Authors, Historians Share Stories of Ozarks Voices and Characters
Experience tales of Ozarks history and culture, and learn about the efforts of today’s area authors, archivists and experts to chronicle our history and keep those stories alive. All the events will take place in the Library Center auditorium unless otherwise noted.
May Kennedy McCord: Queen of the Hillbillies
Thursday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. May Kennedy McCord spent half a century sharing the history, songs and stories of the Ozarks through newspaper columns, radio programs and music festivals, making her one of the 20th century's preeminent folklorists. Patti McCord and Kristene Sutliff, editors of "Queen of the Hillbillies: Writings of May Kennedy McCord," will share published and unpublished writings and photographs by the "First Lady of the Ozarks" to highlight her inimitable spirit, humor and unique place in our history. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Betty Love: From Drawing Board to Darkroom
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2 p.m. Betty Love's photographs graced the pages of Springfield newspapers for nearly 35 years, but she began her journalistic career as the newspaper's cartoonist at the height of World War II, offering a unique perspective on a tumultuous time in American history. Local History Associate Konrad Stump traces Love's life through newspaper accounts, photographs and recollections by those who witnessed her magnetic personality and artistry capturing life in the Ozarks.
Preserving the History of Springfield's Jewish Community
Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. Author and historian Dr. Mara Cohen Ioannides, who has traced the Jewish presence in Springfield to the Civil War, and Anne Marie Baker, head of Special Collections and Archives at Missouri State University Libraries, which houses the Ozarks Jewish Archives (OJA), will discuss efforts to preserve Springfield's Jewish history through photographs, oral histories, local organizational records. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
The Fairgrounds & Beyond: Auto Racing in the Ozarks
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2 p.m. While there is a long tradition of auto racing in the Ozarks, much of its physical history such as photographs, programs and memorabilia is held in private hands. Join Local History Associate Michael Price to learn how the Library partnered with former drivers, photographers, track promoters and the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation to preserve this important part of Ozarks history.
Sequiota Park History Walk
Thursday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. at Sequiota Park, 3500 S. Lone Pine Ave. Enjoy an evening stroll through Sequiota Park while park and library staff share stories about the park's history, landmarks and organizations, and efforts to preserve the story of Sequiota Park and all it has to offer for future generations. Meet at the main entrance gate. Registration starts Sept. 1; visit thelibrary.org/programs or call 417-833-8647.
"Ozark Voices: Oral Histories from the Heartland"
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m. Travel deep into the Ozarks with historian Alex Primm, author of "Ozark Voices: Oral Histories from the Heartland." He revisits humorous and heartening stories from his 40-plus years partnering with organizations such as the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Forest Service to interview people across the Ozark Mountains and capture their unique perspectives on the region's landscape and inhabitants. From midwives to woodcarvers to moonshiners, experience how the oral tradition plays an integral role in Ozarks culture. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Remembering the Normal Heart Controversy
Sunday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m. at Moxie Cinema, 305 S. Campbell Ave. #101. "Remembering the Normal Heart Controversy in Springfield, Missouri'' documents how the Missouri State University Theatre Department's fall 1989 decision to produce the play "The Normal Heart," about the politics and early stages of the AIDS epidemic, sparked a controversy that escalated to the national stage. Watch a free screening of this documentary and join Executive Producer Patty Moore afterwards for a panel featuring journalists, archivists and others discussing how the episode galvanized the local LGBTQIA+ community and efforts to preserve Springfield's LGBTQIA+ history.
Lucile Morris Upton: Preserving an Ozarks Past
Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m .Newspaperwoman Lucile Morris Upton spent her life sharing the stories, sounds and historic sites of an Ozarks past, notably in her newspaper columns. “The Good Old Days” and “Over the Ozarks” collected culture, history and folklore from people across the region. OzarksWatch Managing Editor Susan Croce Kelly uses personal papers, correspondence, unpublished manuscripts and family stories to recount Lucile's lifelong passion to preserve the past for future historians and history lovers.
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