Presidential power, government accountability and the challenges of an informed—or uninformed—electorate Volume XVI, No. 2 David Gray Adler The Newsletter of the Humanities Council Summer 2012 Andrus Center for Public Policy Boise State University

“Public discussion is political duty.” 9066: A –Justice Louis Brandeis Tragedy of Democracy An Interview with Artist

President Lyndon Johnson used his power to push through a tremendous agenda of Great Society legislation between 1963 and 1968. Photo Credit: Historical photos for this article provided by the National Park Service The Minidoka Relocation Center, near Jerome, Idaho, became Idaho’s seventh largest city between 1942 and 1945, when nearly yndon Johnson had barely assumed the American 10,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast were interned during World War II. LPresidency when southern Senators, familiar with the By Russell M. Tremayne Texan’s vaulting ambition, counseled patience and warned him not to try to accomplish too much, too soon. Above all, College of Southern Idaho they sought to warn him away from the temptation to exploit Editor’s Note: In June of 2012, College of Southern most historians agree. Internment is so recent and the his presidential honeymoon–undoubtedly lengthened by the Idaho History Professor Russ Tremayne, along with the issues are so relevant to our time that it is vital to revisit national sorrow that stemmed from the assassination of President Friends of Minidoka and the National Park Service, the events that led to what Dr. Tetsuden Kashima called John F. Kennedy–to push the big ideas, big policies and big pro- planned the 7th annual Civil Liberties Symposium—this “.” grams that had animated his politics as Senate Majority Leader. year at Boise State University—that commemorated Though many Americans are aware of the heated Particularly concerned about his enthusiasm for what would the 70th anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt’s international rivalry between the Japanese Empire become the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, sure to roil the 1942 Executive Order to relocate Japanese Americans and the that preceded World War II, the political waters and, perhaps, convulse his aborning role as Chief on the west coast of the United States to internment logistics and constitutional issues related to internment Executive, they urged him to avoid the political risks associated camps in the interior of the country. Idaho’s with the measure. Undeterred, Johnson replied, “What’s the Minidoka Camp in southern Idaho interned Presidency for?” nearly 10,000 individuals between 1942 Johnson’s question–essentially the November final exam and 1945. More than 300 attended the June question for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney–has 2012 symposium, including many whose been a subject of absorbing interest ever since the Framers of the families were interned at Minidoka. This Constitution invented the American Presidency. In light of the year’s symposium theme was “Through the dramatic transformation of the office into the nation’s dominant Eyes of Children: Prejudice, Education, political institution, what scholars have variously characterized and Community.” At the conclusion of the as the Imperial or Plebiscitary Presidency, to depict the rise of conference in Boise, most participated in Presidential Government, it is a question that energizes discus- the annual pilgrimage to the site of the sions and debates about the future of the country and it takes Minidoka camp near Twin Falls as part of a center stage every four years as candidates for the White House remembrance ceremony. Many who attended campaign for the support of voters. Presidential aspirants excite this year’s pilgrimage spent part of their hopes, inspire dreams and promise miracles. Above all, they childhood in Minidoka, and many reflected paint a picture of what America would look like under their on how the experience of internment impacted stewardship—their version of “Morning in America”–and all that their families, and their own personal lives they would accomplish, at home and abroad. long after they left the camp in 1945. Dr. Candidates for the presidency talk about the exercise of Tremayne is compiling an anthology of executive power and its many uses—revival of the economy, cre- essays, interviews, and photographs about Artist Roger Shimomura as a child was interned with his parents at Minidoka. ation of jobs, implementation of accessible and affordable health the Minidoka experience to be published in care, promotion of national security and foreign policy objec- 2013 with support of an Idaho Humanities Council are not so well known. , issued tives, projection of American military strength, advancement grant. In commemoration of the 70th anniversary, we February 19, 1942, created a military zone along the of democratic ideals, and restoration of America’s reputation. asked Dr. Tremayne to share a little of what is in store west coast and required that Japanese and “The President,” wrote the Cornell University political scientist in the forthcoming anthology. He proposed this brief evacuate. This unconstitutional act occurred against Theodore Lowi, “is the Wizard of Oz.” summary of the history of internment, and an excerpt a backdrop of decades of intense anti-Asian sentiment Candidates boast of the potential of power, but rarely do from an interview he conducted with retired University along the west coast despite the enormous contribu- they talk about its limits, even though the Constitution con- of Kansas visual artist Roger Shimomura, who lived in tion of to the development of the fines the scope of presidential power. Rarer, still, is discussion Minidoka as a child. The experience greatly influenced American West. In 1882, Chinese were prohibited of meaningful ways of ensuring presidential accountability to from immigrating to the U.S. and in the first decade of Shimomura’s life as an artist and as an American. th the Constitution and to the American electorate. Those issues, the 20 century, President Theodore Roosevelt crafted critical bookends in a republic, which demands leadership and eventy years after President Franklin Delano the “Gentleman’s Agreement” with Japan, designed to accountability, plumb the depths of our national experience and Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, it is limit further Japanese immigration. Hostile nativist consciousness, and deserve attention from those who would gov- S wanted even more restrictive policies and many west- hard to imagine circumstances that allowed ern in the . for the forced removal and imprisonment of almost ern states, including Idaho, passed laws that prevented In truth, however, presidential candidates have little incentive 100,000 U.S. citizens. The distinguished historian Japanese-Americans from owning property. to discuss the limits of power. The reason for their reluctance is Roger Daniels called the establishment of concentra- War hysteria in the wake of Pearl Harbor and this not hard to identify: discussion of limitations betrays the poten- tion camps in America “a gross miscarriage of govern- anti-Japanese sentiment led to the hasty removal and (See ACCOUNTABILITY, Page 4) ment and a massive violation of human rights,” and (See TRAGEDY, Page 3) From the Director How do you spell sesquicentennial?

By Rick Ardinger

arch 4, 2013, marks January 15 offer an opportunity for museums, libraries, Mthe 150th anniversary teachers, scholars, and many community organizations of Idaho becoming a to seek financial support for projects and programs to Territory of the United States. In commemorate the sesquicentennial appropriately. Vol. XVI, No. 2, Summer 2012 the middle of the Civil War— The IHC’s Speakers Bureau offers a number of scholars Idaho Humanities is published three times a largely because of the discovery to lecture on Idaho history, politics, music, and art. The year by the Idaho Humanities Council of gold throughout the area– application process is simple and quick, and the variety of 217 W. State Street President Abraham Lincoln speakers and topics are listed on IHC’s website at www. Boise, Idaho 83702 officially declared the region a idahohumanities.org. (208) 345-5346 territory. As with all auspicious The Idaho “Let’s Talk About It” program, a partnership Toll Free: (888) 345-5346 anniversaries, the occasion offers of the IHC, Idaho Commission for Libraries, and US Bank Fax: (208) 345-5347 Idaho an opportunity to reflect (see related story on page 8), in libraries around the state www.idahohumanities.org on its history, where we’ve been, offers a new theme, “Idaho at 150,” which explores the and where we are going, in ways that are more than simple story of Idaho through fiction and nonfiction. Board of Directors celebrations. The IHC will partner with the Idaho State Historical In addition to the parades and dances and celebrations Society in producing a modest traveling exhibit on Idaho’s Chair of the past, there are new opportunities for education, new Territorial History, that will explore the 27 years between Katherine Aiken, Moscow scholarship and publications, and reimagining the future of territorial designation and statehood in 1890. The ISHS Vice Chair the Gem State. will tour the exhibit to museums, libraries, and schools, and Lisa Brady, Boise Some communities, such as Idaho City, already have other community venues for the next several years. gotten a head start on the Territorial Sesquicentennial In 2013, the IHC will sponsor a series of two-day, recently by commemorating the discovery of gold in the scholar-led workshops for K-12 teachers around the state Margo Aragon, Lewiston Boise Basin on August 2, 1862. Because of the gold rush, on Territorial History (watch IHC’s website for more Fran Bahr, Coeur d’Alene the population of Idaho City and the surrounding area at details). Trent Clark, Soda Springs one point became larger than Portland, , and the It’s not too early to think about how your community Jenny Emery Davidson, Hailey tools and machinery, photographs and newspapers, court will make the most of the commemoration. v Terry Engebretsen, Pocatello house records and remaining buildings tell the story of the Jeff Fox, Twin Falls early days. New brochures, books, museum displays are in Christine Hatch, Idaho Falls the works. Marc Johnson, Boise The Idaho Humanities Council is available to help Mike Kennedy, Coeur d’Alene communities commemorate the sesquicentennial David Lachiondo, Boise meaningfully. Grant deadlines on September 15 and Bert Marley, Boise Ed Marohn, Idaho Falls Jo Ann Nelson, Coeur d’Alene Beret Norman, Boise Martin L. Peterson, Boise Idaho Humanities Council seeks academic and Christopher Riggs, Lewiston public board members from SE and SW Idaho Susan Schaper, Caldwell

