Calendar of Events | West Virginia Humanities Council.

Events for February

Feb

History Alive: Bessie Smith

Time: 11:30am

Location: Lewisburg, WV

Event Information:

History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. As the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s, Smith was the highest-paid Black performer of her day. She was known as the “Empress of the Blues” by virtue of her forceful vocal delivery and command of the genre. In addition, she was an all-around entertainer who danced, acted and performed comedy routines with her touring company. She was a staple of the “Chitlin’ Circuit” and throughout the Jim Crow South, and many of her tunes have been covered by various artists through the decades.

Venue Information:

Lewisburg United Methodist Church
1133 Washington St E
Lewisburg, WV

Contact Information:

Sarah Moloney
smoloney@scgvwv.org
(304) 645-4196

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Feb

History Alive: Minnie Reed

Time: TBD

Location: Ronceverte, WV

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Event Information:

History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. Minnie Reed is a fictional “composite” character drawn from the lives, singing, and stories of several 20th century West Virginia folk singers, chiefly Maggie Hammons Parker, Sarah Workman, Phyllis Marks, and Kate Toney, as well as other Appalachian singers from Kentucky and North Carolina. These singers were not performers, nor did their music bring fame or fortune. For these women and their small mountain communities, music was an organic part of everyday life, and songs were passed down from generation to generation. The fictional setting is Minnie’s home in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, in 1972.

Venue Information:

Ronceverte Public Library
500 Main St E
Ronceverte, WV

Contact Information:

Cherie Davis
roncevertepl@gmail.com
(304) 647-7400

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Feb

History Alive: Bessie Smith

Time: 1:00pm

Location: Charleston, WV

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Event Information:

Venue Information:

Sissonville Branch Library
1 Tinney Ln
Charleston, WV

Contact Information:

Cathy Mason
cathy.mason@kcpls.org
(304) 984-2244

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Feb

History Alive: Bessie Smith

Time: 6:00pm

Location: White Sulphur Springs, WV

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Event Information:

Venue Information:

White Sulphur Springs Public Library
344 Main St W
White Sulphur Springs, WV

Contact Information:

Joann Hartzell
joann.hartzell@mail.mln.lib.wv.us
(304) 536-1171

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Events for March

Mar

History Alive: Abigail Adams

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Moundsville, WV

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Event Information:

History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. An active participant in our nation’s birth, Abigail Adams is well known for her advocacy of women's rights, especially in education, and her opposition to slavery. As a valued confidant and advisor to her husband John Adams, the nation's second president, Abigail cautioned him that the Founding Fathers should “remember the ladies” in the new laws they would write for our young country. Together, they were the first inhabitants of the White House.

Venue Information:

Trinity Episcopal Church
1 Oak Ave
Moundsville, WV

Contact Information:

Kara Gordon
cockaynehouse@gmail.com
(304) 845-1411

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Mar

History Alive: Gabriel Arthur

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Mullens, WV

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Event Information:

Arthur is believed to be the first European-American to see the Kanawha Valley while he traveled with a band of Yuchis in 1674. He was sent by his master, Abraham Wood, with a partner and Appamattuck guides from Fort Henry (present Petersburg, Virginia) to explore western lands and trade with the Indians west of the Blue Ridge. Though his traveling partner was killed, Arthur traveled widely with the Tomahitans, participating in their battles against Spaniards and enemy Indians in the Ohio Valley and elsewhere, during the Beaver Wars. He entered the Kanawha River Valley, where he was welcomed by Tomahitan allies, the Monetons, into their large village. After two near brushes with death, Arthur returned to Fort Henry with hope of extending his master's fur trade westward.

Venue Information:

Twin Falls State Park
RR 97
Mullens, WV

Contact Information:

Tammy Cooper
tammy.d.cooper@wv.gov
(304) 294-4000

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Mar

History Alive: Mother Jones

Time: 11:00am

Location: Mannington, WV

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Event Information:

History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. The family of Mary Harris "Mother" Jones immigrated to the US from Ireland hoping to escape famine and unemployment. After marrying and moving to Memphis, a yellow fever epidemic killed her husband and all four children. The great Chicago fire of 1871 destroyed her dress-making business and she spent the rest of her life helping organize unions, especially among coal miners. She spoke at rallies throughout West Virginia supporting the United Mine Workers of America, and played an important role in strikes along the New River Gorge, Paint Creek and Cabin Creek, and during events before the Battle of Blair Mountain.

Venue Information:

Mannington Public Library
109 Clarksburg St
Mannington, WV

Contact Information:

Megan Lake
mlake@mcpls.org
(304) 986-2803

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Mar

History Alive: Ruby Bradley

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Charleston, WV

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Event Information:

History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. When Bradley retired from the U.S. Army in 1963 she was the most decorated woman in American military history. A native of Spencer, West Virginia, Bradley was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines in 1941 and was a POW until 1945. She continued her work as a nurse in the prison camp. She was named Chief Nurse for the Eighth Army in 1951 and supervised over 500 nurses in Korea. Bradley attained the rank of Colonel in 1958.

Venue Information:

Kanawha County Public Library
123 Capitol St
Charleston, WV

Contact Information:

Amanda Gibson
amanda.gibson@kcpls.org
(304) 343-4646 x1262

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Mar

History Alive: Ruby Bradley

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Parkersburg, WV

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Event Information:

Venue Information:

Blennerhassett Hotel
320 Market St
Parkersburg, WV

Contact Information:

Carol K. Williams
tandcwilliams@suddenlink.net
(304) 532-1787

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Mar

History Alive: Ruby Bradley

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Elkview, WV

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Event Information:

Venue Information:

Elk Valley Branch Library
313 Crossings Mall Rd
Elkview, WV

Contact Information:

Amanda Gibson
amanda.gibson@kcpls.org
(304) 343-4646 x1262

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Mar

History Alive: Ruby Bradley

Time: 6:00pm

Location: St. Albans, WV

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Event Information:

Venue Information:

St. Albans Public Library
602 4th St
St. Albans, WV

Contact Information:

Amanda Gibson
amanda.gibson@kcpls.org
(304) 343-4646 x1262

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Events for April

Apr

History Alive: Ruby Bradley

Time: 6:00pm

Location: St. Marys, WV

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Event Information:

Venue Information:

St. Mary's Marina
617 Riverside Dr
St. Marys, WV

Contact Information:

Dan Boley
danb@djainspection.com
(304) 588-1162

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Apr

History Alive: Mark Twain

Time: 1:30pm

Location: Ronceverte, WV

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Event Information:

History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. The pen name of Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain is celebrated today as one of America’s great authors and humorists.

Venue Information:

Ronceverte Public Library
500 Main St E
Ronceverte, WV

Contact Information:

Cherie Davis
roncevertepl@gmail.com
(304) 647-7400

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