A Publication of the West Virginia Humanities Council Billy Edd Wheeler Opens Little Lectures Mountains

his year’s Little Lecture series opens with like Laughter in Appalachia, coauthored with Loyal

& the award-winning author, poet, songwriter, Jones and now in its 13th printing. Appalachian Thumorist and playwright Billy Edd Wheeler. Heritage magazine featured him in its 2008 winter His talk, “Writing Things Appalachian,” will be issue. given Sunday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. at the Billy Edd Wheeler is in the Nashville Songwriters MacFarland-Hubbard House in Charleston. He Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Music Hall of will share the story of his writing, how his West Fame, and he has received distinguished alumnus Virginia upbringing has informed it, and read from awards from and Berea his work. College. Wheeler was born and raised in the Boone The Sunday afternoon Little Lectures are County community of Whitesville. He has authored offered monthly through the spring and early more than a dozen plays, including “Hatfields summer each year. West Virginia Wesleyan and McCoys” which is performed annually as professor Robert Rupp will follow the Wheeler an outdoor drama by Theatre West Virginia in lecture on April 25 with “Kennedy, Charisma Beckley. His songs include such classics as “Coal and Catholicism: The 1960 West Virginia

People Tattoo,” “The Reverend Mister Black,” and “Ode Primary” in recognition of the 50th anniversary to the Little Brown Shack Out Back,” and huge of the presidential primary. Additional lectures country hits such as “Jackson” and “Coward of the will be presented on May 23 and June 27. Winter County.” The long list of artists who have recorded Refreshments follow each lecture, and the 2009-2010 Wheeler’s songs includes Elvis, , series will move outdoors to the pergola as , and . soon as weather permits. Contact Mark Payne at 1 His writing credits range from books of poetry (304)346-8500 or [email protected] for Billy Edd such as Song of a Woods Colt to books of humor more information. Wheeler 2 An Old Man “Before missionaries came What’s New And Federal planners “I’d rather be poor and dumb Annual And men who organized Than see a line by Billy Edd Report Under selfish banners Of neighbors taking free food Wheeler 2009 Their own gravy trains And licking the behind And took us a ride, Of politicians. God,

I saw in mountain men It can’t be right from A little pride. If it makes me have to lock Song of a Woods Colt (Droke House,1969) My barns at night.” reprinted by permission Visitors enjoy the New Harmonies exhibit in Grafton. Grant Categories & Guidelines Traveling Exhibits Two Humanities Council traveling exhibits contin- Major Grants support ue to crisscross the Mountain State, as one wraps humanities events: up its tour and another extends its run. New Har- symposiums, conferences, monies: Celebrating American Roots Music is clos- exhibits, lectures. ing a ten-month West Virginia tour as part of a collaborative program of Maximum award: $20,000. the Smithsonian Institution and the Humanities Council. New Harmonies Due: *Feb. 1, Sept. 1 closes at the Landes Arts Center in Petersburg on January 24. The exhibit previously visited Berkeley Springs, Grafton, Elkins, Wil- Minigrants have a budget of liamson, and Beckley. With funding from the Humanities Council, local $1,500 or less and support partners at each site presented programs including concerts, lectures, small projects, single events, and other special events. Companion exhibits celebrated local musicians or planning/consultation. and their heritage, from the blues to community bands. Due: *Feb. 1, April 1, June 1, Another Council exhibit, John Henry: The Steel Drivin’ Man, has visited Aug. 1, Oct. 1, Dec. 1 14 West Virginia communities since it began traveling in the summer of 2008. It will be on display in Logan at the Appalachian Center for Equal- Fellowships of $2,500 ity, February 8-28, for Black History Month. The Southern West Virginia support research and writing Community and Technical College will bring the exhibit to its Boone, projects for humanities faculty Lincoln, and Wyoming county campuses in following months. To host and independent scholars. John Henry contact (304)346-8500 or [email protected]. The Due: *Feb. 1 Humanities Council thanks Verizon for its sponsorship of both exhibits.

Media Grants support the production of electronic Civil War Trails Program: The West Virginia or film materials, or a Division of Tourism is installing 150 Civil War trails newspaper series. interpretive markers in commemoration of the Civil War Maximum award: $20,000. sesquicentennial. The Civil War Trails program encompasses Due: Sept. 1 over 1,000 Civil War sites in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and , with driving tour Publication Grants are maps available at civilwartrails.com. To find out how a Civil available to nonprofit presses War site in your community can become part of the Civil and recognized academic War Trails program contact Justin Gaull with the Division of presses, and support only Tourism at (304)558-2200 or [email protected]. the production phase of a completed manuscript. Maximum award: $20,000. 2010 Teacher Institutes Due: Sept. 1 Each year, summer teacher institutes funded by the West Virginia Humanities Council offer secondary schoolteachers the opportunity for Teacher Institute Grants intensive study in a particular humanities subject. Hosted by colleges are available to colleges and and universities, the institutes enhance classroom teaching and offer universities and support graduate and continuing education credits. This summer, WVU’s “Art: summer seminars for Objects, Meanings, and the Humanities” (June 20-26) will explore secondary teachers. artistic traditions across cultures and disciplines. Contact Joyce Ice, Maximum award: $25,000. (304)293-4841 or [email protected], by February 1 to apply. Due: Sept. 1 The “Davis & Elkins College India Institute” (June 18 – 20 at D&E, July 16 – 23 in India) will study the ancient and modern culture of India. *Approaching Deadlines! Contact Chandana Chakrabarti, (304)637- 1293 or [email protected], by Visit www.wvhumanities.org for January 25. Room, board, and books are What’s New in the Humanities What’s applications and guidelines, provided. Teachers provide a portion of email saunders@wvhumanities. travel expenses, and any fees for graduate org, or call (304)346-8500. and continuing education credits.

