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St. Paul Chautauqua
 

St. Paul City Park July 12-16, 2002

2002 Chautauqua focused on expansion

Chautauquans (from left) Jeffrey E. Smith, Kris Runberg Smith, Selene Phillips, Charles Everett Pace and Jerome Kills SmallFollowing a successful four-year tour featuring major historical figures of the turn of the 20th century, the 2002 Great Plains Chautauqua turned its focus to 1790-1850, the period during which America expanded from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Aptly, the new theme was “From Sea to Shining Sea.”

 

In Nebraska, the 2002 Great Plains Chautauqua stopped in St. Paul July 12-16.

 

With the emphasis on America’s continent-wide expansion, the Nebraska Humanities Council prepared Nebraskans to better understand the upcoming bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and its larger themes of westward exploration and encounter with native peoples.

 

Funding for the 2002 Great Plains Chautauqua in Nebraska was provided by the Omaha World Herald Foundation.

 

Among the historical characters featured in the 2002 Chautauqua were William Clark, York and Sacagawea of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Others were Dolley Madison, Tecumseh and John Jacob Astor. Chautauqua scholars portrayed these figures in historical garb.

 

Jeffrey E. Smith, who teaches American history at Lindenwood College in St. Louis,  portrayed Clark, the mapmaker, co-leader and chronicler of the Corps of Discovery journey in 1804-1806.

 

Charles Everett Pace, who teaches anthropology and American studies at Centre College in Danville, Ken., portrayed York, Clark’s man servant and the first black man to cross the continent of North America.

 

Selene Phillips, a Ph.D candidate in American studies at Purdue University, portrayed Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian who was the only woman in the Expedition.

 

Kris Runberg Smith, a history instructor at both Webster University and Harris Stowe State College in St. Louis, portrayed Dolley Madison, the First Lady for 16 years and the most important woman in American social circles for 50 years.

 

Jerome Kills Small, who teaches at the University of South Dakota,  portrayed Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader who worked for an independent Indian territory.

 

Jerome Tweeton, professor of history emeritus of the University of North Dakota and author of several books on American history, portrayed John Jacob Astor, who at the time of his death in 1848 was the richest man in America.

 

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Chautauqua events in St. Paul

The familiar blue-and-white tent of the Great Plains Chautauqua was raised the evening of July 11 at St. Paul City Park, Indian and Fifth streets, setting the scene for five days of activities related to the new Chautauqua theme, "From Sea to Shining Sea."

Dolley Madison (Kris Runberg Smith) was the moderator for Chautauqua evening presentations. The formal program began July 12 and ran through July 16. Here are some of the highlights:

Friday, July 12

  • 9 a.m., children's activities, St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m., children's workshop, "Pictures, Petroglyphs and Pomp's Piller," with Sacagawea (Selene Phillips), St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball, 610 Howard Ave.
  • 11 a.m., news conference with scholars, St. Paul Library, 1301 Howard Ave.
  • 1 p.m.-3 p.m., historical tours and genealogy research assistance, Howard County Courthouse, 612 Indian St.
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Howard County Historical Village open, Indian and Sixth streets
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., working blacksmiths at Howard County Historical Village
  • 2 p.m., Catholic Daughts of America serve a light lunch at Matelyn, 602 O Street
  • 3 p.m., adult workshop, "The Corps of Discovery and the Roots of American Diplomacy," with York (Charles E. Pace), Matelyn, 602 O St.
  • 5 p.m., Garden Tour sponsored by St. Paul Chamber of Commerce - Tickets and maps available at Information Booth, 621 Howard Avenue.
  • 5 p.m., St. Paul Boy Scouts serve food in the park.
  • 6:30 p.m., pre-Chautauqau program, Bill Kucera and Friends Polka Band, Chautauqua tent

