America & the Great War 1914-1918
By David Wells
The role of America in "the war to end all wars" is misunderstood. Most people think only of the 1917-18 period when U.S. soldiers marched off to save the world, not realizing that from 1914-17 the nation was opposed to the war. Songs of the period show the changing attitude of the American public, from neutrality to anti-war sentiments to entry in the war and the ultimate defeat of Germany. World War II and the Cold War make more sense when you understand what happened between 1914-18. Wells features a special section of patriotic songs written by Nebraskans from Chadron to Omaha. A 45-minute slide program and a large display of sheet music are included.

America in the Eyes of an Islamic Fundamentalist
By John Calvert
Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966), the prominent ideologue of Islamic fundamentalism, studied in the United States from 1948 to 1950. This presentation traces Qutb's journey across America, focusing on his six-month stay at Greeley's Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado). Letters and articles that Qtub wrote are examined as sources for his observations on American society, allowing audiences to enter the worldview of Islamic fundamentalism and understand how others view Americans. Slides and materials, collected by Calvert in Cairo and Greeley, are featured.

American Folk Music
By Bill Behmer & Gwen Meister 
This presentation is a brief overview of Anglo-American folk music, including 500-year-old British Isles ballads and American folk songs over the centuries. Gwen Meister and Bill Behmer describe the "folk process" as they accompany themselves on mountain dulcimer, fiddle, autoharp and other traditional instruments.

The Ancient World in American Popular Culture
By Leonard J. Greenspoon
Ancient Egypt, classical Greece and the Roman Empire are everywhere these days. This illustrated talk explores many ways in which movies, the popular press, museum exhibitions, TV shows, comic books, the Internet—and other forms of popular culture—entertain and educate us about the ancient world, and what all of this tells us about antiquity and about our own world of the 21st century.

Bach to Bluegrass
By Dave Fowler & Carolyn Johnsen
Using numerous musical examples, Fowler and Johnsen illustrate the parallels and contrasts between traditional and classical music. The audience recognizes many familiar musical themes while gaining new insights into the culture and history of the bluegrass fiddle and the classical violin.

The Bible in Popular Culture
By Leonard J. Greenspoon
The Bible is the most widely read (and misread), quoted (and misquoted), translated (and mistranslated) document in our society. In movies and TV shows, in newspapers and magazines—and not just in our churches and synagogues—the Bible is used by large numbers of people to defend and attack opinions on many important issues. This illustrated lecture looks at how popular culture views the Bible and explores what this tells us about the sacred text and the secular world we inhabit.

A Century of Fashion, 1870-1970
By Sue McLain & Barbara Trout
This presentation combines McLain's extensive vintage clothing collection with Trout's historical expertise. Together, they recreate the styles of fashionable women of the past. Join them for a combination fashion show and slide presentation depicting fashions from 1870 to 1970.

Cattle Towns and Soiled Doves
By Marla Matkin
Possessing a twinkle in her eye and a tantalizing sense of humor, the Contessa is in rare form as she deftly transports you to the frontier of cow towns, painted ladies and the riveting characters that strode the streets and rode the range. Movies, television and novels have long kept the West and its saga alive, but it takes the insight of a charmer such as the Contessa to immerse you in the history and lore of such an unforgettable moment in time. Her invitation is an appeal to suspend 21st century reality and travel back to the boomtowns where men lived by the gun and women lived by their wits. It's the Victorian Era on the wild side. As the Contessa, Matkin employs ample supplies of humor, sensitivity and skill to navigate the nuances of the subjects of this presentation.

Daniel Freeman: America's First Homesteader
By Darrel W. Draper
Hear Daniel Freeman's amazing story as Darrel Draper portrays "Old Number One" in full costume. It is a Chautauqua-style, humorous and historically factual account of America's first homesteader and the impact of the Homestead Act in settling the West. Recommended for ages 10 to adult.

A Day In the Life of a Victorian Lady
By Patricia Pixley
Using authentic artifacts and costume, a day in the life of a Victorian lady unfolds, from breakfast through afternoon tea. By examining the social customs, dress, etiquette and decorative furnishings of the 1870s and '80s, audiences learn about the social conventions surrounding the organization of the household, the maintenance of social status and the role of etiquette in determining place in the Victorian-era community.

