerny*, In honor of Pat Nelson Tacy’s House and Gift Shop Beatrix Wilker Alex Oldenburg March – May and September - December: Open every Saturday 1 pm - 3 pm Gifts from $500 to $999 Sally and Mike Olander Renata Olson June - August: Norma and John Thomas Peggy Olearczuk* Sue Orchard Open every Saturday 10 am - 3 pm Jean and Richard Thomas, Resto- June Parnell* Laurie Pengra Closed: January – February ration & Assessment funds Melissa Peterson* Kelly Reuter Tacy’s House is located at 332 Center Street in Mankato and Betsy’s House is at Diane Poythress* Barbara Schnoor 333 Center Street. Saturday Admission – Gifts from $100 to $499 Wendylee Raun*, In honor of BryceStenzel Adults $3, Ages 6-16 $1. Under 5-Free (no Kathleen Baxter* Jenmarie Anderson Reemts Norma Thomas admission to gift shop only) BTS members Eugene Biewen Dorene Reed, Restoration Lisa Wolf are admitted free during regular hours with Bob and Susan Brown*, In honor Linda Rouzer, Restoration current membership card. of friends of BTS Julie Schrader* Special House Visits: Call 507-345-9777 Courtney E. Crepeau Janet Schwarz* For special house visits, advance reservations Patricia Freymuth Pauline Tugwell are requested 2 weeks in advance. Helen Gift Linda Watson Admission for special appointments: $20 - up to 5 people. Over 5 people, additional Mary and Dirk Landis Helen Waugh* $3 for adults and $1 for ages 6-16. This fee Eloise and Robert Layman Laura Whisney applies to members and non-members of the Rhonda Whiting* Cheryl Lundgren Past editions of the BTS. Special rates available for bus tours or Mary Jordan* Meghan Wilker* Deep Valley Sun school visits. Contact us for more details. Laurie Pengra* Marilyn Williamson* can be found in the © 2011 Betsy-Tacy Society. All Rights Reserved. Rose Marie Yudiskas, Restoration Reproduction of any material from this issue *Denotes Give to the Max Day participants. members section expressly forbidden without permission. of the BTS website: Lois Lenski/Vera Neville illustrations © www.Betsy-TacySociety.org. used with permission from HarperCollins. 2 Spring 2011 Deep Valley Sun Message from the President Update from the Director Spring is a time of new beginnings and a fresh start and this As I sit here at my desk in what spring the Betsy-Tacy Society is inspired by its new beginning! would have been Tacy’s bedroom, Besides having a new executive director, Deborah Fors, we’re I can look out across the street at starting another new season of activities and events. The snow Betsy’s house. The melting of the is melting, the bench is visible again, and flowers are trying to snow and the coming of spring peek through the ground. It is a setting similar to the early reminds me of the possibilities of spring Maud describes in the first two chapters of Betsy-Tacy growth and opportunities that lie when two friends meet on Hill Street. ahead of us. Springtime brings new life and colors to a neighborhood I am very grateful for the opportunity and a new director brings fresh ideas and perspectives to to serve as executive director of an organization. We welcome Deborah’s leadership! The the Betsy-Tacy Society. There interview team was impressed with her nonprofit experiences, could be no better combination her appreciation of volunteers, and her interest in books and of responsibilities in a career than the marriage of historic history. Deborah encourages teamwork and collaborative preservation and the promotion of books and literature – the problem-solving.