he Idaho Humanities Council seeks applications history, literature, languages, archaeology, law, and other to fill SE Idaho academic and SW Idaho public humanities disciplines. Staff T Rick Ardinger positions on its volunteer board of directors. An The IHC also conducts special initiatives of its own, academic member is defined as either a scholar in the such as annual Distinguished Humanities Lectures Executive Director humanities or an administrator of an educational or cul- in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Idaho Falls, weeklong [email protected] tural institution. A public member is anyone who has a summer institutes in the humanities for Idaho teachers, a Cindy Wang strong belief that the humanities enhance our quality of Humanities Speakers Bureau, special lectures, the state- Grants and Fiscal Officer life, are essential for an informed citizenry, and contrib- wide touring of Smithsonian traveling exhibits, and other [email protected] ute to lifelong learning. The deadline for applications is programs and activities. IHC receives funding from the Jennifer Holley September 15, 2012. National Endowment for the Humanities and donations Program Officer SW Idaho is defined as the region south of Riggins from foundations, corporations and individuals. [email protected] to the western border of Twin Falls County. SE Idaho is Board members serve three-year terms, with the pos- Debra Schlechte defined as the region between the Wyoming border and sibility of renewal for a second three-year term. The the western border of Twin Falls County. board meets three times each year in February, June, and Administrative Assistant [email protected] The Idaho Humanities Council is a non-profit orga- October to award grants and conduct other business. The nization that has served as the state-based affiliate of the board will review applications and elect new members at National Endowment for the Humanities for nearly 40 the Council’s October meeting. years. The Council maintains a balance on the board of For more information, prospective applicants are The Idaho Humanities Council, a nonprofit public and academic members, strives for fair regional invited to contact IHC Executive Director Rick Ardinger organization, receives funding from the National representation and gender balance, and encourages at (208) 345-5346, or [email protected], or Endowment for the Humanities and from ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity. write to the Idaho Humanities Council, 217 W. State other foundations, private corporations, and IHC is dedicated to advancing greater public aware- Street, Boise, Idaho 83702. individuals. IHC’s mission is to increase the ness, appreciation, and understanding of the humanities Information about the Council and applications are awareness, understanding, and appreciation of in Idaho and meets its mission by awarding grant funds to on the IHC’s website at www.idahohumanities.org under the humanities in Idaho. It accomplishes this organizations throughout the state for public programs in the link “About Us.” v through educational projects for the general public and various target audiences. The Council plans and conducts projects on its own Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg spoke to 200 in Idaho and in concert with other organizations such as universities, colleges, libraries, civic clubs, Falls professional associations, historical societies and museums, and other cultural, educational, and ulitzer Prize-winning author dinner and lecture. About 40 people had the opportunity to community entities. IHC also provides Rick Bragg gave the 5th personally visit with Bragg. P grant support for humanities Annual Eastern Idaho The IHC thanks event supporters Teton Toyota, The projects throughout Idaho. Distinguished Humanities Lecture Post Register, and Idaho Public Television. Also, IHC in April in Idaho Falls. Bragg spoke thanks the ISU bookstore for selling Bragg’s books onsite. v Opinions expressed in Idaho Humanities do not necessarily about the art of telling stories to an reflect views of the Idaho Humanities Council or the National audience of 200 at the University Endowment for the Humanities. Center Bennion Student Union. Bragg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist most noted for three best- selling memoirs about his family MISSION STATEMENT and the working class people of The mission of the Idaho Humanites the foothills of the Appalachians: Council is to All Over but the Shoutin’, Ava’s deepen understanding of Man and The Prince of Frogtown. human experience by Bragg attended a Benefactor’s Reception at the lovely home of connecting people Tim and Anne Hopkins prior to the Writer Rick Bragg delivered an informative and entertaining presentation. with ideas. He posed with Benefactor Reception hosts Tim and Anne Hopkins. Idaho Humanities 2 TRAGEDY (Continued from Page 1) incarceration of all people of Japanese descent without and interviews that explore the Minidoka camp experi- Jr. High, then Garfield High School, graduating in 1957. any real due process. Relocation centers, often at fair- ence and its legacy. Contributors include people who A few years after our release from Camp Minidoka grounds or race tracks, provided a temporary venue for were detained and can help shed light on the human and shortly after returning to , our family decided internees during the summer of 1942 before they were side of Executive Order 9066 and the reality of U.S. to go on a vacation to Canon Beach, Oregon. My dad shipped to more permanent camps in the interior of the Constitutional history. made our reservations well in advance, but upon arrival country. The administered The following is an excerpt from an interview was told that the resort had a policy of not renting to ten main prisons located in remote, desolate regions I conducted with Dr. Roger Shimomura, a retired Japanese people. I remember watching my Mom and where most of the population despised everything professor of art who spent time in Dad discussing what to do while standing in front of the Minidoka as a child. hood of our 1946 Chevrolet. After my father went back Dr. Shimomura has inside, he returned fifteen minutes later saying that the had over 125 solo owner had changed his mind as long as the family was exhibitions of his willing to use the cabin furthest down the access road. , and is the When we found the cabin, we were disheartened to recipient of numer- find it a terrible mess, having not been used for years. ous grants, includ- We all drove to the nearest general store and purchased ing four National cleaning materials. After an entire day of scrubbing, the Endowment for the cabin was spotless. My father and I even weeded the Arts Fellowships. In outside of the cabin so we could see out the windows. 2002, an exhibition Following two days of vacationing, we all tidied up of his work entitled after ourselves and returned to Seattle. “An American Diary” toured nationally to 12 RT: Tell me how your incarceration influenced your major museums over painting. four years. In this When I look back upon my life, there were several interview he reflects incidents that probably had an effect upon my relation- on how the internment ship to the incarceration experience. The first happened experience impacted when I was attending high school and was going to write his family and himself an essay on “camp.” It was my intention to interview to this day. my father to gain insight on this experience that we all shared. To my surprise he became very upset and said RT: What are very emphatically, “we don’t talk about that in this house your memories of so don’t bring it up again.” Over the years I learned that Minidoka as a child? this attitude was common among most Issei and Nisei. Photo of painting courtesy Roger Shimomura You were very young Another incident that had an effect on me was Many of artist Roger Shimomura’s explore the Minidoka experience. In this work entitled “Night Watch,” note the close quarters of the barracks, and the man in U.S. Army uniform behind barbed wire. so most of your ear- when I went to graduate school at Syracuse University, liest memories must upstate New York. I was in a graduate seminar where Japanese. Some Japanese Americans, like Gordon come from the years after the camp closed. Where we all discussed various topics including our personal Hirabayashi, resisted, citing their constitutional rights, did your family go and what did they do? backgrounds. When I mentioned that I spent three years but the Supreme Court ruled supporting the legality of My first memory of life was my third birthday away from home (Seattle) of which two were spent in a Executive Order 9066 and internment. while incarcerated in Puyallup, State Fair concentration camp in Idaho, most of the other students The removal of Japanese Americans from the west Grounds, the so called “assembly center” where we didn’t believe me. Fortunately for me there was a mar- coast during World War II does represent “A Tragedy lived in temporary housing. I remember walking around ried couple from Portland, Oregon, that came to my of Democracy,” but as Greg Robinson points out in his inside and outside of our barrack telling everyone I defense. Were it not for them I had no immediate proof terrific book by that title, the United States was not the saw that it was my third birthday. My mother some- that I was telling the truth. It left an indelible mark upon only country to violate the civil rights of their Japanese how obtained a cake and put three candles on it. That me. citizens before and after Pearl Harbor. Canada, Mexico, memory was so vivid that 57 years later I did a series of In the early 1970’s when the subject of reparations and Peru removed Japanese to pacify angry nativists and lithographs called “Memories of Childhood” and events began to surface around the West Coast, writer Frank further certain economic interests. In each case, Pearl of that day officially became my first memory of life. Chin called me and asked for help screen printing tee Harbor and security concerns provided a rationale for After our first year in Camp Minidoka, my father shirts for the first “Day of Remembrance” event that was policy makers and historians, but researchers have dem- who was a registered pharmacist was released to look to take place in Puyallup, Washington, February, 1975. onstrated blatant racism that permeated the Americas in for employment outside of camp as long as it was out- I flew to Seattle to add my assistance to this project. general and the U.S. in particular during the 19th and side of the so called “security zone” (West Coast). Prior During that same time I was eligible for my first sab- 20th centuries was at the heart of the matter. However, to camp he worked at a prestigious downtown Seattle batical leave of absence and was looking for a research the internment story involves much more than racism pharmacy for seven years. When the war broke out project for my application. Up to that point, despite and gets to the core of U.S. Constitutional history and he said the boss wouldn’t allow him to work the front the fact that my paintings were about being a person of the American paradox of celebrating civil liberties and counter and was asked instead to fill prescriptions in Asian ancestry living in the Midwest, that work lacked diversity while violating basic civil rights of minorities. the back room so as to be unseen by the custumers. In any specific political and sociological focus. The topic Idahoans experienced Executive Order 9066 and addition he was suddenly given duties to mop the floors of redress offered a clear challenge and opportunity internment first hand. Camp Minidoka, located six and wash the windows, chores not normally assigned to for me to propose a series of six large paintings called miles from Eden in Jerome County, turned into the registered pharmacists. the “Minidoka Series.” This initial foray into narrative seventh largest city in the state in less than a year. In After traveling around the country looking for painting addressed the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese August, hundreds of internees began arriving each day employment he was for- even though camp construction was far from complete. tunate enough to find a Developers had plowed the desert under in preparation German American family in for buildings which turned the area into a hot dust bowl. Chicago that owned a drug- The misery of the dust was mitigated by fall rain that store and had a modest room turned the camp into a mud bog. Winter brought frigid for my dad to live in while conditions that left internees struggling to stay warm in he searched for living facili- barracks insulated only with tar paper and heated with a ties for the rest of us still in single pot-bellied stove. The experience, no matter how camp. While he was away, brief in duration, was humiliating and left a deep, indel- my sister Carolyn Hisako ible scar on those involved. was born in Minidoka mak- After examining the history of Japanese confinement ing three of us waiting to for a few years, I have decided that it is the human story join him in Chicago. It took behind Pearl Harbor, the Constitution, Supreme Court, almost a year for him to find and Executive Order 9066 that is most compelling. a place that would rent to a Families that had no understanding of war and imperial Japanese family. So after two rivalries, Japanese Americans who held no animosity years in camp my mother, toward America (but wanted to share in the American sister and I left Minidoka Dream) had their homes uprooted and their lives redi- to join my father in a tiny rected. Although the history of Japanese confinement apartment in the Southside was largely ignored for two decades after World War II, of Chicago. I enrolled in the Civil Rights movement inspired interest in the topic kindergarten for the one and motivated scholars and activists to focus on inter- year we lived there. During Many interned with their families as children were affected their entire lives by the experience. ment so as to make sure it never happens again. that time my sister Carolyn Americans during WWII. There was a certain level of An Interview with Roger Shimomura became ill from Influenza Meningitis and passed away artistic risk involved as issues of racial identity hadn’t In a forthcoming publication about Minidoka, we at the young age of two. After three years away from been fully exploited as content in mainstream art. After intend to collect a series of essays by and about some Seattle my grandmother and grandfather left camp receiving approval of my sabbatical application, I was of those who had their lives shaped by the Minidoka and came to Chicago where we all boarded a train and forced to proceed anyway. experience. The publication will include essays by lead- returned to Seattle. Shortly after returning there, my Around this time Frank Chin was asked to write a ing scholars as well as poetry, photographs, art work sister Karen was born. I enrolled in the first grade at Coleman School and subsequently attended Washington (See TRAGEDY, Page 4)

