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| Delaware Humanities Forum | August 2010 Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Admittedly, we are a little early with our monthly e-newsletter, but we are so thrilled about some recent developments that we just couldn't wait. We may give you a mid-month update with further developments--we just have so much to say this month!
First, we recently confirmed the details of our Annual Lecture and we couldn't be happier. National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Jim Leach will visit the First State on Tuesday, November 9th. The location is TBD, but will be in Dover, Delaware, and the festivities will include an 11am lecture and meet-and-greet opportunities. Chairman Leach has been visiting various states with his "American Civility Tour," the goal of which is to call attention to the need for civility in public discourse. "Civilization requires civility," says Leach. "Words matter. Polarizing attitudes can jeopardize social cohesion." Leach began his four-year term as NEH chairman in August 2009 after serving 30 years as a congressman representing southeastern Iowa, where he founded and co-chaired the Congressional Humanities Caucus.
Second, DHF has access to 50 free subscriptions to Humanities Magazine. We'd like to invite you to get to know the humanities through this publication; the first 50 inquirers will receive a subscription. Please provide your complete mailing address when you inquire.
Finally, the details of our Speakers Bureau and Visiting Scholars call for presenters have been finalized. If you have friends or colleagues who are subject matter experts and/or scholars in humanities disciplines, forward this email and have them sign up for our e-newsletter right away.
Marilyn P. Whittington
Executive Director |
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| DHF Seeks New Presenters and Presentations
Speakers Bureau and Visiting Scholars Programs
The Delaware Humanities Forum is actively seeking scholars to facilitate presentations (lectures, discussions, demonstrations, etc.) for its Speakers Bureau and Visiting Scholars Programs. The Forum is looking for presentations in the following areas: Anthropology
 Archaeology
Architectural History
History, Criticism, and Theory of Art
History
Historic Preservation and Conservation
Linguistics
Literature
Modern and Classical Languages
History, Criticism, and Theory of Music
Ethics
Folklore and Folk Life
Jurisprudence
Philosophy
Political Science
Comparative Religion
World Civilizations
NEW! This year the Forum is funding projects which will help to preserve and provide access to the history of Delaware industries, from the mills along the Brandywine to fishing on the Delaware Bay. Presentations on local industries of any size may be of particular interest to some of our audiences. Also, the National Endowment for the Humanities (our parent organization) is focusing on projects which use the humanities to revitalize intellectual and civic life in America, for example, projects which:
---Use the perspective of influential thinkers over the centuries to look at enduring questions which are approached by many different disciplines and are of interest to all generations, for example, the origins of the universe, the meaning of friendship, the possibility of a just war
---Explore countries and cultures outside the United States to look at common themes in the humanities, for example, critical issues in ethics or religion
---Increase appreciation of significant historic sites by using them to address central themes and issues in American life
---Discuss the influence of various cultures and subcultures on American society
---Explore the relationship between civility and democracy
Our Presenters construct hour-long programs tailored to a particular interest or scholastic concentration with a strong humanities focus. We encourage contemporary, interactive conversations, which can include slides, handouts, sound clips, or any other form of integrated media. Presenters should include material for varying ages, and you may customize your program to fit any particular age group. We also strongly encourage presenters with knowledge of a foreign language to develop bi-lingual presentations to reach out to a diverse community as well as school-aged children learning a second language. Presenters for school-aged children must meet scholarship criteria; see application for details. Once an application is received, candidates will be asked to reduce their hour-long presentations to 20 minutes and "audition" them for DHF staff members and other stakeholders in mid-September. Visit our website at www.dhf.org to learn more about the Speakers Bureau and Visiting Scholars Programs, to view our current offerings, and to download the application (or click here for the application.). Completed applications should be postmarked by Friday, August 27th. Contact Program Officer Catherine Homsey at (302) 657-0650 x14 for more information. |
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Correction
Did you catch that last month's newsletter referenced Milton, Massachusetts, and not Milton, Delaware? Well, we were testing you...AND YOU PASSED! All joking aside, pardon our error.
Nonetheless, we know that Milton, Delaware, is a fascinating town. Here are some things you may or may not have known about our Milton:
---If you have a portable music player, you can enjoy an audio tour of Milton. The "Milton Sound Walk" - available on historicmilton.org - allows you to download a pdf of a walking map and three mp3 files and encourages you to take a self-guided tour of this beautiful and historic town.
---Milton was the birthplace of five governors, a town divided in allegiance during the Civil War, and was home to many officers who participated in the famous War of 1812.
---Milton was once called "Head of the Broadkill" but was renamed prior to the War of 1812 in honor of the English poet John Milton.
---The American Holly is Delaware's State Tree and Milton was once known as the "Holly Capital of the World," for its heavy production of Christmas and holiday holly wreaths and decorations.
---Large mother-of-pearl shells from the South Pacific  were once widely imported to Milton to make buttons. Homes and garages were made into shops where workers cut button blanks, polished them, then sold them wholesale to the fashion industry. Crushed pieces of these shells can be dug up in just about any yard in Milton.
Our apologies to Milton and to our readers, for our error.
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The Delaware Humanities Forum has offered programs that connect people, cultures and ideas for over 35 years. Through literature, art history, material culture, philosophy, civic discourse and other humanities disciplines, DHF helps citizens, scholars and nonprofit organizations accumulate a balanced body of knowledge about Delaware, making it available to the public now and in perpetuity. In 2010 we are pleased to turn the focus on Delaware's industrial history, to safeguard the history of the workers, structures and products that are critical to understanding the culture of the First State.
Please consider becoming a Friend of the Forum today by contributing to our Annual Fund. Friends of the Forum are the first to find out about opportunities, such as our Humanities Salons, and through the generous support of our Friends, the Forum offers nearly all of our programs free of charge to the citizens of Delaware.
Your donation in any amount will be most appreciated and wisely used. Click here to make a donation online today. | |
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About the Delaware Humanities Forum
The humanities-subjects which include literature, ethics, political science and history-help people make a connection between their own lives and other people, cultures, and ideas. Through grants and public program offerings, the Delaware Humanities Forum builds bridges to connect the daily life and work of people to the universe of human experience, thought, and imagination. The Forum brings the public together with cultural, educational, and civic institutions statewide, and focuses on issues of public interest and concern.
As a state division of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Delaware Humanities Forum supports organizations by awarding grants and implementing project initiatives such as lectures, symposia, exhibitions, classroom programs, and media projects. Your non-profit organization, school, library, or government agency may qualify for funding from the Forum and can obtain subject matter experts for lectures and presentations. To learn more about funding opportunities and the other resources available through the Delaware Humanities Forum, visit our website at http://www.dhf.org or call 302.657.0650 or toll free 800.752.2060. | |
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