ARKANSAS HUMANTIES COUNCIL Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Little Rock, AR Permit No. 2622 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 407 PRESIDENT CLINTON AVENUE REFLECTIONS SUITE 201 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 Major Grant Categories, Maximum Awards, Application Deadlines and Project Start Dates AMOUNT APPLICATION DEADLINE PROJECT START DATE PUBLIC PROGRAM $10,000 February 15 May 1 September 15 December 1 RESEARCH Individual $2,000 February 15 May 1 September 15 December 1 Collaborative $10,000 February 15 May 1 September 15 December 1 PUBLICATION $3,500 February 15 May 1 A look at films funded September 15 December 1 by the Arkansas MEDIA Humanities Council Film and Video $5,000 February 15 May 1 Preproduction September 15 December 1 Film and Video $10,000 September 15 December 1 Production Other Media $10,000 February 15 May 1 September 15 December 1 VOL. 38, ISSUE 5 SUMMER 2016 REFLECTIONS ARKANSAS HUMANTIES COUNCIL FROM THE CHAIR CHEWING THE FAT Thank you for allowing me to serve a second con- secutive At this year’s annual Humanities on the Hill, we enjoyed Like Proust’s madeleine, a delta tamale, a pig sandwich, a term as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Arkansas very productive conversations with each of the members of plate of buffalo ribs, or catfish steaks evoke memories of Humanities Council. In this, my seventh and final year on our congressional delegation and their staffs. We were times past with Faulkner’s admonition: “The past is the board, I am poised to reflect on the achievements that we honored to have our very own 2nd District Congressman never dead. It’s not even past.” made together. Although many of these remarkable accom- French Hill (R-AR) not only join the House of Representa- plishments are presently coming to fruition, we also continu- tives’ Humanities Caucus, but also give a rousing speech at The hottest show on radio is Chewing the Fat with ously sow the seeds of future success. I am proud of our time the Federation’s eveningreception, making the Arkansas Rex and Paul, a production of Radio CALS that airs on KABF well spent working together. During this past academic year, Humanities Council the envy of every state council member 88.3 FM every Friday at noon. Rex and Paul have been we continued to sponsor innovative academic projects, in the room! taping the show since January. The format is simple: they fascinating public programs, and informative public exhibits come into the studio and start talking,and after about an throughoutevery region of the Natural State. We are also proud of our newest board members, who hour the folks at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies have attended their first meeting in Little Rock this past March. I enough content for three or four episodes. We are also honored to again sponsor our annual summer thank all of them for their service to the Humanities. Sadly, a institute, which allows schoolteachers to obtain continuing number of our veterans will be rotating off the board. They It’s as if you are riding along eavesdropping on conversations education credit by visiting Arkansas’s historic sites while are living proof that board members are irreplaceable, but if about Arkansas food, festivals, and folks. Rex and Paul regale hearing today’s most important scholars who are working on you know of qualified citizens of Arkansas, including the audience with their adventures exploring Arkansas, Arkansas-themed subjects. Our public program in honor of yourself, who would like to serve on the board, please make eating, visiting, swapping tales, and reminiscing. You follow Arkansas’s recipients of the Pulitzer Prize began with Dr. Ben our staff aware of their interest. Again, thank you for this along as they drop in on restaurants and eateries across the Johnson’s lecture on the poet John Gould Fletcher, which opportunity and for your continuing support of the Arkansas state. was held in conjunction with the Arkansas Literary Festival Humanities Council. (which we also sponsor). Our next three lectures will include One recent adventure found them eating their way deep into While Rex and Paul aren’t necessarily “old,” they often end a program remembering Ernest Hemingway’s sojourn in — Kyle Day, Chair of the Board the Mississippi delta. They enjoyed breakfast with Clarksdale up talking about the “old days.” Rex recently told of his Arkansas, a reunion of the Arkansas Gazette from the 1950s, farmers, a catfish lunch on the grounds with a former starring role in Damn Yankees at Arkadelphia High School. and a fete held to honor one of Arkansas’ greatest newspa- ARKANSAS HUMANITIES COUNCIL congressman in Cleveland, and two days of culinary Paul countered with his leading role in Granpa’s Red permen, the Inky Wretch himself, Paul Greenberg. debauchery in Greenwood that included pompano at Pajamas at the Lawrence County 4H-Orama in 1963. Both 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Luscos, baked