This Sunday, June 13, 2021 the Homestead National Monument is hosting a special event, Authors’ Roundtable: Insight Into the Homestead Era. The authors covered will be Hamlin Garland, Bess Streeter Aldrich, Mari Sandoz, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Willa Cather, and Phoebe May Hopper. Each author will have a representative there. (See list above) I’m going to be representing Laura Ingalls Wilder. There will be a 2 hour guided panel discussion starting at 2 pm CDT. Find the details on their website.
Can’t make it to Nebraska? It will also be streamed. They’re not sure yet if they’ll be able to stream it live or if it will have to be added later, but be sure to check the Homestead National Monument Facebook page or YouTube channel. Read the article about it in the Beatrice Sun.
UPDATED June 10 2021: The Homestead National Historical Park program WILL be livestreamed Sunday, June 13 starting at 2 pm CDT. The event will be shared live on their YouTube and they will be posting it on their Twitter and Facebook.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
There is a group that is promoting people to model reading, by saying what they are reading on Friday either on Facebook or Twitter. Here is their website for more information. http://fridayreads.com
They tweet prompts to get people to respond. A tweet they made Friday, April 27, 2012 read:
“It’s so much fun to hit “rewind” on a book. I always learn so much rereading the pages.”
I love to re-read books, which my mother never can understand so I loved that one. Hope you enjoyed it too.
UPDATED June 6 2021: I italicized the quote and added my current signature block and a photo.
Sarah S. Uthoff is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales striving to bring the History, Mystery, Magic and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder…
Sarah S. Uthoff is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales striving to bring the History, Mystery, Magic and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, and find her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Academia.edu. Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
Pride and Prejudice – Lizzie and Darcy go for a walk
This seems to be my year for talking about Pride and Prejudice since I’ve managed to make two posts about it so far this year before this one. (Click to read the post about the Board Book version.) That is entirely fitting considering it’s the 200th anniversary of the classic novel. And by classic I do not mean the group of books forced upon the unsuspecting public under the guise of “Great Books of Literature” in college and college track English classes (although you might find it there too), I mean it’s truly a timeless book that is not to be missed. There are certain fictional worlds that all you have to do in an unwary and idle moment let fall open a page (or to watch a single scene flipping through channels) and you are instantly hooked…
From time to time I share interesting quotes that I’ve found. This one comes from John McHugh, Dean Lincoln Campus of Gaston College in Dallas, North Carolina.
“I tell students that I only use about five percent of the material that I teach [in math classes]. However, I do use 100 percent of what I learned in math class on a daily basis – problem solving, attention to detail, local thinking, abstract reasoning, critical thinking, good communication, ability to learn quickly and recall accurately, ability to follow directions, stick-to-it-ness, reasoning, and better decision-making skills, to name a few. Math is the most efficient way that I have of finding out to what extent a student possesses these skills and helping improve these skills in a safe and friendly environment.”
McHugh, John. “Why Study Math?” NISOD Innovation Abstracts 34.14 20 April 2012: p. 2.
Yes, the Laura collecting sickness is getting worse. I have decided that I need to get all of the “Little House on the Prairie” TV Guide covers. My latest addition is the Dec. 7, 1974 issue (Michael Landon leaning on the fence with the fairly new Little House behind him). I thought the feature on him had some interesting quotes on accuracy.
“the network has spent more than three-quarters of a million dollars on constructing authentic reproductions of the town of Walnut Grove” (p.36)
“There, he [Landon] checked on the positioning of four miles of expensive water pipe and sprinklers laid by NBC to promote the growth of rye, so that the arid valley would look more like the green Minnesota plains of the 1870s.” (p.36)
“I couldn’t make up my mind [what show to take] until I came home and found my 12-year-old daughter…
When I was starting podcasting back in 2010 I thought quite awhile before I started. I picked out Blog Talk Radio to be my platform since he has the ability to have a second person call in to talk live. I then found out if I added my podcast to iTunes listeners could download it as an MP3.
Sarah and Trundle Bed
Things have changed a lot since then. One big change is that you no longer have to chase down a new way to let people find your podcast. Some sources still require that, but many more don’t even bother to tell you that they’ve added your podcast. So I’ve found a couple of more resources sharing out Trundlebed Tales. Where do you listen to it? If you haven’t yet, be sure to check it out.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
I wanted to let you know that the American Masters documentary, Laura Ingalls Wilder: From Prairie to Page, is streaming for free again. After its initial release it streamed free on the website for a month. It had a record high number of views. I’m not sure how long it will continue to be there for free, but if you haven’t watched it yet here is your chance.
Watch It Now
It’s a little short of 90 minutes long and doesn’t really reach out for any new ground, but I think it is a great introduction. It fully faces the objections that have lately been expressed lately, but does so with respect. This link takes you to a page that include a less than 4 minute preview and the full episode. Further down the page are small, labeled clips from the show.
The DVD was released in February and remains available from the Laura homesites and other places where they sell DVDs. As a strong believer in physical copy media, getting a hard copy is always a great idea if you enjoy it as a stream.
Discussion
After the original broadcast the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in Walnut Grove gathered a group of Laura Experts for an online discussion. Find it here:
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
Things are starting to open back up. Last year because after March 2020 everybody locked down for the year to help slow the spread of COVID. This year hopefully things will slowly work at being back to normal.
