2014 Presenters
Dr. Gary R. Kremer
Executive Director, State Historical Society
Presentation: “Slavery and Freedom in the Rural Missouri Ozarks: A Look at Wright County.”
Dr. Gary R. Kremeris the author or editor of numerous works, including James Milton Turner and the Promise of America: The Public Life of a Post-Civil War Black-Leader, Missouri’s Black Heritage and George Washington Carver: In His Own Words. His new book, Race and Meaning: The African American Experience in Missouri, will be released by the University of Missouri press in October.
Before becoming executive director of the state archives, Kremer taught history at Lincoln University in Jefferson City and William Woods University in Fulton. He also served as the State Archivist of Missouri from 1987 to 1991, and was a student and research assistant of African American history pioneer Dr. Lorenzo J. Greene while a student at Lincoln University in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Dr. Craig Albin
Professor of English, Missouri State-West Plains
Presentation: “Hard Toward Home”
Albin will read his short story, “Hard Toward Home,” which is set in the northern Arkansas Ozarks and concerns the encroachment of the illegal drug culture into the life of protagonist Lid McKee, a laid-off factory worker and part-time logger.
Charles Baclawski
PhD Candidate, Heritage Studies, Arkansas State University
Presentation: “Childbirth in the Ozarks – Where the Old becomes New”
This presentation uses the Arkansas midwife war of the 1980s as a framework to address concepts of modernity.
Dr. Jamie C. Brandon
Research Archaeologist, Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia
Presentation: “Mountain Modernity and Archeology in the Arkansas Ozarks: A Case Study from Van Winkle’s Mill”
This presentation will explore the archeological investigations that have been ongoing at Van Winkle’s Mill, the site of a late-19th century sawmill community in the Arkansas Ozarks.
Laura Bowles
Writing Instructor, University of Central Arkansas
Presentation: “Another Good Story Shot Down by an Eyewitness: Textile Production in the Ozarks.”
This presentation will challenge the romantic pioneer stereotype of the housewife single-handedly growing cotton, spinning it, weaving it and making clothing, bed coverings and quilts.
Jeff D. Corrigan
Oral Historian, The Historical Society of Missouri
Presentation: Oral History in the Ozarks, Views from Arkansas and Missouri
Larry Dablemont
Journalist and Editor, Lightn’ Ridge Publications
Presentation: “The Front Porch Regulars”
Dablemont will discuss his new book, The Front Porch Regulars, in which he tells stories of some of the old-time river men and farmers he knew when he was a child.
Dr. John J. Han
Professor of English and Creative Writing, Chair, Humanities Division, Missouri Baptist University
Presentation: “Echoes from Across the Ocean: Traditional Japanese Poetry and American Country Music”
This presentation explores the kinship between pre-modern Japanese poetry, especially tanka, and modern American country music in content and tone. In diction, both Japanese poetry and country music are simple and clear. In tone, both of them are sad, melancholy, sentimental, gloomy, didactic, and nostalgic. Japanese poetry and country music typically address comparable themes, such as drinking, nostalgia, love (especially unrequited or painful love), loneliness and homesickness, rural life, loss and poverty.
Dr. Matthew J. Hernando
Instructor of History and Government, Ozarks Technical Community College
Presentation: “Faces Like Devils: The Bald Knobber Vigilantes in the Ozarks”
In this presentation, Hernando will discuss the activities and the form of justice meted out by the Ozarks Bald Knobbers.
Dr. Phillip Howerton
Associate Professor of English, Missouri State University-West Plains
Presentation: “Bloodroot: Poems of Rural Missouri”
Dr. Howerton will read a selection of his poems that engage a number of themes central to life in this region, such as urban sprawl, inflated farmland prices, the demise of the small and independent farmer, the inability of outsiders to fully understand native culture, the loss of respect for manual labor and the loss of connection to past folkways and traditions.
Mara W. Cohen Ioannides
Senior Instructor of English, Missouri State University-Springfield.
Presentation: “Jews, Gentile, and Intergroup Relations in Springfield, Mo.: A Change in Modernity”
This paper will examine incidences of anti-Semitism in the 1940s, 1960s and the turn of the 21st century. It will show the differences in how the 20th and 21st century Springfield Jews reacted to these incidents and the responses of the larger Springfield community.
Dr. Thomas M. Kersen
Associate Professor of Sociology, Jackson State University
Presentation: “Exploring Regional Identity in Arkansas: The Salience of the Ozark Term”
Kersen will present findings that suggest that, rather than getting less Southern and more Americanized, Arkansas regions are increasingly identifying more in terms of Ozark culture. Results also suggest that Southern exceptionalism is moot, that is, to be Southern is to be American.
Dr. Ed McKinney, Panel Moderator
Professor of History, Emeritus, Missouri Stae University-West Plains
Presentation: “Favorite Fiddle Tunes, Old and New”
This panel presentation will offer discussions about some of the favorite fiddle tunes of past and present Ozarkers and will offer live renditions of these songs.
Kim McCully-Mobley
Adjunct Professor, Drury University
Presentation: “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves: Reflections on Traveling Medicine Shows and Our Quest to be Entertained While Fighting Gravity, Old Age and Pain”
This presentation will offer a humorous and quick look at the traveling medicine shows of the 19th century, the clinical studies of the 20th century and the 21st century’s grasp of class-action suits, disclaimers, side effects and insights in the age-old war against pain and our quest to be entertained while fighting gravity, old age and constipation.
Dr. Mark Morgan
Associate Professor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, University of Missouri in Columbia.
