October 2016

Since October has been designated as National Arts and Humanities Month, this article will focus on the Library’s partnership with Arizona Humanities.  Sedona Public Library has had a long-standing partnership with Arizona Humanities to provide educational and enjoyable speaker programs for our community.
 
Here’s a preview of Arizona Humanities speaker programs scheduled for 2016:    
 

• Wednesday, October 12:  Ken Zoll will present “The Billingsley Hopi Dancers.”  In 1921, the Hopi were told that “church people” petitioned Congress to stop their “pagan” dancing. In 1927, a platform was erected on the U.S. Capitol steps, where both houses of Congress assembled with their families to see the Hopi dancers. Following the performance, Congress passed a resolution giving the Hopi permission to carry on their dancing “for all time.” The dancers continued to perform, culminating in performances at Carnegie Hall in 1955. The Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Hopi Tribe jointly received a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to preserve a rare 1957 film of the dancers.  This presentation provides background on the history of the Hopi dancers and shows portions of the film.

 

• Monday, November 7: Marshall Shore, known as Arizona’s Hip Historian, will share “Arizona Kicks on Route 66.”  U.S. Route 66, known as the “Mother Road,” was built in 1926. It ran from Chicago to L.A. During the Depression of the 1930s, it became the major path by which people migrated west, seeking work, warm weather, and new opportunities. Shore shares the history of Route 66 in Arizona, including the impact it had on the state during its prime, and what happened when the interstate ultimately bypassed some of the towns that drew life from the road. This multi-media presentation includes music, video clips, still photos, and Shore’s storytelling magic.

 

•  Monday, December 5:  During Jody Drake’s presentation, “On the Arizona Frontier: Ranch Medicine,” you will learn about medical care in the late 1800s in Arizona.  For this presentation, Jodi will use a frontier medical bag to take an in-depth look at illness and how frontier families learned that plants held many secrets for someone who was ill.  All Arizona Humanities speaker programs begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 55 Rojo Drive in the Village of Oak Creek. These programs, generously funded by Arizona Humanities and Friends of Sedona Public Library, are free and open to the public.

Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Library services are made possible thanks to generous donations of individuals and foundations. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit our website at www.sedonalibrary.org.