West Virginia teachers will visit the Taj Mahal.

People & Mountains “History Alive” presenter Becky Program Committee Park as Colonel Ruby G. Bradley, Election World War II Army nurse. Park’s presentation at Alderson-Broaddus Please help us choose citizen College earned high praise from members for the Humanities Council Nursing Professor Joan Propst: “Your program committee. Your vote gives attention to detail — beginning with the public a voice in our grants and your uniform and moving from the program decisions. slides shown on a vintage projector You may vote for four of the to the tea cup you used when you needed a drink of water candidates below: — added to the authenticity of your presentation. You have __ Barbara Brandau, Wayne brought to life the collective stories of the experiences of the County, is a long-time educator nurses captured during the fall of Manila.” and a graduate of West Virginia The “History Alive” program features first-person portrayals Wesleyan College, Marshall of historic figures by presenters who have thoroughly University, and Salem International researched the figures they portray. Approximately 200 University. She is an administrator “History Alive” presentations are delivered each year at with the Wayne County Board of schools, libraries, parks, museums, and civic groups. Education. We are now adding new figures to the “History Alive” __ Elizabeth (Beth) Campbell, roster in response to a call for characters related to the Civil Kanawha County, is a folklorist and War or West Virginia statehood. Those chosen for further writer. She teaches for the Marshall consideration will audition this summer and join the” History University graduate humanities Alive” program in November 2010. program and is working on a Ph.D. in English composition. __ David H. Corcoran Sr., Gilmer County, is publisher-editor of the Glenville Democrat and Pathfinder. Fort Excavations He holds a Ph.D. in American history Humanities Council grants from the University of Kentucky. support the archeological __ William A. O’Brien, Raleigh research of Kim and Stephen County, is director of Concord McBride, experts on West University’s Beckley center. He holds Virginia frontier defense. a Ph.D. in American history and This year the McBrides will political science from the University conduct archeological and of Wisconsin-Madison. historical investigations __ Larry Springer, Morgan County, at two frontier fort sites — is director of the Morgan County Warwick’s in Pocahontas Public Library and a member Mineral Daily News-Tribune County and Henckel’s in of the Morgan Arts Council. He Archeologist Stephen McBride at work. Pendleton. earned a Bachelor of Music and a Previous excavations at Warwick’s Fort (built 1774) at Green Master of Music from the Peabody Bank unearthed one bastion, short stretches of stockade walls Conservatory. and a powder magazine. New research will focus on the design __ Sarah Sullivan, Kanawha and structure of the militia-built fort. County, holds a JD from WVU and The excavation at Henckel’s Fort (about 1760-62) near an MFA from Vermont College. The Riverton will verify the fort’s location and layout, as well as author of four children’s books, she important details on construction methods, changes over time, writes and conducts workshops in and material culture. A local family’s personal documents, schools and libraries throughout the including muster roles and descriptions of daily life at the fort, country. will provide a unique perspective on how settlers defended themselves. Return your ballot to the West The McBrides’ archeology work will be presented to the public Virginia Humanities Council, 1310 through lectures, exhibits and other events. Pocahontas County Kanawha Blvd., E., Charleston, High School maintains a website that will be updated during the WV 25301 or email saunders@ field excavations. Visit boe.poca.k12.wv.us/pchs/warwick’s fort. wvhumanities.org by March 15.

Winter 2009-2010

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house itself. We kick up our heels A recent favorite is the brass donkey every time friends pitch doorstop shown here. This little kicker stands 15.5 inches high and belongs in to support the work of to a special category of gifts with the West Virginia Humanities a history in the house. It once belonged to the Hubbard family, Council. the last residential owners of this The support takes many place, and has returned home through the forms. Most often it is gifts of generosity of Beulah Summers. cash, including gifts designated Beulah bought our donkey at the three- to particular programs and gifts of day estate sale following the 1997 death of Elizabeth Hubbard, and she surprised me general support. The contributions with it at a recent speaking engagement in range from gifts of a few dollars or Summersville. I rushed it back, and we a few hundred, of which there are promptly installed it in an old-fashioned many, to gifts of tens of thousands telephone niche at the head of the stairs. of dollars, which are few and far It is just too nice to stop doors. between. We welcome your support, as well. Donations of every size are You may direct cash contributions to appreciated, and together they make the stewardship of this historic house up a sizable part of our income. or to any of several Council programs, We receive non-cash gifts, as well. or allow us to apply the funds as needed. These include occasional donations We will be glad to consider tangible gifts of stock, which are converted to cash as well, though our gift policy calls for a little under Council policy. pickiness. Basically, we must look for items And non-cash donations sometimes take suitable to the period and tough enough to the form of tangible gifts to our headquarters stand up to public use in a busy working property. property, the 1836 MacFarland-Hubbard Gifts of both kinds are tax-deductible at full House. Most often these are furnishings of value, and you may count on us to make good use one sort or another, thus far including of anything you care to kick in. antique chests, chairs, tables, framed

art and mirrors, and two wonderful – Ken Sullivan clocks nearly as old as the

People && MountainsMountains is is published published quarterly by the West Virginia Humanities quarterlyCouncil. byWe the welcome West Virginia reader Humanitiesletters, Council.freelance We welcome manuscripts, reader and letters, financial freelance contributions. manuscripts, Please and financialaddress correspondencecontributions. Please to West address Virginia correspondence Humanities to West VirginiaCouncil, Humanities 1310 Council, Kanawha 1310 Boulevard, Kanawha E., Boulevard, Charleston, E., WVCharleston, 25301 orWV email 25301 [email protected]. or email [email protected].