Presentation: “Hook, Line and Sinker: A Collection of Fish Tales from Missouri Anglers”
Morgan will explore the reasons for the reduced numbers of people engaging in recreational fishing in Missouri and discuss his new book, Hook, Line & Sinker: A Collection of Fish Tales from Missouri Anglers.
Dr. Blake Perkins
Associate Professor of History, Williams Baptist College
Presentation: “The New Deal, Dam Progress and the End of Producerist Populism in the Arkansas Ozarks”
Perkins will argue that, although observers today may find it surprising when considering the region’s current tea party political culture, rural Arkansas Ozarkers in the 1930s generally supported enlarging the powers of the federal government in order to promote greater economic security and democracy for common, working-class Americans.
Dr. Lisa Perry
Independent Oral Historian and Adjunct Public History Faculty, Arkansas State University
Presentation: Oral History in the Ozarks, Views from Arkansas and Missouri
Possum Holler Fiddlers
This 11-member musical group, based in the Branson area, will provide a special performance of Ozark mountain music at 3 p.m. Sept. 20 in the West Plains Civic Center Theater. The performance is co-sponsored by the symposium and the Delta Kappa Gamma Xi Chapter, a regional professional honorary society of women educators.
Alex Primm
Freelance Oral Historian and Writer
Presentation: Oral History in the Ozarks, Views from Arkansas and Missouri
W. Scott Tomlin
Academic Advisor, Arkansas Tech University
Presentation: “From Mules to Monsanto: Modernity’s Impact on Agriculture in Northern Pope, Johnson and Franklin Counties (AR)”
This presentation discusses the transformations in agricultural practices in the northern portions of Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties from the 1870s until the 1970s.
Barbara Williams
Adjunct Faculty, Missouri State University-West Plains
Presentation: “Ozark Snapshots”
This exhibit and presentation will offer “snapshots” of Ozarks family members caught in a moment of time and will show actual people and actual places in could-have-been combinations.
2014 Schedule
Thursday, September 18, 2014 – Magnolia Room, West Plains Civic Center
Time | Presenter | Session |
---|---|---|
5:00-7:00 PM | Barbara Williams | Opening Reception – Sponsored by the West Plains Council on the Arts, with financial support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, the reception will feature Barbara Williams, artist and adjunct professor of art at Missouri State-West Plains, as guest speaker. Her photographic exhibit “Ozark Snapshots” will be on display Sept. 13 through Oct. 5 and the West Plains Civic Center’s Gallery on the Mezzanine. Admission is free.Link to the Opening Reception presentation, artwork, and reception photos. https://westplainsarts.org/?page_id=206 |
Friday, September 19, 2014 – Redbud and Gohn Rooms, West Plains Civic Center
Time | Presenter(s) | Session |
---|---|---|
8:00-9:00 AM | Registration | |
9:00 AM | Dennis Lancaster, Interim Dean of Academic Affairs | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
9:15 AM | Dr. Jamie C. Brandon | Mountain Modernity and Archeology in the Arkansas Ozarks: A Case Study from Van Winkle’s Mill |
9:45 AM | Dr. Mark Morgan | Hook, Line & Sinker: A Collection of Fish Tales from Missouri Anglers |
10:15 AM | Break | Break |
10:25 AM | Laura Bowles | Another Good Story Shot Down by an Eyewitness: Textile Production in the Ozarks. |
10:55 AM | Moderator Ed McKinney | Panel: Favorite Fiddle Tunes, Old and New |
12:00 PM | Lunch | Lunch |
1:00 PM | Mara W. Cohen Ioannides | Jews, Gentiles and Intergroup Relations in Springfield, MO: A Change in Modernity |
1:30 PM | Dr. Craig Albin | Hard Toward Home |
2:00 PM | Break | Break |
2:10 PM | W. Scott Tomlin | From Mules to Monsanto: Modernity’s Impact on Agriculture in Northern Pope, Johnson & Franklin Counties (AR) |
2:40 PM | Barbara Williams | Ozark Snapshots |
3:10 PM | Dr. Phillip Howerton | Bloodroot: Poems from Rural Missouri |
3:40 PM | Break | Break |
4:00 PM | Dr. Gary R. Kremer | Keynote: Slavery and Freedom in the Rural Missouri Ozarks: A Look at Wright County. |
Saturday, September 20, 2014 – Redbud and Gohn Rooms, West Plains Civic Center
Time | Presenter | Session |
---|---|---|
8:00 AM | Registration | |
9:00 AM | Dr. Matthew J. Hernando | Faces Like Devils: The Bald Knobber Vigilantes in the Ozarks |
9:30 AM | Charles Baclawski | Childbirth in the Ozarks – Where the Old becomes New |
10:00 AM | Break | Break |
10:10 AM | Dr. John J. Han | Echoes from Across the Ocean: Traditional Japanese Poetry and American Country Music. |
10:40 AM | Alex Primm | Oral History Panel: Oral History in the Ozarks, Views for Arkansas and Missouri |
11:40 AM | Lunch | Lunch |
12:40 PM | J. Blake Perkins | The New Deal, Dam Progress and the End of Producerist Populism in the Arkansas Ozarks |
1:10 PM | Larry Dablemont | The Front Porch Regulars |
1:40 PM | Break | Break |
1:50 PM | Dr. Thomas Kersen | Exploring Regional Identity in Arkansas: The Salience of the Ozark Term |
2:20 PM | Kim McCully-Mobley | Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves: Reflections on Traveling Medicine Shows and Our Quest to be Entertained, While Fighting Gravity, Old Age & Pain |
2:50 PM | Closing Remarks | |
3:00 PM | Possum Holler Fiddlers | West Plains Civic Center Theater |
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