Exploring the West With John C. Fremont
By Vernon L. Volpe
Some of the best guides for travelers on the Oregon Trail were the reports and maps of U.S. Army explorer John C. Fremont. His engaging reports, written with his wife Jessie Benton, provided Western emigrants with a useful guide for travel and created two new national heroes—Kit Carson and Fremont himself. Fremont's expeditions also stimulated American interest in acquiring California and Oregon, and the ambitious army officer contributed to the winning of California in the Mexican War.

Grace Abbott: Children's Crusader
By Helen M. Lewis
Grace Abbott's Grand Island upbringing influenced her advocacy for education and social justice as  director of Chicago's Immigrant Protective League. Writing and speaking for social reform--from women's suffrage to world peace--Abbott became a leader in the struggle for federal child labor legislation. As Chief of the U.S. Children's Bureau, Abbott shaped public assistance programs, especially to protect children. The presentation, done in costume, conveys the continuing relevance of Abbott's work by exploring her efforts for the exploited. Lewis will adapt the program to meet the interests of the sponsoring group.

He Ain't Heavy, Father...He's M' Brother!: A History of Girls & Boys Town
By Charlotte M. Endorf
The journey of refuge, Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, from its beginnings to its role as a leading national force in youth care. Ninety dollars opened a home for boys in Omaha.  The first five boys taken off the streets began a legacy. Learn the interesting history of Boys Town, which is now under the banner of Girls and Boys Town.

I Got the Blues, and I Can't Be Satisfied
By C.A. Waller
"What is the blues? The blues is what a blues singer sings." The blues, the first truly American art form, is not monolithic, but instead is a widely diverse and vital art form. This presentation introduces eight basic types of blues songs and gives the audience a better understanding of the forms of songs that comprise the blues. The basic historical background of each song is discussed, and audience participation is encouraged. 

A Journey to Burntfork: The World of Elinore Pruitt Stewart
By Susanne George Bloomfield
Elinore Pruitt Stewart lived in Wyoming for 24 years and shared her daily life as a woman homesteader with her friends and the world through "Letters of a Woman Homesteader" (1914) and "Letters on an Elk Hunt" (1915). Her works provide a woman's point of view and help to dispel the stereotype of men as the only frontier adventurers. The presenter, who edited a volume of Stewart's unpublished letters, offers a new understanding of Stewart's legacy to Western history and the American literary tradition. She uses historical and current photographs to help audiences visualize the pioneer life Stewart describes.

Legends and Leaders of the West
By Lyn DeNaeyer Messersmith and Deb Carpenter
Learn about leaders and legends who shaped the American West. Sacagawea, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley, Doc Middleton and others are the focus of this program of original songs, stories and poems. Student activities based on the program are available on request.

Lordy Lordy, Baby Baby: The Blues and Gospel Music
By John Walker
In gospel music, they say "Lordy Lordy." In blues music, they say "Baby Baby." This presentation explores the differences as well as the connections between the blues and gospel music, with reflections on growing up in small-town Oklahoma Methodist churches. Many musical examples from each genre are offered. 

Making Music Come Alive
By Phyllis Dunne
Dunne presents toe-tapping, hand-clapping, sing-along music for kids of all ages. An eclectic blend of folk and traditional music is performed with voice, dulcimer and piano, spiced with interesting historical and personal insights. Dunne combines entertainment and education for an interactive exploration of music appreciation. 

A Modern-day Encounter With the Santa Fe Trail
By Les Vilda
This program is presented by a scholar who has traveled the Santa Fe Trail twice by historical means: once walking with a pack donkey (1984) and once with a horse and wagon (1987). The program juxtaposes the history of the trail with Les’s experiences in the 1980’s, comparing the routes, modes of transportation and clothing used in modern-day historical reenactments to those of the 19^th-century trail traveler. Sites along the trail are discussed regarding their historical significance in the heyday of the trail, as well as their present-day roles in interpreting the history of the trail.

The Mountain Dulcimer
By Bill Behmer & Gwen Meister
Using folk songs as illustrations, Bill Behmer outlines the history and folklore or this simple-to-play, inexpensive and often homemade American folk instrument. He discusses the dulcimer's European and Asian ancestors and similar fretted zithers found in other traditions. He demonstrates and compares traditional and contemporary playing styles, a variety of tuning methods and how to play the dulcimer by ear. Bill is accompanied by his wife, Gwen Meister, singing harmony and playing autoharp and rhythm instruments.