Old Abe was the inspiration for the Case agricultural/tractor company at Midwest Old Threshers.
What Is Old Threshers?
Midwest Old Threshers Reunion is a very unique event in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. There are other “reunions” where people bring steam traction engines, tractors, and small engines to show them off and have a good excuse to get them out and play with them. However, Mt. Pleasant’s event has a broad array of different events and interests gathered in one place. Besides the machinery listed above there are groups for old cars, old trucks, antiques, horse teams, an active printers hall, demonstration of equipment like a veneer saw, a threshing machine, and cooking down sorghum, an antique restored steam carousel, quilts, antique dolls, button collectors, a big craft show, trains (you can ride in), trolley cars still on their track (you can ride in), a group demonstrating life in the 1840s in the log cabin village fairly seriously and a group demonstrating life in the late 19th century not so seriously (desperadoes who steal candy & dance hall girls who stay fully dressed), a children’s game area including the chance to drive an actual tractor through an obstacle course and pony rides, fair food, big country music shows, and a theater museum mostly devoted to the traveling shows of the mid-19th to early 20th century. Come visit every year on an expanded Labor Day Weekend. This year it’s September 2 – 6, 2021.
Events Keep Coming All Year
With all this going on the reunion continues to burst at the seams, but that’s only one week a year. They have a whole bunch of other events through the year.
This isn’t their full schedule, but these are the ones I think you might find interesting.
One of the departments of the organization is a traveling theater museum. It covers things like tent rep, opera houses, show boats, and Uncle Tom’s Cabin shows.
How to drive a steam engine like those used to work threshing machines. They are only offering one class this year. Call 319-385-8937 if you want to be on the waiting list for 2022.
The event is for doll collectors and those interested in dolls. There are speakers on various topics, everyone gets a gift doll, and there are vendor tables. My post about the year they did a Laura Ingalls Wilder theme is one of my most read.
July 30, 31 August 1, 6 & 7, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 2:30 pm
Every summer they once again put on one of the plays once popular with traveling theaters to give you a taste of late 19th/early 20th century entertainment.
It is specifically geared to people practicing or curious about letterpress printing for letterpress printers, from beginners to professionals. They use the extensive collection of printing equipment gathered in the printing part of Museum B. If you want to know about how they ran the paper in De Smet or how Carrie helped run a newspaper this would be a great event to plan for.
Holiday Events
They also run events every year for Halloween when the Midwest Haunted Rails shows you a ghost of a good time and for Christmas when you can take the North Pole Express to visit Santa Claus. Check the links for dates.
I hope you come and visit Mt. Pleasant for the best reunion anywhere or any of their other great events.
Watching a Truck from the Trolley During the Reunion
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
First, I need to give a shout out to Carolyn Kucera Suchecki. I had known for a long time that Laura Ingalls Wilder was in the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. They have previously even held Laura Ingalls Wilder birthday party events. However, I have to give Suchecki credit because she posted about Grace being a member and I have to say it never occurred to me to look for the other Ingalls family members even though I knew Laura and Rose were in there.
Should Have Been A Cowgirl
The term cowgirl is the female equivalent of cowboy. It originally meant a girl who worked with cows, but moved over to entertainment where you have women doing tasks for show (like Annie Oakley) or in the 20th century women wearing a western type outfit with a cowboy hat singing or dancing.
Mission Quite Possible
The has been The Hall of Fame was founded in Hereford, Texas and today is located in Fort Worth where you can visit even during the COVID shut down. Here is the definition of who qualifies to make it on the list.
MISSION STATEMENT: The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience and independence that helped shape the West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire.
The Museum proudly celebrates living and deceased Honorees who represent diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. Many of our Honorees are nationally and internationally recognized artists or writers, champions and competitive performers, entertainers, ranchers, or trailblazers and pioneers. Over 200 extraordinary women have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame since 1975.
While they were started to help address the routine lack of women in Western history, they are still working on balancing their collection and looking for women of color to add to their collection. You can nominate anyone you know of that qualifies (no matter what ethnic background they have).
That’s the Way It Was 1984
Every year the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in text inducts a group of famous cowgirls. So knowing that Grace had a page I took a look and discovered that actually every woman in the Ingalls family had been inducted the same year of 1984. Here’s the list of the women who were inducted that year.
If you get a chance to make it to Forth Worth be sure to take time to visit the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Keep an eye out for their Laura Ingalls Wilder birthday parties which they might have again (after a steady every year tradition, they have dropped back to it being a very occasional thing), after all, you never know.
Sarah S. Uthoff is a nationally known Laura Ingalls Wilder authority and has presented at five of the Wilder homesites, many times at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, many conferences and numerous libraries, museums, and events around the Midwest. She is the main force behind Trundlebed Tales fighting to bring the History, Mystery, Magic, and Imagination of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other greats of children’s literature and history to life for a new generation. How can you help? Attend one of her programs, schedule one yourself, watch her videos, listen to her podcast, look at her photos, and find her on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , SlideShare, and Academia.edu . Professionally she is a reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College and former director of the Oxford (Iowa) Public Library.
There is a group that is promoting people to model reading, by saying what they are reading on Friday either on Facebook or Twitter. Here is their website for more information. 
TV Show Star Photos 
First, I need to give a shout out to 