    • 7:30 p.m., an evening with William Clark (Jeffrey E. Smith), Chautauqua tent
Saturday, July 13
  • 9 a.m., children's activities, St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 9 a.m.-5 p.m., farmer's market, Riverview Acres Perennial Farm, 1103 Hardy Road
  • 10 a.m., children's workshop, "In Search for a Common Humanity:  Folktales in Three Traditions," with York (Charles E. Pace), St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball
  • 10 a.m.-4 p.m., quilt show, 515 Howard Ave.; muzzleloaders, St. Paul City Park; working blacksmiths, Historical Village
  • noon, lunch with Dolley Madison (Kris Runberg Smith) and John Jacob Astor (Jerome Tweeton), House of Memories, 516 Seventh St.
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Howard County Historical Village open
  • 1:30 p.m., "Medical Practices of the Lewis and Clark Expedition," with Dr. Richard Fruehling, St. Paul Library,1301 Howard Ave.
  • 3 p.m., adult workshop with John Jacob Astor (Jerome Tweeton), "John Jacob Astor versus the Historians," St. Paul Library, 1301 Howard Ave.
  • 3 p.m.-5 p.m., home tour sponsored by Howard County Historical Society
  • 4:30 p.m., Victorian style show with Sue McClain, Chautauqua tent
  • 5 p.m., book signing with Roger Welsch, Lowen Clausen, Marion Bahensky and Ron Sack, St. Paul City Park
  • 6:30 p.m., pre-Chautuaqua program with Conestoga Barbershoppers, Chautauqua tent
  • 7:30 p.m., an evening with Tecumseh (Jerome Kills Small), Chautauqua tent
Sunday, July 14
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Howard County Historical Village open
  • 1 p.m.-5 p.m., farmers market, Riverview Acres
  • 1 p.m.-6 p.m., muzzleloaders, St. Paul City Park
  • 1 p.m., children's activities, Riverview Acres
  • 2 p.m., children's workshop, "Lewis and Clark Grossology," with William Clark (Jeffrey E. Smith), Riverview Acres
  • 2 p.m., adult worksop, "Life and Times of Dolley Madison," with Kris Runberg Smith, Riverview Acres
  • 3 p.m.-5 p.m., home tour sponsored by the Howard County Historical Society
  • 3:30 p.m., adult workshop, "General Clark's Front Porch," with William Clark (Jeffrey E. Smith), Riverview Acres
  • 3:30 p.m., "No Dueling at Dolley's," with Kris Runberg Smith, children eight and older, Riverview Acres
  • 4:30 p.m., singalong with Russell and Charlene Lemburg, Riverview Acres
  • 5 p.m.-5:45 p.m., Baseball Round Table Discussion, "Nebraska's Impact on Major League Baseball," Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball, 619 Howard Ave.
  • 6:30 p.m., pre-Chautauqua program, "Song Fest," everybody sings old favorites with Paul Swanson and Dorothy Brehm, Chautauqua tent
  • 7:30 p.m., an evening with York (Charles Everett Pace), Chautauqua tent
Monday, July 15
  • 9 a.m., children's activities, St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m., children's workshop, "Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle," with John Jacob Astor (D. Jerome Tweton), St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave. 
  • 10 a.m., grant writing workshop by Nebraska Humanities Council, St. Paul Library, 1301 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m.-noon, Polish Museum with coffee and Polish pastry, 226 W. Carleton St., Ashton
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball, 619 Howard Ave.
  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m., historical tours and genealogy research assistance, Howard County Courthouse, 612 Indian St. 
  • noon, lunch with York and Sacagawea, Sweet Shoppe, 605 Howard Ave.
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Howard County Historical Village open
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., working blacksmiths at Historical Village; Royal Coachmen car display, 824 Seventh St.
  • 1:30 p.m., adult workshop, "Native American Communication: From Petroglyphs to the Cherokee Phoenix and News from Indian Country Today," with Sacagawea (Selene Phillips), St. Paul Community Center, 808 Howard Ave.
  • 3 p.m., "Danish Capital of Nebraska," walking tour of Dannebrog and entertainment, meet at Dansk Hall, 108 S. Mill St., Dannebrog
  • 3:30 p.m., singalong with Russell and Charlene Lemburg, St. Paul Community Center, 808 Howard Ave.
  • 4:30 p.m., "The Adventures of Lewis and Clark," play presented by Centura sixth grade, American Legion Club, 804 Howard Ave.
  • 6:30 p.m., pre-Chautauqua program, Tom Schroeder, Chautauqua tent
  • 7:30 p.m., an evening with John Jacob Astor (Jerome Tweeton), Chautauqua tent
Tuesday, July 16
  • 9 a.m., children's activities, St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m., children's workshop with Jerome Kills Small (Tecumseh), "What Do Animals Mean," St. Paul Elementary School, 1305 Howard Ave.
  • 10 a.m., "Danish Capital of Nebraska," walking tour of Dannebrog and entertainment, Dansk Hall, 108 S. Mill St., Dannebrog
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball, 619 Howard Ave.
  • 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Royal Coachmen car display, 824 Seventh St.
  • noon, lunch with Tecumseh (Jerome Kills Small) and William Clark (Jeffrey E. Smith), American Legion Club, 804 Howard Ave.
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Howard County Historical Village open, Indian and Sixth streets
  • 1 p.m.-4 p.m., working blacksmiths at Historical Village
  • 2 p.m., adult workshop,"Native American Patriots in Song and Story," with Tecumseh (Jerome Kills Small), St. Paul Library, 1301 Howard Ave.
  • 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Polish Museum with coffee and Polish pastry, 226 W. Carleton St, Ashton
  • 4:30 p.m., "The Adventures of Lewis and Clark," play presented by Centura sixth grade, American Legion Club
  • 6:30  p.m., pre-Chautauqua program, 2Danz Cloggers, Chautauqua tent

    • 7:30 p.m., an evening with Sacagawea (Selene Phillips), Chautauqua tent
An art exhibit of works by local area students and artists was held at the St. Paul Library throughout the course of the Chautauqua. 

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For more information, contact the Nebraska Humanities Council.
Phone 402-474-2131 or e-mail nhc@nebraskahumanities.org.

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