oysters at Giardinas, and the iconic lunch at reminisce about church groups, Sunday drives, ballgames Our newest public exhibit, Foot Soldiers of Freedom: the Crystal Grill. They finished the trip with Sunday brunch and life in small town Arkansas. The best burger, the best Melanie Baden, Little Rock Civil Rights in Arkansas, is now touring the state. The exhibit at the Cow Pen in Lake Village. BBQ, the best tamales, and the best catfish … the debate has already made stops at the annual meetings of the Marynell Branch, Little Rock never ends. Arkansas Political Science Association and the Arkansas Jamie C. Brandon, Fayetteville They also talk about interesting places to visit that Historical Association, as well as Taylor Library at the Paul Custodio Bube, Batesville include Arkansas’s wonderful state parks, B&B’s, and Is anything more relevant to the public humanities than a University of Arkansas at Monticello. We are also partnering John Kyle Day (Chair), Monticello museums. Festivals are famous in Arkansas, and the boys discussion of food and its relationship to our culture with the Smithsonian Institution to bring the Museum on Tom DeBlack, Conway have managed to work them into their schedule as well. A and heritage? A pleasant repast or a visit to the groaning Main Street initiative to Arkansas. The exhibit, Hometown Claudine James, Malvern visit to the Slovak Oyster Supper where the duo polished off board gathers folks around a table in ways that cross lines Teams, will be a platform to tell local stories of sports a mound of both fried and raw oysters was featured in a of class, education, race, and politics. So next Friday, pull Cherisse Jones-Branch (Treasurer), Jonesboro programs in Arkadelphia, Batesville, Blytheville, Fordyce, recent segment. up a chair,tune your radio to Chewing the Fat with Rex and Allyn Lord, Fayetteville Helena, and Wynne. The Friends of the Library Pancake Breakfast in Imboden this Paul,and take a big bite of Arkansas. Freeman McKindra, Little Rock past spring found Paul cooking bacon, flipping pancakes and This past November at the annual National Humanities Robert Moore, Siloam Springs fighting over who would get the last of the fried pies. Rex Full disclosure: Rex is Rex Nelson, Vice President for Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri, our council Rex Nelson, Little Rock shared his stay at the charming and newly remodeled Queen Corporate Communications at Simmons Bank, columnist for supported the increase to the state councils’ support of the Justin Nolan, Fayetteville Wilhelmina State Park lodge. I hear rumors that the Purple the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and AHC board member... work of our Federation of State Humanities Councils as it Stan Poole, Arkansas Hull Pea Festival at Emerson and the Grady Fish Fry are on and I’m Paul. makes the case for Federal support of the Humanities. Felicia R. Smith, Fort Smith the agenda for upcoming episodes. The Johnson County Indeed, the work that we do in conjunction with the Federa- Peach Festival? The Hope Watermelon Festival? O gout, you — Paul Austin, AHC Executive Director *Marlane Stakemiller, Maumelle tion is producing productive, real and transparent results. cruel mistress! After last summer’s site visit, the NEH’s new director of the Stuart Towns, Forrest City Federal State Partnership, Scott Krawczyk, Shelina Warren (Vice Chair), Pine Bluff ARKANSAS Paul S. Austin Jama Best Newsletter Design by generously offered to provide professional consulting James F. Willis, Little Rock HUMANITIES Executive Director Senior Program Officer Lesley Cooper services to help our Council with strategic planning so COUNCIL Lavona Wilson Robin Phelps Cooper Design, LLC thatwe may grow and prepare for new challenges in coming *Governor’s Appointee STAFF Associate Director Operations Officer Little Rock, AR years. 1 Cover photo of Honus Wagner courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame 2 REFLECTIONS ARKANSAS HUMANTIES COUNCIL FROM THE CHAIR CHEWING THE FAT Thank you for allowing me to serve a second con- secutive At this year’s annual Humanities on the Hill, we enjoyed Like Proust’s madeleine, a delta tamale, a pig sandwich, a term as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Arkansas very productive conversations with each of the members of plate of buffalo ribs, or catfish steaks evoke memories of Humanities Council. In this, my seventh and final year on our congressional delegation and their staffs. We were times past with Faulkner’s admonition: “The past is the board, I am poised to reflect on the achievements that we honored to have our very own 2nd District Congressman never dead. It’s not even past.” made together. Although many of these remarkable accom- French Hill (R-AR) not only join the House of Representa- plishments are presently coming to fruition, we also continu- tives’ Humanities Caucus, but also give a rousing speech at The hottest show on radio is Chewing the Fat with ously sow the seeds of future success.