Connecting People, Cultures and Ideas
Delaware Humanities Forum October 2010 Newsletter
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Greetings!

It certainly has been an interesting month for us here at the Delaware Humanities Forum. Perhaps we exhibited too much hubris (modern usage); perhaps we were too Icarian in our hopes.

You see, DHF has been riding a wave of humanities in Delaware. Not only have Delaware's professional and amateur historians been given access to archiving workshops through the Delaware Division of Libraries, but the New Castle County Libraries have also been offering "Let's Talk About...Civility" book groups in nine different libraries. October has seen rich humanities in all three counties. Oh the joy!

Then, the universe chose to remind us that there is still much work ahead for those fighting to keep the humanities alive:  SUNY Albany's president announced on October 1 that the school was slashing a number of its humanities programs, ranging from French to theater to the classics,  due to declines in enrollment and funding. Ironic that this took place on the starting day of National Arts and Humanities Month.

Sigh.

It just makes us want to protest! Petition! Sit in! March!  ...or at least talk about it--civilly, no doubt. (We'd have the best protest signs, though. "Cultural Capital or Bust!")

Of course, we are just joking. The humanities are alive and thriving in Delaware, and we are thrilled. Carpe diem! And when you check your agenda for the best diem to carpe, be sure to pencil in one of the statewide humanities activities listed here, or our upcoming Fall Lecture (details in the section below) to be delivered by the nation's most prominent humanities official.
  • "Hard at Work" reading and discussion series. TONIGHT, 10/20 at 7pm--"In the Beauty of the Lilies" by John Updike; Wednesday, 11/10 at 7pm--"Empire Falls" by Richard Russo. Both discussions held at Wesley College's Slaybaugh Hall in the Wells Theater. Free, open to the public, no RSVP necessary.  Click here for more info.

  • New Castle County Libraries Civility Book Groups. Various locations and dates, now through 11/17. Most groups are reading "George Washington's Rules of Civility." Click here for more info.

  • Delaware Division of Libraries' "Archival Basics," theories and practical applications to more effectively choose what materials to include in your collections, and how to organize them. To register call 302-739-4748 ext. 5116 or email beth-ann.ryan@state.de.us. One date left: 10/28/10, Lewes Public Library. Click here for more info.
Humanities ad vitam! (For more fun with Latin, click here.)

Sincerely,
Marilyn signature 
Marilyn P. Whittington
Executive Director

P.S. Each month, in this e-newsletter, DHF will draw your attention to the definition of a humanities discipline. This month, we look at THE CLASSICS. The study of "the classics" (cultures of classical antiquity, namely the Ancient Greek and Roman cultures) is considered one of the cornerstones of the humanities. The influence of classical ideas in many humanities disciplines, such as philosophy, literature and language, is strong. (Fun fact: in modern times, people most often associate the word hubris with arrogance, although in classic times its meaning was similar to what we today call Schadenfreude. How's that for classics?)

REMINDER: JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AWAY!

2010 Fall Lecture 

Words Matter

 

Just one week after Election Day, Jim Leach, Chairman of the NationLitMedal Endowment for the Humanities, visits Delaware to deliver a lecture on "Civility in America."  Who better than a one-time United States Representative to lead the charge in shining a humanities spotlight on the way people speak to each other when they have different points of view? Chairman Leach will present his thoughts on civility to an audience of scholars, students, citizens and government officials. 

This lecture will take place on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 11am on the campus of Delaware State University in the Education and Humanities Theater. The lecture is FREE, and is open to everyone (no RSVP required).

Civic discourse is one of DHF's 2010 pursuits, and it is our shared hope that Chairman Leach will achieve his goal of helping citizens find a common vocabulary and common points of understanding for issues that face them as people and as citizens of their states--issues that also face us as a nation and as a partner in the global community. Chairman Leach founded and co-chaired the Congressional Humanities Caucus and served on both banking and Asian affairs committees during his 30-year tenure as an Iowa Congressman, which began in 1976. He became Chairman of the NEH in August 2009 and discussed his platform at his swearing-in ceremony like so:


"In an era where declining civility increasingly hallmarks domestic politics and where anarchy has taken root in many parts of the world, it is imperative that cultural differences at home and abroad be respectfully understood, rather than irrationally denigrated."

Following the lecture, Chairman Leach will return to New Castle County, for additional opportunities to meet the citizens of Delaware.
 
If you have questions about our Fall Lecture, contact DHF by email at info@dhf.org or by phone at 302-657-0650 or toll free 800-752-2060.
 

REMINDER:

DHF is currently accepting applications for a second Delaware Industrial History Initiative grant cycle.

 

  • Apply by November 12 (draft application due date).
  • Final grant applications are due December 13.
  • Decisions will be made by December 20.

 

Applications available online.
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.
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.