A Musical Journey Across America: Songs That Helped Shape a Nation
By Chris Sayre
From the engaging sea shanties of the Eastern Seaboard to the haunting songs of the Appalachian Mountains, from the blues of Mississippi to the pioneer songs of the American West, Chris Sayre brings to life the rich and varied music of the continental United States. Performing on guitar, mandolin, banjo, slide guitar, concertina, melodeon, lap dulcimer and musical saw, Chris captivates his audiences and leaves them with a deeper understanding of how we got to where we are today.

Overland Trails: The Children on the Trail
By Renae M. Hunt
With over 352,000 emigrants traveling the Oregon, Mormon or California trails, one in five were under the age of 16. Many of these youths kept journals. This program discusses how these children traveled and relates some of the stories from their journals. This program is appropriate for all ages.

Reminiscences of an Oregon Trail Pioneer
By Maurine Roller
The Oregon (Overland) Trail linked the East with the West via the "Great American Desert." Thousands of men and women chronicled their journeys from familiar homelands to their Promised Land. Roller researched more than 400 women's diaries and created a composite pioneer woman, Cora Garvey, who left Missouri in 1853 to find a new life in Oregon. Cora, now at journey's end, looks back over the last six months. In this living-history presentation, she reminisces about cholera, encounters with Indians, accidents, humorous anecdotes and everyday toil, dispelling the myths and stereotypes surrounding women who traveled the Overland Trail.

Sing Me a Story: The Ballad of Yesterday and Today
By Pat Boilesen
Whether it be the ballad of the immigrant of the 1800's or the ballad of today, these songs tell the story of life and living, good and bad. This program explores the differences and similarities between the ballads of yesteryear and the ballads of today, and why they are still sung today.

The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag and the Song
By Don Hickey
Hickey describes the War of 1812 and how the British assault on Fort McHenry produced these great symbols. This program also discusses early flags and describes how Francis Scott Key came to write “The Star-Spangled Banner “ and how this song became the official anthem of the United States. 

The Victorian Child
By Anita Sue Clement
This program focuses on the Victorian child from the middle of the 19th century to just past the turn of the 20th century. A child's place in the family and in the world changed greatly during this time, and Clement will bring it to life for you with photographs, artifacts and stories of children, their families and their lives—from the pampered darling to the child put to work in a factory or a field.

A Visit With Alexander Hamilton
By Donald Hickey
This Chautauqua-style portrayal focuses on Hamilton's vision for America and his contribution to the country's founding. Hickey sketches important elements of Hamilton's life, including his youth, his work with George Washington's staff, the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, authorship of the Federalist Papers and his famous feuds. The program in costume and in character is followed by an opportunity to talk with Alexander Hamilton and with Hickey, the scholar of American history who has portrayed Hamilton under the Great Plains Chautauqua tent.

What Is a Picture Worth?
By Jack Campbell
This examination of photojournalism from 1839 to the present features examples of the impact of photography on reporting, the effects of social and economic changes created by photojournalists' works and some media manipulations. Campbell's thesis is that visual impressions are retained longer than those of the other senses. He introduces audiences to some of the most famous visual images of the past 150 years in the areas of civil rights, athletics, war, politics, assassinations, natural disasters, Hollywood—and some just for fun.

A Young Man's Journey on the Oregon Trail
By Dale Clark
In 1843 an emigrant group of about 1,000 people left Independence, Mo., traveling to Oregon guided by Marcus Whitman. The group included more than 100 women and 600 children. In the next 25 years, over 350,000 emigrants made the 2,000-mile journey in this huge voluntary migration. Many myths have sprung up about this journey. The program is delivered as though Clark is reflecting on the diary and artifacts he kept when embarking on the cross-country adventure he "recreates" as an 11-year-old might have lived it in 1849.

William Jennings Bryan: A Nebraska Enigma
By Donald B. Fiedler
In this living-history presentation, Fiedler attempts to set the record straight about William Jennings Bryan. Bryan ran for president three times. Unfortunately, Bryan's place in history is anchored in the film "Inherit the Wind," a fictional account of the "Scopes Monkey Trial" in which he is cast as a buffoonish zealot.

Women's Work, Women's Worth
By Jean C. Karlen
This presentation examines the current status of women in society and the general undervaluation of the work women do. The particular focus of the talk can be adapted to the interests of the audience, emphasizing and/or combining information on such topics as rural women, the volunteer sector, the world of employment, the domestic scene or the issues of pay equity and comparable worth.