Idaho Humanities 3 TRAGEDY (Continued from Page 3) major article for the Seattle Weekly about the history of occasional controversy. Whether successful or not will Japanese Americans in Seattle. be only proven over time. He chose our family to write about and asked if my RT: What are you working on today? father would agree to be interviewed. I presumed he I have three ongoing series of work that I continue wouldn’t, but said I would ask him as now that repara- to work on. The first is called “Minidoka on my Mind” tions were being publically discussed and Issei and Nisei a collection of paintings and prints on the incarceration were testifying nationally. Shocking to me my father experience. Selections from this group continues to agreed to do this. When Frank came over he asked if travel to museums and galleries across the country. he could tape record the interview and my father said The second series is called “Yellow Terror” an “No,” but he agreed to allow Frank to take notes. My exhibition that combines a selection of my personal col- father then proceeded to tell stories about camp I had lection of stereotypes, mainly from the WWII era, com- never heard before and I listened with fascination. Frank bined with the paintings that have been inspired by this feverishly took notes. Then my father told the story collection. This 2,000 plus collection was donated to about when our family was to be inoculated for diseases the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle and was exhib- prior to incarceration. The guard roughly removed me The honor roll at Minidoka listed those who joined the U.S. Armed ited there along with the paintings that were inspired by from my father’s arms to bring me into a room to get my Services during World War II. the collection. This exhibition ran at the museum for shots. My father tightened his grip on me and pulled me graduate Art Education major from Japan who had lived nine months and is being considered for exhibition at back. Two guards then restrained my father and sepa- the past 18 years in America. other venues. rated him from the rest of the people in line. He said I selected the wartime 1941, 1942 and 1943 diaries they made him remove his pants and stand in front of to be translated first. As the translations came in, I hundreds of people as they took me away to get inocu- read them and found them to be sufficiently interesting lated. He said it was the most embarrassing moment of enough to do a series of paintings about the incarceration his life. As Frank was furiously writing all this down, as seen through the eyes and words of my grandmother. my father pointed at Frank’s notepad and said, “Don’t That group of works done from 1980-83 eventually write about that. It’s too embarrassing.” totaled 25 paintings and travelled to nine venues across the country. In the exhibitions each painting was accom- RT: Were there other family influences that affected panied with the translated entry from the diary that the paintings you would eventually do? inspired that work. In 1997 I revisited this theme and My paternal grandmother with whom I was very finished 30 paintings called “An American Diary,” once close while growing up, lead a very interesting life. again visiting many of the same diary entries covered At the time she was alive I had no inkling as to what before only this time the images were consistent to the The tarpaper barracks that housed thousands of Japanese an effect she would ultimately have upon my work. Americans were later hauled away for use by many farmers and styles and appearances of the 1940s. This exhibition won ranchers in southern Idaho after the war. Grandma (Toku) was trained as a nurse and was on a the College Art Association’s “Most Distinguished Body Red Cross ship at the famous Battle of Port Arthur in of Work for 2001” award. This work led toward a recent the Japan-Russo War. Following that duty she became The third series of work is called “An American series, “Minidoka on My Mind,” a series of paintings and Knockoff,” a series of paintings that address issues of the head nurse in a large silk factory in Tokyo where she lithographs now numbering over 100 pieces all related met the brother to my grandfather (Yoshitomi) who was ethic identity related to Japanese Americans. In this to the incarceration of Japanese Americans. This show series of self portraits, I am seen as the stereotypical already in the U.S. While my grandfather had intended continues to travel around the country today. to live in San Francisco, a day prior to his landing the martial artist physically interacting with WWII ste- reotypes, Japanese nationals, Disney stereotypes, and great earthquake of 1906 forced his boat to land in RT: What is the most important and/or successful Seattle, the next nearest port. My grandfather’s brother struggling with other people/cultural icons/causes that painting you have produced? negatively interact with my identity as an American of proposed a photo-marriage with my grandmother and That’s a difficult question to answer because of all after contemplating this she accepted the offer to leave Japanese ancestry. This series is currently touring the the variables associated with the words “important” country. v Japan and emigrate to Seattle. In 1912 just prior to and “successful.” Having said that, the large (8’ x 12’) boarding along with 60 other photo brides, she began a triptych painting entitled “Nikkei Story”(2006), perma- diary that she would maintain for the next 56 years of her nently installed in the Japanese Community and Cultural life in America. For the last 14 years of her life I used to Russell M. Tremayne is an associate professor Center of Washington (Seattle), takes on many of the of history at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin give her a new diary every Xmas never imagining what larger issues of Japanese America. Frequently using a treasure that I would inherit. Because of her medi- Falls. He is a member of the Friends of Minidoka events from my own family history the three panels Board of Directors, and he has been involved in cal training in Japan she became a midwife (sanba) in (Issei, Nisei and ), make visual references to Seattle and would deliver over 1,000 babies during her planning and conducting the annual Civil Liberties historical events, stereotypes, the WWII incarceration, Symposium since its inception. He received CSI’s career. In 1939 she came out of retirement to deliver me. ethnic traditions, education and even offers a somewhat After she passed away in 1968 I brought the diaries back “Outstanding Academic Faculty Award” in 2006. He unflattering critique of the Sansei generation of which I holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from Boise to Kansas with me. As they were written in Japanese am a part. It is my hope that the painting will bring rich- I had some difficulty in finding someone qualified to State University and the ness to the history of the building, to the organization, its respectively. translate them for me. In somewhat of a rush I selected a occupants, and visitors and will encourage dialogue and

ACCOUNTABILITY (Continued from Page 1) tial and capacity of power. Indeed, for an electorate processes and procedures that define the practice of Schlesinger, Jr., has explained, “to be developed, an that increasingly demands from the White House politics in a republic. For another, they are anxious to indispensable means of gaining counsel as well as con- solutions for all of the ills of the world, discussion fulfill their agendas and, given only limited time to sent.” With accountability comes trust in presidential of limitations suggests weakness, inability and even achieve their ends, they give little thought to the means leadership; and with trust comes a willingness on the incompetence. What candidate for the presidency that they would employ. There remains, moreover, the part of the American people to accept sacrifices, wheth- could hope to win who would deny the possession of fact that the United States has been ensnared in crises er in the context of war or economic distress. A lack authority necessary to meet the challenges confront- and military conflicts for most of the past 75 years, of accountability, like lies and distortions, generates ing the nation? In an age in which Americans demand a national condition which, to borrow from Francis cynicism and saps public spirit. That’s precisely why quick fixes and urge executive unilateralism, what Biddle, an astute and conscientious Attorney General the founders conceived of accountability as central, and candidate would engage in expressions of humility under Franklin D. Roosevelt, reveals a presidential not peripheral, to the ultimate success of the republic. and self-abnegation? indifference toward the Constitution in times of war. While it is clear that modern presidents, unlike It is with good reason, therefore, that scholars In wartime, Machiavellianism—the ends justify the their early predecessors, are little disposed to concern have observed that the combination of soaring public means—sits firmly in the saddle of the horse of power, themselves with formal—legal and constitutional–con- expectations, congressional abdication of its powers while the principle of constitutionalism is in danger of straints on the exercise of power, it does not mean that and responsibilities, a diminished appreciation for being trampled underfoot. the citizenry should shrug off concerns about limita- constitutional principles, and the apparent obliga- Presidential vs. government accountability tions and accountability. In fact, one of the over-arching tion of the president to meet those expectations as a Of course, executive usurpation is not justified purposes of the Constitution is to fix governmental prerequisite to electoral success, is a cocktail toxic to by an untutored or indifferent public any more than accountability, as Chief Justice John Marshall observed the values and principles of republicanism. At bottom, it is justified by self-serving presidential politics. The in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison, two it creates a political climate which invites resorting president is obliged by the oath of office, and the duty centuries ago. Intrinsic in the very concept of a writ- to the assertion and exercise of sweeping unilateral imposed by the Take Care Clause of the Constitution ten Constitution that enumerates powers and assigns executive powers. In this environment, presidential to “take care that the laws are faithfully executed,” duties and responsibilities is the understanding that the usurpation of power, particularly in the realm of for- not to mention the implications of the first premise of citizenry, for whom the Constitution is written, knows eign affairs and national security, becomes the norm. American Constitutionalism—that government has only whom to hold accountable. The inimitable Theodore Politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum. that power granted to it by the Constitution–to practice Roosevelt, who energized the office with his out-sized We would be naïve to assume that executive some discipline. Where that virtue is found wanting, personality, knew that presidents are held accountable aggrandizement of power, which has become com- it must be encouraged and instilled. While presidents to the bar of public opinion. “I have a very definite monplace in the last half-century, is entirely attribut- have resisted the means and methods of constitutional philosophy about the Presidency,” he declared. “I think able to the impatience of the public. There is more accountability, preferring unilateralism to collective it should be a very powerful office, and I think the to it than that. For one thing, presidents are ambitious decision making, they would be wise to reconsider, and few are hardwired to strictly adhere to the legal for executive accountability “is a resource,” as Arthur (See ACCOUNTABILITY, Page 5)

Idaho Humanities 4 ACCOUNTABILITY (Continued from Page 4) President should be a very strong man who uses with- that the people would have the incentive to hold gov- discourse. out hesitation every power that the position yields; but ernment accountable if, that is, they valued republican- 1. Stop Political Labeling. The practice of endors- because of this fact I believe that he should be sharply ism and self-governance. Those who fashioned the ing or dismissing an idea merely because it is character- watched by the people [and] held to a strict account- Constitution banked on that assumption. ized as liberal or conservative is the lazy citizen’s way ability by them.” There remains the question of how the elector- of avoiding the hard work of citizenship, which requires Presidential accountability, like the more general ate can promote governmental accountability. The analysis of the relative merits of an idea or proposal. proposition of governmental accountability, was criti- citizenry has many tools, of course, and they have In fact, the practice of labeling is simplistic and circu- cal to those who conceived and shaped the young lar, and little more than a self-fulfilling prophecy. It republic. The founders’ deep-seated concern to hold ignores, for example, the fact of changing definitions officials accountable for their judgment, programs, and and shifting criteria that mark the fluidity of democratic policies was born of a passionate belief that the people politics. Widespread labeling, moreover, gives a pass to have a right to govern themselves—the cornerstone of elected officials who know that they can woo and win American political thought. Articulated at the dawn of an audience that is vulnerable to descriptions and judg- the republic by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of ments grounded in ideological characterizations. Independence as government grounded in popular con- 2. Listen. Nobody has a monopoly on political sent, reaffirmed in the first words of the Preamble of wisdom. A refusal to listen to competing arguments, the Constitution—“We the People ordain and establish an exercise in arrogance, rests on the assumption that this Constitution”—and most memorably etched into we have nothing to learn from our fellow citizens. The the American consciousness by Abraham Lincoln’s tenets of our constitutional democracy reject the con- magisterial words at Gettysburg as a “government of cept of human infallibility and reflect the understanding the people, by the people and for the people,” the con- that public policy can be improved through the process cept of self-governance and accountability were inex- of discussion. Listening to an opposing position or dis- tricably linked. The health and vitality of the republic, senting opinion may lead us to reconsider the merits moreover, hinged on their synergy. of our own position and, perhaps, affirm the strength We would do well to recall that, for the founders, of our convictions. Alternatively, it may also persuade the creation of the republic represented an experiment, us to recognize the deficiencies in our position and and that there was no guarantee that it would succeed. improve upon it, or embrace a different view. Everyone In fact, in the early years, there was considerable doubt gains when we participate in this educational process. that the American experiment in republicanism would In the end, there are compelling reasons to appreciate succeed, where other republics had failed. The key, as dissenting opinions as contributions to public dialogue. expressed in the writings of Washington and Hamilton Dissent has played a major role in American history, and Madison, lay in the accountability of the govern- and the founders carved out protection for freedom of ment to the governed. As Hamilton wrote in Federalist Theodore Roosevelt sought to use every power the presidency speech in the First Amendment, precisely because they No. 1, in 1787, the great question inherent in the pro- yielded. valued dissent as a means of improving government posed Constitution was whether it is possible to create policies and programs. a system in which the people can govern themselves invaluable assistance in the First Amendment guaran- 3. Citizens Must Be Fair To One Another. through reasoned deliberation, discussion and debate, tees of freedom of speech, press and assembly. The Constructive dialogue requires fair and accurate rep- or whether they must forever suffer the imposition of importance of a free press to the maintenance and vital- resentations of opposing arguments, particularly in a government upon them. For the founders, it was nec- ity of the republic can hardly be overestimated. Self- system that rests on the principle of government based essary to avoid the mistakes of the ancient Athenians government, Jefferson explained, requires an informed on the consent of the governed. “In a republic of truth,” and the Romans; indeed, the history of the ancients electorate. That goal is scarcely achievable without the wrote the learned scholar, Francis Wormuth, ”persua- haunted Americans. The fear of failure was great, and institution of a free and independent press, able to gath- sion is the ultimate authority.” That requires respect it produced widespread anxiety in the early years and er and report information necessary for the people to for facts and evidence and rejection of distortion, throughout the 19th Century, particularly because the critique governmental actions, programs and policies. demagoguery and snake oil. Nothing of substance is American experiment carried the weight of the world; Once armed with actionable information, the citizenry, achieved through the creation of straw-man arguments. indeed, Lincoln characterized it as “the last, best hope as Madison stated, has the opportunity and, emphati- Fooling people into adopting one’s political position is for mankind.” The failure of the American Dream, cally, the duty, principally through informed dialogue, a hollow victory; indeed, such fraudulent tactics contra- rhapsodized in the words of Jonathan Winthrop, as a to exert its views, values and influence. The success dict the premise of winning “consent” from one’s fel- “Shining City Upon the Hill,” raised grim prospects of the American political system, the founders agreed, low citizens, since people who are deceived are hardly for the success of republicanism throughout the world. rests on a citizenry that is informed, alert and active. “consenting” to something. The historical importance of Hamilton’s question in The fundamental premise of our system—government 4. Avoid the Politics of Destruction. Politics is not the first Federalist essay was not lost on those engaged based on the consent of the governed—presupposes a war, and words are not bullets. It is wise to remember, in discourse about the roles and responsibilities of the citizenry that monitors government, analyzes informa- after all, that in a democracy, which is fluid and reflec- citizenry. tion about programs, policies and laws, and engages in tive of changing views and values, and grounded in Madisonian monitors reasoned critiques of governmental actions. Informed compromise, that today’s opponent may be tomorrow’s The model for success, so the founders believed, public dialogue thus becomes integral to the goal of ally. It has been justly observed that we can, and should lay in accountability of the governed to both the governmental accountability. be tough on issues, but tender toward people. Thus, it Constitution and to the electorate. We have seen in the Improving public dialogue is important to avoid coercion, threats and intimidation. Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s famous asser- Americans have understood, at least rhetorically, The effort to destroy opponents, moreover, is likely tion that the right of the people to govern themselves their responsibility to assert demands for effective lead- to curb participation in politics, which further exacer- required governmental accountability to the citizenry. It ership and governmental accountability, for the greatest bates apathy and cynicism. In a democracy, it should fell to Jefferson, as well, to provide the rationale for a weapon that citizens wield is the ability to contribute be recalled, we seek social conditions that encourage binding Constitution: “It is jealousy and not confidence to, and shape, public opinion. It is, after all, an axiom participation and honest give-and-take in the discussion which prescribes limited constitutions to bind down of republicanism that a government may not long resist of policies, programs and laws. those whom we are obliged to trust with power. Our public opinion, precisely because public sentiment is 5. Avoid Ideological Rigidity. Compromise is the constitution has accordingly fixed the limits to which, the foundation upon which governmental authority engine of democracy, a proven means of achieving and no further, our confidence will go. In questions rests. The demand for governmental accountability is, consensus, which is critical to the establishment of of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in so to speak, in our DNA, a genetic memory from a political legitimacy and stability. Compromise is par- man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains distant time of tyrannical kings, corrupt ministers and ticularly important in a nation like the United States, of the Constitution.” The framers’ enthusiasm for con- conniving agents who brandished executive power which boasts many different views and values, derived stitutional checks and balances, “chains” with which to with little regard for the colonists’ civil liberties. There from various religious faiths, political orientations and fetter governmental power, remains unrivaled in world is, today, no lack of interest in holding government cultural patterns. Efforts to achieve ideological purity history. Very little could be done unilaterally; the most accountable. It seems fair to say that “governmental are fruitless; it is far better to gain something than noth- significant powers in foreign and domestic affairs accountability” is the issue of the season. Groups on ing. Driving off the cliff, partisan flags flying, reflects required collective decision making–discussion, debate the right, as reflected in the Tea Party, and those on the politics of impotence, for it shrinks political partici- and consensus. Behind this system of thought stood a the left, as glimpsed in the Occupy Movement have, pation and squanders appeal and potential. The wages set of views grounded in realism, culled from reading for quite different reasons, raised doubts about govern- of rigidity may be measured in President Woodrow and experience: beliefs about political actors that led mental responsiveness and have stated their intentions Wilson’s refusal to negotiate with members of the U.S. to the rejection of the concept of human infallibility, to “take back our government” and to “restore our Senate on his proposal for America’s entry into the suspicion of motives where power might be exercised, Constitution.” But while the intentions and motives League of Nations. As observers noted, he “strangled and acceptance of the premise that power corrupts and have been laudable there has been a general lament his own baby.” absolute power corrupts absolutely. These assumptions about the quality of civic dialogue, in particular, an The founders’ goal of achieving governmental exalted the need for governmental accountability. absence of civility, which undermines influence and accountability, which drafted American citizens in their The crucial question for the founders, perhaps most deters growth in the numbers of those who would own great cause, remains our nation’s greatest experi- famously articulated by James Madison in Federalist engage in protest. In recent years, frankly, the quality ment. Attainment of the goal requires diligence, com- No. 51, was “how to oblige government to obey the of public debate has been disappointing. As a nation, mitment and considerable work. The founding genera- law?” As Madison explained it, in terms that were we have witnessed too much yelling, too much incivil- tion understood the responsibility that they were placing echoed across the land, the answer lay in resort to the ity, and too much demagoguery. The uneven and, at on the shoulders of the citizenry, but they believed that separation of powers and checks and balances, as well times, impoverished debate that has resonated across Americans’ desire for self-governance would lessen the weight of that burden. We are entitled to ask, in the as a “principal reliance on the people themselves.” The America raises the question of how our civil dialogue early years of our third century of constitutional experi- assignment to the people of a front-line responsibil- can be improved, and how we can more effectively mentation, if our fellow citizens remain committed to ity to police governmental actions in their capacity as hold government accountable. Let us consider five “Madisonian Monitors,” reflected the founders’ premise modest suggestions to improve the quality of our civil (See ACCOUNTABILITY, Page 12)

Idaho Humanities 5 Idaho Humanities Council awards $75,000 in grants he IHC awarded $75,575 in grants to The Log Cabin Literary Center, project director is Twylla Rehder. Torganizations and individuals at its February Boise, was awarded $3,000 to help board meeting in Boise. Thirty-nine awards support its 2012-2013 “Readings & The White Spring Ranch Museum/Archive Library, include 28 grants for public humanities programs, Conversations” series. Scheduled Genesee, was awarded $1,275 for interpretive signage seven grants to K-12 teachers, and four planning speakers include Abraham Verghese, and archival supplies at the unique historical center. grants. The grants were supported in part by funding physician and author of the current The signage will help direct the public to the museum from the National Endowment for the Humanities best-seller Cutting for Stone; and will explain the history and significance of the and IHC’s Endowment for Humanities Education. Anthony Doerr, award-winning Abraham Verghese historic buildings. Diane Conroy is the project The following projects were funded: Boise writer and author of Memory director. Wall; Firoozeh Dumas, Iranian author of the memoir Public Program Grants: Funny in Farsi, about growing up Iranian in America; The Boundary County Historical Museum, Bonners and Andrew Ross Sorkin, N. Y. Times reporter and Ferry, was awarded $2,000 for local interpretive The Lewiston City Library, author of the best-seller Too Big to Fail. The project exhibits to accompany the Smithsonian exhibit “The Lewiston, received $2,500 to director is Larry Tierney. Way We Worked,” on displayed from May 12-June 23, support the annual community 2012. One exhibit will tell the story of the 100-year- “Everybody Reads” one book Arctic Circle Productions, Statewide, received old fire department, and the other will highlight the program. Area community $3,500 to support the production of a 90-minute history of blacksmithing in the county. Dottie Gray participants will read Border Songs documentary film exploring the Country Life is the project director. by James Lynch. Lynch will visit Movement, a Progressive Era movement beginning in the region for a five-day residency James Lynch 1905 with President Theodore Roosevelt and fading The Rathdrum/Westwood Historical Society, in both Washington and Idaho out in the 1920s. The documentary will explore the Rathdrum, received $1,000 to create two new exhibits towns. He will make presentations to students and goal to help farmers, their wives, and their families for the museum, housed in the old Rathdrum jail. the general public in Lewiston, Moscow, and Nez become better educated and more productive with The exhibits will rotate during spring and summer. Perce. Jennifer Ashby is the project director. better access to modern equipment and education, in One exhibit will focus on the Rathdrum Tribune, the process making country living as attractive and the printing press, and the editor for 60 years, Joe The Idaho Museum of Natural History, Pocatello, fulfilling as city life. The film ultimately will air Culp. The second exhibit will highlight the history received $3,500 to develop an interdisciplinary statewide on public television. Stephen Wursta is of Rathdrum and surrounding towns. The Historical display at the museum on the significance of camas the project director. Society will host special public presentations with root in Native American culture. Dawn Kimbrel is lectures about the history of the area. Ellen Larsen is the project director. The Clayton Area Historical Association, Clayton, the project director. received $1,100 to reprint a brochure about central The Community Library, Ketchum, was awarded Idaho mining history, available to visitors of the $2,500 to help support its annual museum. The historic mining supply store built in Ernest Hemingway Symposium in October. Focusing 1880, the last remaining mining company store in on the theme of “Hemingway and Politics,” the Idaho, was converted into the local museum several symposium will highlight how Ernest Hemingway’s years ago. The project director is Jolene Ogden. life and writing were influenced by world politics and how he may have used his writing to influence The Mountain Home Historical Society, Mountain change. Several Hemingway scholars will make Home, was awarded $1,000 to transcribe taped oral presentations. The project director is Sandra histories with Elmore County residents. The oral Hofferber. histories provide insight into the life and activity of historic Elmore County. The transcriptions will be reproduced into soft cover books to be available for the public. Jamie McDaniel is the project director. Planners will interpret the Minidoka experience in a 2013 publication.

The Global Lounge Group, Boise, was awarded The College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, received $3,500 to facilitate a “Global Village” three-day $4,000 for a publication on the Minidoka Japanese festival September 14-16, 2012 to showcase cultural Internment Camp, to be distributed in parks, historical diversity in the Treasure Valley. Booths will be societies, and college and university bookstores. made available for cultural groups to showcase their Published in conjunction with the 70th anniversary heritage, art, clothing, and music. It is hoped that the of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order festival will enhance community understanding of the 9066 to relocate Americans of Japanese descent from diverse cultures in the Boise community and lead to the Pacific Rim to inland states in the West, the book future cultural activities. The project director is Dayo will focus on the camp story, but also will examine The Sawtooth Interpretive Center in Stanley received a grant to Ayodele. develop an exhibit about its ice house. other aspects of the Japanese-American experience in Idaho. It will feature historic photographs, works The Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical The Idaho Botanical Garden, Boise, received of prestigious artists, and essays by highly-esteemed Association, Stanley, received $2,500 to support $2,165 to support the 2012 summer lecture series. scholars. The project director is Russ Tremayne. the development of interpretive exhibits about the The speakers and topics include: Priscilla Wegars, Ice House in Stanley that was used for almost five “Chinese in Idaho: Boise Basin,” James Woods, Idaho State University, Pocatello, was awarded decades to store ice, carved from the area’s alpine “Prehistoric Tools and Weapons,” Tom Bicak, Kathy $3,000 to help support a three-day symposium on lakes during the winter, and distributed to local Kershner and Brittany Jones, “Celebration Park indigenous languages held in April of 2012. The family ice boxes throughout the summer months. History,” and other topics. Elizabeth Dickey is the symposium will included lectures and discussions The exhibits, scheduled to open in August, at a public project director. illustrating the importance of language retention and ice cream social, will illustrate the ice house as an revitalization, focusing on the language and culture important center of this rural community. Terry The Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center, of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe. Beverly Klug is the Clark is the project director. Inc., Hailey, was awarded $3,000 to produce a video project director. documentary to preserve stories gathered at the 2011 The Idaho Association of Museums (Statewide), “Women Writing and Living the West” Symposium. The City of Boise Dept. of Arts & History, received was awarded $3,000 for its annual conference in Western women writers, including Teresa Jordan, $3,000 for the 2012-2013 season of the Fettuccine Wallace in April. Open to Idaho museum staff Linda Hussa, Annick Smith, and Diane Josephy Forum, promoting civil, public dialogue on a variety members, conference workshops focused on helping Peavey, joined western women ranchers and shared of topics. The programs are held in the Rose Room in museums manage their collections and offered stories in a unique full-day of story-telling. The downtown Boise on First Thursdays in October through resources for creating educational programs. The edited documentary will be available on the festival May. Upcoming topics include The Left, the Right: project director was Mary Reed. website, and distributed to libraries, universities, and Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party, Greg Hahn; 70th communities. It will be shown at the introduction of Anniversary of the Japanese-American Internment; Lewis-Clark State College Center future “Trailing of the Sheep” festivals. The project Memory and History Lynn Lubamersky; And the Beat for Arts & History, Lewiston, director is Mary Crofts. Goes On–Music: A Boise Legacy; Boise Then and received $2,420 to develop two Now, Rich Binsacca; and Boise Neighborhoods, Tully exhibits showcasing artifacts from The Community Library Network, Hayden, Gerlach. Mark Baltes is the project director. the college’s Henry Talkington received $1,882 for support of “North Idaho Reads” collection. Talkington (born in in 2012. The northern Idaho libraries in the library The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude, 1860) taught history for LCSC network – Coeur d’Alene, Athol, Post Falls, Spirit Cottonwood, was awarded $2,000 to create a and amassed a unique collection of Lake, Hayden, Pinehurst, Rathdrum, Sandpoint, Priest multimedia exhibition examining the lives of four artifacts resulting in one of Idaho’s early historical River and Harrison – will join together in a program women whose contributions influenced Idaho and museums. His collection was willed to the college titled “The Future Is Yours – Join the Fahrenheit 451 the Pacific Northwest. Featured women include and has been in storage for decades. The dedication Conversation,” scheduled to open October 6 during Sacajawea, Polly Bemis, Sister Alfreda Elsensohn, of the exhibits, one in Talkington Hall and one in the Banned Book Week. Participants will read Fahrenheit and Amy Trice. The multimedia exhibition will be Student Union Building, will be accompanied by a 451 by Ray Bradbury and join together for a series accompanied by a series of public lectures. Sue Tacke public lecture by local historian Steven Branting. of book discussions and film programs encouraging (See GRANTS, Page 7) Jim Hepworth is the project director. dialogue about censorship and social conformity. The

Idaho Humanities 6 GRANTS (Continued from Page 6) is the project director. we part of the festival held May 25-26. Marge Schools (WITS), a program offered by The Cabin Kuchynka is the project director. in Boise, to the school’s fifth-grade classrooms over The Idaho Mythweaver, Sandpoint, received $1,900 a 12-week period. The program is designed to help to develop public presentations about the history of the TEACHER INCENTIVE GRANTS: teachers expand their methods for teaching writing. Kalispel Indian Tribe in northern Idaho. Independent The IHC awards grants of up to $1,000 twice a year It provides professional growth for teachers and scholar Jane Fritz will utilize oral myths and legends, to K-12 teachers and educational organizations to increases student writing skills in preparation for their family histories, and published and unpublished enhance teaching of the humanities in the classroom. advancement into secondary school. Students interact writings about the Kalispel people, in particular the The following grants were supported by IHC’s with professional writers during weekly visits. extensive ethnographic field notes of the late WSU Endowment for Humanities Education. anthropologist Allan H. Smith. Presentations will PLANNING GRANTS: be made in Hope, Idaho, Spokane, Washington, and Susan Miller, City of Caldwell, received $1,000 on the Kalispel Reservation. The project director is to support a planning meeting with four experts Jane Fritz. in restoration and museum interpretation. The city is planning to restore and preserve the Van Slyke The Malad Valley Welsh Foundation, Malad City, Museum, an outdoor agricultural museum housing received $1,000 to help support presentations at log cabins, railroad cars, and historic agricultural the annual Welsh festival, June 28-30, 2012. The equipment. festival celebrates Malad Valley’s Welsh roots through educational presentations on the history, culture, Harleen Baird, Mud Lake Historical Society, was and language of Wales. Workshops explore, Welsh awarded $1,000 to support the opening of a museum language, Welsh history, ancient Welsh tribal history, in a restored building in downtown Mud Lake. They and the history of the Welsh choirs, specifically in the will begin preliminary gathering of photographs and Intermountain West. Gloria Thomas is the project will consult with a nearby museum director to begin director. Margaret Marti, Writers @ Harriman, Boise, the organization of materials and development of received $1,000 to explore storytelling during a week- exhibits for the new site. The Western Folklife Center (Statewide) was long residency writing workshop for high school awarded $3,500 to produce a public radio feature, a students. The camp brings students and teachers concert event in Boise, and an expansive website, all together in workshops and hands-on activities focused on the history of traditional fiddling music designed to engage student writers and promote and the National Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest in Weiser, increased learning. Idaho. The program will examine the historical roots of fiddling, the music and social traditions, and will Angela Housley, Washington Elementary School, provide for a digitized archive to preserve this musical Boise, was awarded $1,000 to help purchase a genre and make it more accessible to the public. The classroom set of the new Idaho history textbook – The project director is Taki Telondis. Idaho Adventure. Written by faculty in the Center for Idaho History and Politics at BSU, the new text The University of Idaho, Moscow, was awarded encourages all levels of learners and promotes a desire $1,999 for the annual public Philosophy Forum to become better readers and learners. Interpretive signage will tell the story of the Hercules Mill in the held as part of the Inland Northwest Philosophy Silver Valley. Conference. Titled “Pragmatism, Law, and Sandra Goffinet, Orofino High School, Orofino, Nina Eckberg, Panhandle Lakes Resource Language,” and held in Moscow March 23, 2012, the received $1,000 to work with several teachers in the Conservation & Development, received $734 for an forum examined the language of law from a pragmatic school hosting guest speakers during Native American interpretive sign containing period photographs and perspective. Designed to promote civic dialogue and Heritage Month in November 2012. Teachers will text about the significance of the Hercules Mill to the civil discussion, participants discussed how language develop curriculum on Nez Perce culture and engage region. The sign will be located within the right of shapes the law, for example, in the meaning of the their students to help plan for the speakers. Additional way of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes as a stopping U.S. Constitution. Graham Hubbs was the project activities will complement the speakers during the place for tourists. director. week.

The Bingham County Historical Society, Blackfoot, Edie Lustig, Grangeville Centennial Library, The City of Boise, Department of Arts & History, received $2,000 for the preservation of photos in its Grangeville, received $1,000 for its summer reading received $650 to support a planning meeting to begin collection. Preserving the photo collection will enable program. Designed to encourage children to continue development of an innovative, interactive tour of the society to make the photos more accessible to the reading throughout summer vacation and to promote Boise’s ethnic neighborhoods through photographs, public. Janet Alvarez is the project director. the enjoyment of reading, the program includes music and oral history interviews. complementary activities to reward students. The Portneuf District Library, Chubbuck, was awarded $2,000 to help support a conference focused Jan Green, Holy Spirit Catholic School, Pocatello, The Next Deadline for on mobile and cloud computing, eBooks in libraries, was awarded $1,000 to purchase classroom sets Grants, Research: and literacy in school libraries. Held May 4, 2012, of recommended humanities texts for teachers the conference included presentations and hands- participating in an in-service project throughout the The next deadline for grant proposals on workshops for the southeastern Idaho region of school year. The program brings teachers together for is September 15, 2012. IHC strongly libraries, including academic, public, school, and facilitated discussion about books they can use in their recommends that prospective applicants special libraries. The project director was Jezmynne own classrooms. The class is offered with optional contact staff to discuss their project continuing education credit from ISU. Dene. ideas before writing their proposals. The Weippe Community Club, Weippe, received Shirley Ewing, Idaho Museum of Mining and Applicants also are strongly encouraged $1,500 to help support presenters at the annual Geology, Boise, was awarded $450 to help support the to submit a rough draft of their proposal Camas Festival exploring Lewis and Clark history Museum Rock Party in September. The event focuses for staff critique several weeks prior to and Nez Perce Culture. This year the festival will on the mining, archeological and geologic history of the deadline. Grant guidelines and Idaho. Several hands-on stations including fossil digs, focus on “Birds along the Trail,” particularly birds online application instructions, as first noted in Lewis and Clark Journals that are mine mapping, gold panning, etc., are prepared and still in Idaho. Presentations on the history of bird run by teachers and museum volunteers. well as information about IHC grants migration, environmental impacts on bird habitats, and activities, are available on IHC’s Native American myths, and human interaction with Susan Dransfield, Mary McPherson Elementary, website at www.idahohumanities.org birds combined with several complementary activities Meridian, received $1,000 to bring Writers in the Remember to send back that envelope… o read the feature story in this issue lifelong learning in the humanities helps some of the best writers, historians, and journalists Tof Idaho Humanities you build a more literate, tolerant, and writing in the world today, and many other timely had to remove the donation intellectually inquisitive Idaho citizenry. programs. envelope—please don’t throw it If you agree that lifelong learning in the Return your envelope with a check, or make your away. Show your support for the humanities improves civil discourse and donation online at www.idahohumanities.org, and work of the Idaho Humanities Council enhances informed civic involvement, help the Idaho Humanities Council deepen public today by sending it back with your tax- then please return your envelope today. understanding of human experience and connect deductible gift enclosed. The IHC is The IHC will put it to good use funding people to ideas. v dependent more than ever on donations summer institutes and workshops from our readers, program participants, for teachers, traveling Smithsonian Make your tax-deductible teachers, civic leaders, community exhibits, our Humanities Speakers gift today! activists, and others who believe that Bureau, reading/discussion programs, lectures by

Idaho Humanities 7 IHC honors two for ‘Outstanding Achievement in the Humanities’

he Idaho Humanities Council honored Boise the Pacific Northwest. presented this performance many times. educator and administrator Russ Heller and “Russ Heller’s passion for history has been At her award ceremony a number of Johnson’s T colleagues properly roasted her before Johnson herself retired North Idaho College English Professor inspirational to students and teachers of all disciplines Virginia Tinsley Johnson this past spring for Outstanding and grade levels,” said Idaho Humanities Council Chair talked of her life in the humanities. Achievement in the Humanities. The two were honored Katherine Aiken, Dean of the College of Letters, Arts, In nominating Virginia for the award, her NIC in separate ceremonies in Boise on February 9 and in and Social Sciences at the University of Idaho. “He has colleague Fran Bahr commented that Johnson “never Coeur d’Alene on April 26 respectively. devoted his life to helping other teachers become better ceases to serve, support, encourage, cajole, recommend, Heller was honored not only for his exemplary career equipped and prepared to teach history in a way that advertise, and assist those in the humanities.” makes it come alive for students.” The IHC has presented its award for “Outstanding On the evening of the award Achievement in the Humanities” annually since ceremony, several colleagues and former 1986. Previous recipients of the award have included students spoke about Heller’s work in the independent historian Keith Petersen, Twin Falls humanities, and the appropriateness of anthropologist James Woods, Boise State University the recognition, and helped “roast” him. History Professor Robert Sims, College of Idaho Then Heller himself said a few words Professor Louie Attebery, State Historian Merle Wells, about his life’s work in the humanities. Idaho State University of Idaho Political Science In Coeur d’Alene on April 26, about Professor David Adler, Coeur d’Alene human rights 150 attended the award ceremony for activist Tony Stewart, Moscow writer Mary Clearman Virginia Johnson, Blew, Idaho poet William Studebaker, historian Arthur who was honored for 40-plus years of service as a mentor English teacher to students and colleagues, her IHC Chair Katherine Aiken (center) stands between IHC Outstanding Achievement work as an NIC Award recipients (L to R): Ron Hatzenbuehler, Robert Sims, Russ Heller, and Patty Miller in Boise in February. administrator, and her years of service in the as a secondary history teacher and administrator for public humanities to promote a love the Boise Independent School District for nearly four of art and literature off campus. decades, but for his work mentoring history educators Over her career she taught around the state, including sponsoring an outstanding thousands of students, and won annual history educators conference. Heller began his teaching career at Boise High several local and national awards School in 1973, after a stint in the U.S. Air Force during for excellence in teaching, including the Vietnam War, and following completion of his degree the William H. Meardy Award for magna cum laude at Boise State University. Twenty- teaching from the Association of seven years later, he became supervisor of programs Community College Trustees. Virginia Tinsley Johnson (with plaque) is surrounded by friends and colleagues who th in history and social studies. At the same time, he Fascinated with the life of 18 praised and roasted her at her award ceremony in Coeur d’Alene in April. century British writer and women’s co-founded and became executive director of the Idaho Hart, Nez Perce elder Horace Axtell, former Lewis-Clark rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft, Johnson took Council for History Education, for which he has planned State College English Professor Keith Browning, Idaho a sabbatical and went to Europe one year to trace memorable two-day annual history conferences every State University History Professor Ron Hatzenbuehler, Wollstonecraft’s steps, returned to Coeur d’Alene, October, often involving nationally prominent, Pulitzer Basque Museum and Cultural Center Director Patty Prize-winning historians as lecturers each year. The and developed a Chautauqua-style performance of Miller, and others. v conferences now attract teachers from all over Idaho and Wollstonecraft for NIC’s popular Popcorn Forum. She

US Bancorp supports ‘Let’s Talk About It’ program for 2012-2013

ifteen Idaho libraries will participate in the tionships, and it touches so many towns throughout lish Professor Tara Penry and BSU Professor Emeri- F2012-2013 “Let’s Talk About It” program, Idaho.” tus Chuck Guilford. thanks to a generous grant to the Idaho Human- Each participating library will host five scholar- The 15 participating libraries will be selected ities Council from the US Bancorp Foundation. led discussions over the course of a season. Some later in the summer of 2012. “Let’s Talk About It” (LTAI) is the library read- of the themes include “Across Cultures and Conti- The LTAI program has been a partnership of the ing and discussion program that brings people nents,” “Living in the Modern West,” “Our Earth, Idaho Commission for Libraries (formerly the Idaho together with scholars in mostly rural community Our Ethics,” “We Are What We Eat,” “American State Library), the Idaho Humanities Council, and libraries for discussions of books US Bank for many years. Since the begin- exploring a variety of themes. ning of the program nearly three decades It is a program that is greatly years ago, programs have been held in appreciated by library patrons, nearly 100 different Idaho communities. mostly in rural areas, who don’t LTAI provides a rich cultural expe- often have access to informative rience involving great literature, guest scholar-led discussion programs. humanities scholars, and in-depth conver- The US.Bancorp grant will help sations on diverse topics. Program par- support five reading-discussion ticipants expand their reading interests, programs over the course of a meet new people, and explore important season in each of the 15 libraries, cultural issues in the context of their own for a total of 75 library book dis- lives and the lives of others. cussions. Thanks to US Bancorp’s generous The US Bancorp Foundation support (since 1998), the program contin- grant will help support scholar ues reaching Idahoans of all ages through honoraria and travel to libraries valuable reading and discussion. to moderate discussions, new “Let’s Talk About It has been a flagship books, and promotion. The pro- program of the Idaho Humanities Council gram is a partnership of U.S. and the Idaho Commission for Librar- US Bancorp once again presented a check this summer to IHC in support of the statewide Let’s Talk About It Bank, the IHC, and the Idaho program. L to R: LTAI Coordinator Dian Scott, US Bank Senior Vice President Rob Aravich, and IHC Director ies for many years,” said IHC Chairman Commission for Libraries. The Rick Ardinger. Kathy Aiken, Dean of the College of Let- ICL has managed the program for more than 25 years. Characters,” “Working: Making A Living, Making A ters, Arts, and Social Sciences at the University of Project Director Dian Scott selects participating Life,” and other themes. Scholars from nearly all of Idaho. “This is what lifelong learning in the humani- libraries, contracts with scholars, and ships multiple Idaho’s institutions of higher education participate in ties is all about, and we’re happy US Bank has been copies of books to the libraries. the program as book discussion leaders in 75 library such a loyal supporter of the program.” “U.S. Bank is happy to support this great program meetings. that brings people together all over Idaho to discuss This year, the LTAI program introduces four new For more information about Let’s Talk About It, books and ideas,” said US Bank Senior Vice Presi- themes: “The Humanity of Science and Technology,” see the Idaho Commission for Libraries website at dent Rob Aravich, while presenting a check at the “Connecting Generations,” “Humor and Satire,” and libraries.idaho.gov/landing/lets-talk-about-it or con- tact Project Director Dian Scott, Idaho Commission Idaho Humanities Council offices recently. “This is “Idaho at 150: Idaho’s Territorial Sesquicentennial.” a program that educates and builds community rela- New themes recently were developed by BSU Eng- for Libraries at (208) 334-2150. v

Idaho Humanities 8 Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Russo will speak in Boise, Saturday, September 29

ulitzer Prize-winning novelist for literature, and was PRichard Russo will be the later made into an HBO speaker at the IHC’s 16th Annual miniseries. An earlier novel, Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Nobody’s Fool, premiered Dinner on Saturday, September 29, 2012, as a Hollywood film in 1994, 7 p.m., at the Boise Centre. starring Paul Newman, and Tickets are available now for purchase allowed Russo to retire from university teaching to IHC’s Distinguished Humanities Lecture & Dinner with Richard Russo, 7:00 p.m., online at www.idahohumanities.org Saturday, September 29, Boise Centre under “IHC Events,” or by calling the devote himself to his work. IHC at 345-5346. General tickets are $60. One of the recurring Name ______Telephone (____)______themes in several of his Benefactor tickets are $125, offering an Address ______City ______Zip ______invitation to a pre-dinner reception with novels is the way that Russo in a private home and preferred the decline of the # ______Benefactor Tickets @ $125/ person seating at the dinner and lecture. IHC American factory ______Benefactor Tables for 10 @ $1000 always recommends reserving tickets town, as it succumbs # ______General Tickets @ $60/person early as the event usually sells out. The evening will to the brutal realities ______General Tables for @ $600 begin with a no-host reception at 6:00 p.m. at the Boise of globalization, Centre. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with affects the lives of # ______Vegetarian Meals (include name of guest) Russo’s talk to follow. Russo’s books will its citizens who 3 ______Donation for student scholarship tickets be available onsite and he’ll be available would otherwise for signing afterwards. A silent auction of be resistant to Paying $ ______by check. Make checks payable to: Idaho Humanities Council signed first edition books will be in the change. “Really, Charge $ ______to my credit card: lobby of the Boise Centre. what I am writing about in q Visa Russo is regarded by many critics as all of these is class and work,” he q Mastercard the best writer about small-town America says. q American Express since Sherwood Anderson and Sinclair Author of seven novels so far– Card # ______Exp. Date ______Lewis. His novels are set in fading Mohawk (1986), The Risk Pool (1988), Please print name as it appears on the card ______industrial towns throughout the northeastern Nobody’s Fool (1993), Straight Man Signature ______United States, towns that almost become characters in (1997), Empire Falls (2001), Bridge their own right. From the gossip and the resentments of Sighs (2007), and That Old Cape q I am unable to attend, but enclosed is my donation to the IHC $ ______to the people and the cafes, Russo chronicles blue- (2009), Russo also has published If purchasing a table, please attach a sheet with names of guests. Otherwise, their tickets will be collar America in ways constantly surprising and utterly a collection of short stories, The Whore’s held under your name at the door. revealing. During his evening in Boise, Russo will talk Child and Other Stories (2002). A memoir If paying by credit card, you may use this form and fax it to (208) 345-5347. Reservations will be about his life, his work, the liberal dose of humor that entitled Elsewhere will appear in the fall made upon receipt of payment. All reservations will be confirmed by letter. Tickets will not be sent, fuels his fiction, and the art of intertwining tragedy of 2012. and table designations will be available at the door. If you are supporting student scholarships to attend, you will receive a special acknowledgement letter and recognition from IHC at the dinner. and comedy throughout his work to create the natural Born in 1949 in Gloversville, New Idaho civics teachers are working with the IHC to identify scholarship recipients. For more informa- tensions of everyday working life. York, a town much like the ones he tion, call (888) 345-5346. His novel Empire Falls, a tragicomic story that depicts in his books, Russo now lives in explores relationships in a once-thriving Maine textile coastal Maine with his wife and their two Please clip and complete this form and return it to: mill town gone bust, won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize daughters. v Idaho Humanities Council 217 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702

Awawrd-winning writer Anthony Doerr to speak in Coeur d’Alene, Friday, October 12

rize-winning writer Anthony American novelists. PDoerr will be the speaker at the Born in Cleveland, Ohio, IHC’s 9th Annual Northern Idaho and educated at Bowdoin Distinguished Humanities Lecture and College in Maine, Doerr Dinner on Friday, October 12, 2012, lives in Boise with his wife 7 p.m., at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. and two sons. He teaches Tickets to the event are available now. now and then in the low- Doerr’s books include the much- residency MFA program at IHC’s North Idaho Distinguished Humanities Lecture & Dinner with Anthony praised short story collection The Shell Warren Wilson College in Doerr, 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 12, 2012, Coeur d’Alene Resort Collector, a novel About Grace, and a North Carolina, and his Name ______Telephone (____)______memoir Four Seasons in Rome: book reviews and travel On Twins, Insomnia, and the essays appear in the New Address ______City ______Zip ______Biggest Funeral in the History of York Times. He also writes # ______Benefactor Tickets @ $100/ person the World. a regular column on science ______Benefactor Tables for 8 @ $800 His latest collection of stories books for the Boston Globe. (and two novellas) is Memory Tickets are available now # ______General Tickets @ $45/person Wall, which features stories set for purchase online at www. ______General Tables for 8 @ $360 on four different continents, idahohumanities.org under “IHC # ______Vegetarian Meals (include name of guest) each primarily about the Events,” or by calling the IHC toll 3 ______Donation for student scholarship tickets fragility of collective and free at 888-345-5346. General personal memory. The book tickets are $45. Benefactor tickets Paying $ ______by check. Make checks payable to: Idaho Humanities Council won the 2010 Story Prize, and the title story are $100, offering an invitation to of the collection currently is being adapted as a Charge $ ______to my credit card: a pre-dinner reception with Doerr q feature film. Visa in a private home and preferred q Mastercard Doerr’s short fiction has won four O. Henry seating at the dinner and lecture. q American Express Prizes and has been anthologized in The Best IHC always recommends reserving tickets Card # ______Exp. Date ______American Short Stories, The Anchor Book of New American early as the event often sells out. Please print name as it appears on the card ______Short Stories, and The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Since 2004, the IHC has been bringing Signature ______Fiction. He has won the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, prominent historians, journalists, and the Rome Prize, the New York Public Library’s Young fiction writers to Coeur d’Alene, including q I am unable to attend, but enclosed is my donation to the IHC $ ______Lions Fiction Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA presidential biographer Robert Dallek If purchasing a table, please attach a sheet with names of guests. Otherwise, their tickets will be Fellowship, the National Magazine Award for Fiction, (2004), western writer Ivan Doig (2005), held under your name at the door. two Pushcart Prizes, the Pacific Northwest Book Award, journalist Susan Orlean (2006), War Letters If paying by credit card, you may use this form and fax it to (208) 345-5347. Reservations will be three Ohioana Book Awards, the 2010 Story Prize, and the collector Andrew Carroll (2007), former made upon receipt of payment. All reservations will be confirmed by letter. Tickets will not be sent, 2011 London Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award, and table designations will be available at the door. If you are supporting student scholarships to National Public Radio News Analyst Juan which is considered the largest prize in the world for a attend, you will receive a special acknowledgement letter and recognition from IHC at the dinner. Williams (2008), National Book Award single short story. Idaho civics teachers are working with the IHC to identify scholarship recipients. For more informa- winner Timothy Egan (2009), detective His books have twice been listed as New York tion, call (888) 345-5346. Times “Notable Books” and made a number of other novelist Sara Paretsky (2010), and Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War historian James Please clip and complete this form and return it to: year-end “Best Of” lists. In 2007, the British literary Idaho Humanities Council v magazine Granta placed Doerr on its list of 21 Best Young McPherson (2011). 217 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702

Idaho Humanities 9 IHC Warmly Thanks Idaho Humanities Council Donors! Contributions made between November 1, 2011 and July 11, 2012

Champion ($2,500 +) Jean Betebenner Lew & Donna Pence Joan Cox Susan Spafford The J.R. Simplot Foundation John Bieter Audrey Peterson Big Mallard Books Lee Starr Uyless Black Marty & Barb Peterson Bill Dryden Brent & Kay Stauff Benefactor ($1,000 - $2,499)Anonymous Roger Blew Bob & Calista Pitts Mrs. William Eberle Carolyn Midge Thysell AJ & Susie Balukoff Don Bott & Judy Austin Dan Popkey Eiriksson Ed & Judy Torgerson Tom & Alice Hennessey Bruce Bradberry Mary Ellen & Dick Pugh Maria G. Essig Cutler & Nancy Umbach Wilson, Harris & Company Barbara Brown Charles & Mary Reed Shirley Ewing & Bill Ondrechen Gayle Valentine & Keith Kiler Keith Browning Bruce Reichert Marcia Franklin Theodore Watanabe Pioneer ($500 - $999) Conrad & Sharon Colby Earl & Jodi Reynolds Dr. Allan & Fran Frost Connie Weaver Rick & Rosemary Ardinger John & Diane Crim Chris & Petra Riggs Dick & Susan Gardner Jim & Barbara Ralph & Ann Wheeler Barnes & Noble Booksellers Shirley Crowe Ed & Sheila Robertson Gentry Jenny Emery Davidson & Mark Davidson Glenn & Stephanie Crumrine Sylvia & Jim Robison Ronald Goble Volunteer (Up to $49 Anonymous Jennifer Holley Charlene Curry John Rosholt Gratia Griffith James Armstrong Tim & Anne Hopkins Barbara Dargatz Rudy & Angela Rossmann John & Kathy Grossenbacher Joe & Harriet Berenter Carol MacGregor PhD Philanthropic Gift Jay & Judy Darrington ROW Adventures & River Dance Lodge Hagerman Valley Historical Society Mary Lee & Ray Blackford Fund in the Idaho Community Fritz & Gene Dickey Rena Sanderson Ron & Ellie Hampton Roger & Donna Boe Foundation Thomas & Linda Dixon Donnel Schmidt Society of Mayflower Descendants in Richard & Aris Boyle Ed & Cathie Marohn Ted & Darlene Dyer Thad & Judy Scholes Idaho Isabel Brassey Dick & Susan Parrish Terry Engebretsen Marilyn Shuler Craig Harline Lisa Cafferty Helen John Foundation Diane & Steven Fields Max & Carole Smolinski Larry & Barbara Harrison Lynda Campbell Clark Kathleen Ruyts Friends of Jerome Public Library Walt & Kristin Sinclair Joan Hartnett Sylvia Campbell Laura & Andy Stento Judith Gaarder David & Patty Skinner Tom & Roberta Heinrich Jr. Jean Chantrill Forrest & Lynne Geerken Todd & Gina Stevenson Dave & Lindy High Claire & Lennard Chin Sponsor ($250 - $499) Jerry & Julie Glenn Fay & Wayne Sweney Butch Hjelm John & Jacqueline Cooney Katherine Aiken Roger & Kathy Baker Grigg Brian Thom & Ardele Hanson Chuck & Kathy Hosack Alan & Alice Crockett George & Karen Baker Peter Grubb & Betsy Bowen Fred & Joan Thompson Charles & Calista Hummel Carol Delaney Charles & Marjorie Bolles Stanley Hall & Elizabeth Olberding Michael & Sue Tomlin Dave Humphrey Mary DeWalt Edd & Wilma Bowler Arthur & Dee Hart Jeff & Karan Tucker Cynthia Carr Jenkins Alexandra Kennedy Fast & Helga Fast Dick & Vonnie Lue Broulim Ron & Linda Hatzenbuehler John & Jeanette Ullery Bill & Cheryl Johnson Friends For Learning Patrick Day Bonita Hepworth Jesse Walters Daniel & Carmelyn Johnson Mary Jane Fritzen Art & Nancy Flagan Mark & Lynn Hofflund Priscilla Wegars Rochelle Johnson & Don Mansfield Jean Hanson Jeff & Evin Fox Dr. Bob & Patti Holman Betty Weston Ann Joslin Georgia Haynes Cristina Gospodnetich Robert & Leslee Hoover Ralph & Carolyn Wolter Ed & Martha Keener Carol Hearne Charles Guilford Marilyn Howard Robert & Sheila Wood Rae Ann Larson Ms. John Horning Sharon Hanson through the Idaho Dan & Gail Hunt Jim & Cyndie Woods Melinda Lindsey Rick Jung Jonathan & Pamela Lawson Women’s Charitable Foundation James & Lorna Irwin Virginia Woolley Corinne Lyle Bethea Lenzi Chris & Mark Hatch Margaret E. Johnson Gary & Janet Wyke Louise & Terry Maley Bob & Ann Loucks Marc & Pat Johnson Marjie Johnson Charles & Sonia Mastache Lee McGlinsky Chris & Marie Kantarian Anne Marie & Harold Jones Advocate ($50 - $99) Ann Mattoon Carol Mobley Joy & Thomas Kealey Foundation Michael Kennedy Jan M. Alden Alberta Mayo C. Thomas & Larry & Barbara Nelson Rosemary McGrath Bonnie Krafchuk Anonymous Sabra McCreedy Steve & Vera Noyce Betsy & John McTear Scott Kreiling Kathryn Arneson Memorial Community Center James & Benita Odenkirk Beret Norman & Seth Thomas Arthur & Annaliese Kull Barbara Arnold Susanne Miller Bill & Kathie Phoenix Rick & Lisa Ogle Brent & Carol Lloyd Scott K. P. Arnold & Maura L. Goddard James Wolf & Dinu Mistry Wolf Phyllis Pierce Skip & Esther Oppenheimer Wallace Lonergan Susan Ault Gayle Moore Mike & Sharon Ripley Ron Pisaneschi & Virginia Bennett Margaret Nell Longeteig Fran Bahr Delos & Mary Ann Newcomer Karen Rumpel Nick & Sharon Purdy John & Patricia Lough Chris & Sue Baughn Susan Norton Maria Salazar Rep. John & Kay Rusche Grace & Clark Lusk Frederick Belzer & Theresa Kaufmann Tim Norton Neil & Deborah Schafer Laura & Alan Shealy H.F. Magnuson Family Foundation Julio & Julie Bilbao Owen & Janet Orndorff Ken & Janet Sherman Craig & Jane Spencer Alexandra Manning Paul March Tom & Florence Blanchard Michael & Cathryn Pankau Jeff Sherwood Mark & Cindy Wang John Matthew & Judy McKay Glenn & Glida Bothwell Del Parkinson Marjorie Slotten Ken & Amy Mecham Roger & Bonnie Brazier Keith Petersen & Mary Reed Barbara Strickfaden Donor ($100 - $249) Jo Anne Minnick through the Idaho Ross Burkhart Bruce Robbins & Maggie Chase Teton Valley Museum Foundation Ingrid Koch-Adler Women’s Charitable Foundation Ann Carlson Joseph & Rita Rodriguez Walt & Mary Thode Erik & Janice Anderson S. Jackie Montgomery Robert & Eleanor Carriker Hazel Rose Mary Trail Gov. Cecil & Carol Andrus Michael Moore Karen Christenson Steve & Dede Ryan Dick Wandrocke Margo Aragon Ray & Jane Morgan James & Ellen Close Jerry & Ann Shively Suzanne Woodcock Robert Barclay Charley & Janet Mosier Leo & Lulu Mae Coates Bob & Bessie Skinner Harald Wyndham Hope Benedict & Stewart Carrington Duane & Ruthie Nellis Dillon & Audrey Cole Steve & Betty Slifer Edward & Cheryl Zaladonis Pam Bernard Arlene Oyer Gail Corlett-Trueba Mary Sorenson

IN MEMORIAM IN HONOR In memory of John Lytle In memory of Katherine Troutner In memory of Dixie Anderson In memory of Bayless Manning In honor of Ron Hatzenbuehler Ron James & Lili Zou Earnest Johnson Brent & Carol Lloyd Alexandra Manning Chapter AA PEO In memory of Harold Clark Miles In memory of William A. Trueba In memory of Roberta DeLuce In memory of Dinah Jackson In honor of Byron Johnson & Marjorie Ellis Miles Gail Corlett-Trueba Hartnack Bethea Lenzi Gayle Valentine & Keith Kiler David Clark Miles In memory of Jack R. Ward Brent & Carol Lloyd In memory of Harriet Badesheim In honor of Jana Jones In memory of Amy Margaret Keith J. & Rowena K. Ward In memory of Lorraine A. Alexandra Kennedy Fast & Helga Marilyn Howard Christie In memory of Stan E. Ward Clements Fast In honor of Lindy High Alan & Anne Christie Keith J. & Rowena K. Ward Roger & Bonnie Brazier In memory of Forrest Church Marilyn Howard In memory of Mary Inman In memory of David Eldon In memory of John and Warren Ann Mattoon In honor of Marybeth Flachbart Phyllis Perrine Robertson Porter Marilyn Howard In memory of Bill Studebaker Keith J. & Rowena K. Ward Jerry & Julie Glenn In honor of Russ Heller Louie & Barbara Attebery In memory of Vickie J. Simmons In memory of Rob Roy Spafford David & Patty Skinner In memory of John P. Whitted Melinda Lindsey Susan Spafford In honor of Katherine Aiken Milly Whitted John & Karen Rosholt

IHC thanks Idaho Heritage Trust for support

hanks to of the original Victorian clapboard structure shortly screened porch was later added and closed in to Tfinancial after it was completed. However, a second story increase living space, and the foundation beneath support the addition was not adequate. Over decades the and advice addition began to slump on withering timbers, and from the Idaho cracks began to appear in the interior walls. Heritage Trust, On the advice of IHT architectural preservationist the foundation Fred Walters in 2011, an engineering firm drew up of Centennial plans and a contractor stabilized the structure to last House, home of the at least another century. Idaho Humanities Several blocks east of the State Capitol, Council offices Centennial House was donated to the Idaho at 217 W. State Humanities Council in 1986 by Guy and Linda Street in Boise, Hurlbutt of Boise. It served as the office of the is strengthened Idaho Centennial Commission from 1987 to 1991, and stabilized. after which it became the staff office and permanent Centennial House headquarters of the IHC. is part of an historic district in Boise. Many thanks to the Idaho Heritage Trust for Built in 1899, Centennial House was home to a its support of the Idaho Humanities Council, and pair of sisters who were both public school teachers Consultation and financial support from the Idaho Heritage Trust for the IHT’s ongoing work preserving many other helped reinforce the foundation of Centennial House, home of IHC for many years. An addition was added to the back offices, built in 1899. historic structures throughout Idaho. v

Idaho Humanities 10 Sign up now to participate in American Civil War reading program

n commemoration of the sesquicentennial three books. March, by Geraldine Iof the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Brooks, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning Idaho Humanities Council, in partnership with historical novel which tells its the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State story through the voices of char- University, is offering a five-meeting, scholar-led acters from another novel, Little reading/discussion program in Boise exploring Women, by Louisa May Alcott. the theme “Making Sense of the American Civil America’s War, edited by historian War,” in October of 2012. The program is free and Edward L. Ayers, is mostly a col- anyone interested in participating may apply by lection of writings by people who submitting all their contact information and a brief had to decide for themselves before paragraph stating why you wish to participate to and during the war where justice, Debra Schlechte at [email protected]. honor, duty, and loyalty lay, includ- Seating is limited and participants must commit to ing selections written by Frederick attend all five meetings. IHC will make three books Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Mark available on loan to participants for the series. The Twain, Henry David Thoreau, and deadline to apply is Setember 7. many others. Crossroads of Free- The five two-hour book discussions are sched- dom: Antietam, by historian James uled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7 p.m. McPherson, explores the battle in to 9 p.m., on the following dates: October 23, the fall of 1862 that changed the 25, 30, November 1, and 8, course of the Civil War. at Boise State Uni- ciation to give a glimpse of the vast sweep and pro- Scholars who will lecture and versity’s Ron and found breadth of Americans’ war among and against facilitate discussions so far include Andrus Center Linda Yanke Family themselves. The series is organized as a series of President Marc Johnson, constitution scholar and Research Park, 220 “conversations” that are meant to be considered new Andrus Center Director David Adler, and BSU E. Parkcenter Bou- together. Each conversation is itself arranged as an History Professor Lisa Brady. levard, so plenty of unfolding story, moving forward in time. Some of Once participants are selected, IHC will make easy parking will be the readings were written by eye-witnesses, some the books available early so readers are prepared available. written for perhaps only one other person to read, well in advance of the meetings. “Making Sense of while others were well researched after the passage the Civil War,” is a pro- of time and imagined for vast audiences. A hundred gram developed by the and fifty years after the defining war in our nation’s National Endowment for history, Americans are still discovering its mean- CDA Public Library the Humanities and the ings. American Library Asso- The discussion series is based on the readings of program begins Nov. 8

Coeur d’Alene Public Library (702 E. Front Street) will offer a five-meeting, scholar- Andrus Center to convene October 25 public confer- led, reading discussion program on “Making Sense of the American Civil War” over five ence on ‘Why the Civil War Still Matters’ Thursdays, beginning in November. The series will take place in the library conference room on November 8, 15, 29, December 13, and 20, ome of the nation’s most respect- Dr. Lisa M. Brady is an Associate ed Civil War historians will be at beginning at 7 p.m. each night. Members of the S Professor of History at Boise State Uni- public interested in participating should contact Boise State University on Thursday, versity and the author of War Upon the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Communications October 25, 2012, for a one-day confer- Land: Military Strategy and the Transfor- Coordinator David Townsend at dtownsend@ ence entitled Why the Civil War Still mation of Southern Landscapes During cdalibrary.org or call (208) 769-2315, ext. 426. Matters. the American Civil War. Participants must commit for the whole series The conference, which is open to the and sign up early, allowing time to read the Jeffry Wert is a well-known military books. The library will lend copies of the three public, is sponsored by Andrus Center texts to all participants in advance of the series. for Public Policy in partnership with historian of the Civil War who has writ- the Idaho Humanities Council and the ten both battle histories and biography. Idaho Council on History Education. His book, Gettysburg – Day Three was Registration for the conference will be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. open later this summer at the Andrus th For more information about the series, see IHC’s “The 150 anniversary of what might website at www.idahohumanities.org, or contact the Center website: www.andruscenter.org be considered the defining event in our Idaho Humanities Council at (208) 345-5346. v The conference will feature presenta- history seems an appropriate moment to tions by: reflect on why and how the war that once Dr. David Adler, the newly named threatened to destroy the great American Director of the Andrus Center, and a experiment continues to influence our News & Opportunities national recognized scholar of the Consti- politics and our culture,” said Marc C. Boise 150 Publishing Opportunity tution and the American presidency. Johnson, president of the Andrus Center. “So many of the on-going debates oise’s story is as diverse and complex as the people Dr. Gary Gallagher is the John L. in the country, including federal-state who have made Boise home for the past 150 years. Nau III Professor in the History of the B relations, race, the Constitution and the As the city commemorates its sesquicentennial in American Civil War at the University of 2013, the year-long event--Boise 150--is a unique opportu- Virginia and author and editor of numer- powers of the presidency have roots in nity to recognize the city’s past and contemplate its future. ous works on the war. Dr. Gallagher has the Civil War. It is impossible to under- Boise residents, businesses, and organizations are invited twice been recipient of the Laney Prize stand the modern United States without to host community events, collect and document their his- tories, and share in conversation about our city. for the best book on the Civil War as well understanding the war that ended nearly 150 years ago, but in some respects has The Boise City Department of Arts & History seeks as the William Woods Hassler Award for original written contributions from anyone, of any age, contributions to Civil War studies. His never ended.” from anywhere, of any genre that explore one or more of most recent book is The Union War. the three Boise 150 themes: Enterprise, Environment, and Community. Accepted submissions will be included in a Dr. Joan Waugh is an Associate Pro- BOISE 150 book of compilations [title to be determined] fessor of History at the University of Cali- that will be distributed in summer of 2013. The deadline fornia at Los Angeles. Dr. Waugh received is September 15. the William Henry Seward Award for For application information, visit www.boiseartsan- dhistory.org. Excellence in Civil War Biography for her critically acclaimed book U.S. Grant 2012 National Preservation Conference in Spokane – American Hero, American Myth. The National Preservation Conference will be held October 31-November 1 in Spokane, WA. It’s a unique (See NEWS, Page 12)

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NEWS (Continued from Page 11) ACCOUNTABILITY (Continued from Page 5) convening of approximately 2,000 professionals and 1898-1920 examines a cross-section of Carnegie library the values and principles of republicanism. enthusiasts, and provides Idaho residents with a unique applications to determine how local support was mus- In this presidential campaign, and the other opportunity to network, to learn and to receive high-level tered for cultural institutions in the late-nineteenth and races for political office we can, in the name of training in historic preservation, community revitalization early-twentieth century West. This comparative study governmental accountability, require those who and related fields. Preservation Idaho members, historic considers the entire region between the Rockies and the would wield power in our name, to fully articulate, preservation commissioners and local historical society Cascades/Sierras, including all of Idaho, Utah, Nevada, explain and defend their positions on the various and museum directors will find exceptional opportunities and ; western Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado; issues and challenges that confront our state and for training and networking. For more information visit eastern Oregon and Washington; and small parts of nation. That requirement marks the threshold of www.preservationidaho.org. and New Mexico. responsibility for those who would govern, and for those who would demand complete accountability Swetnam addresses not only the of the government to the governed. In the annals Rave reviews for Kim Barnes’ latest novel how of the process but also the of American political history, no statesman or jurist Moscow novelist Kim Barnes is receiving rave reviews why. Although virtually all citizens has more ably stated the role and responsibility of In the Kingdom of Men of her third novel , a story set in and communities in the West who the citizenry than Justice Louis Brandeis who, in Saudi Arabia in the 1960s. Barnes teaches writing in the sought Carnegie libraries expected 1927, in Whitney v. California, justly observed: University of Idaho’s MFA program, and is the author of tangible benefits for themselves “Those who won our independence believed that two memoirs and two other published novels. She’s on that were only tangentially related to the final end of the state was to make men free to tour now promoting this new book. Born and raised near books, what they specifically wanted develop their faculties, and that in its governance, Lewiston, Barnes was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1997 for varied in correlation with the diverse deliberative forces should prevail over the arbitrary her memoir In the Wilderness: Coming of Age in Unknown nature of western communities. By looking at the detailed . . . .That the greatest menace to freedom is an inert Country. records of the Carnegie library campaigns, the author people; that public discussion is a political duty.” v is able to provide an alternative lens through which to ISU Professor publishes book on Carnegie Library history perceive and map the social-cultural makeup and town David Adler is the Cecil D. Andrus Professor ISU English Professor Susan Swetnam has published a building of western communities at the turn of the century. of Public Affairs at Boise State University, and new book on the history of the Carnegie Library system in The 264-page book is available for $32.95, or as an Director of the Andrus Center for Public Policy. the West. Books, Bluster, and Bounty: Local Politics and e-book for $26.00, from Utah State University Press at He’s written several books on the American presi- Intermountain West Carnegie Library Building Grants, www.usupress.org. dency and is a member of IHC’s Speakers Bureau.

What Are You Reading? In each issue of Idaho Humanities, several readers tell us what they've been reading and what they recommend.

Reader: Jim Woods Reader: Marilyn Eagleton Reader: Brandon Schrand Occupation: Professor of Anthropology, College of Occupation: Library Assistant at Eagle Public Occupation: Assistant Professor of English, Southern Idaho, Twin Falls Library, Eagle University of Idaho, Moscow Book: The Evolution of God Book: One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Book: Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent by Robert Wright by Ken Kesey Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton

Of all the themes Set in a mental It was after I finished covered in my institution in the reading Anthony introductory 1960’s, this story Bourdain’s Kitchen anthropology courses, revolves around a Confidential when religion elicits the power struggle that a friend suggested most interest from exists between patient that I read Gabrielle students. Thus, I Randle McMurphy, Hamilton’s. If I found found this book to be who is feigning Bourdain’s food memoir ideal for offering me insanity to escape to be a kind of rock- some fresh inspiration a prison sentence, star tour de force (and on this topic. Wright and Nurse Ratched, indeed, I did), I found presents a very readable overview of the evolution a controlling autocrat who insists on conformity Hamilton’s Blood, Bones, and Butter memoir, to be of religious belief beginning with a concept of an to rules and social mores. In fact, most of the honest, a cut above. essential life force among foragers, to the spirits of “patients” in this story are not so much insane as One need not be a foodie to enjoy Hamilton’s tribal peoples, to the complex pantheons of gods and reluctant to squash their individuality to fit into the lyrical prose and coming of age narrative. One just goddesses of chiefdoms, to the more recent adoption accepted behavior constraints of the outside world. needs to enjoy spectacular writing and a compelling of a monotheistic god by many western state-level When McMurphy arrives on the ward, the other story, and I found both in these pages. The memoir societies. This book serves as a fascinating overview patients are subdued, apathetical, and completely opens up in rural Pennsylvania where Hamilton’s of the historical change in the concept of “God” among cowed by Nurse Ratched. He manages through bohemian parents hosted lavish parties that boasted world religions including Christianity and Islam. The humor, personality, individuality, and zest for life to whole lambs roasted on spits and funky, yet mid-section of the book explores historical nuances reawaken the spirits of these men despite efforts to masterful, themed decorations. From the opening, and parallels in the New Testament and Koran which the contrary by the head nurse. we follow a young and rebellious Hamilton from I found to be very appropriate given the present I somehow managed to get through high kitchen to kitchen, on into college where she relationship between Arabic cultures and the West. school English without reading this novel. I’m studied to be a writer, across Europe, and finally to Wright proposes that most modern religions developed so glad I picked it up as an adult. It makes me an abandoned kitchen space riddled with rats and from a complex history of changes that were the result ask what insanity really is, and do we as a society roaches that she transforms into her now famous of geopolitical events and as such, they continue to conveniently place labels on those whose uniqueness East Village restaurant, Prune. Blood, Bones, and be very dynamic in nature, not at all static as they may not fit into our ordered world, and demand, no Butter, is as delicious as it is delightful, and will are so often perceived. And, since cultures continue matter the price, conformity. inspire even the most reluctant cook. to evolve, he proposes there may even be a specific direction of this religious change, toward a mutual acceptance of differences based on very ancient and inherited altruistic behavior.