An Evening of Montevallo History

Eclipse Coffee & Books will host Montevallo Memories on Thursday, September 9th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. To celebrate the re-release of Eloise Meroney’s Montevallo: The First One Hundred Years, Dr. Mike Mahan will serve as the moderator of a panel of long-time Montevallo denizens who will share their memories of their home town. Audience members are invited to share their memories as well or ask questions of the panelists. Speakers will include Carmichael Library's own Barbara Belisle, as well as J. A. Brown, John Kirby and Bill Plott. Copies of the Meroney book will be available with proceeds to benefit the Montevallo Historical Society.

Also, if local history is your thing you won't want to miss the current gallery exhibit at Parnell Memorial Library, Montevallo Downtown "Over the Years." The exhibit is curated by Becky Bolton Crisswell and will remain on display through October 20^th.

2010 Women's History Makers Breakfast

The 2010 Women’s History Makers Breakfast will take place tomorrow, March 30^th from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Montevallo Room of the Anna Irving Dining Hall. Tickets are required but free and can be picked up from the Office of Multicultural Affairs (6023). Deadline for ticket pickup is March 29th by 5:00 p.m.

Three women will be honored tomorrow morning including Carmichael Library's own Barbara Belisle. The 2010 Women’s History Makers Breakfast honorees are:

Dr. Judy Merritt
Jefferson State Community College
On December 1, 1979, Judy was appointed President of Jefferson State Community College. This appointment marked the first time a woman had been appointed as president of a two-year college in Alabama.

Barbara Belisle
University of Montevallo
On the first day of classes in 1967, Barbara Belisle walked into Montevallo High School; the first African American to teach there.

Alyce Manley Spruell
Spruell and Powell, LLC
Alyce Manley Spruell is the 2009-2010 President Elect of the Alabama State Bar and will be the first woman to head the state bar

For more information contact Robert L. Robinson, Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs by phone at 6023, or by e-mail at robinsonrl@montevallo.edu.

Toni Morrison and Mark Twain: The Black and White Of It

Alabama Humanities Foundation Scholar, Dr. Elaine Hughes, will speak Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m., at the Parnell Memorial Library in Montevallo. Hughes’s presentation will explore important parallels in the works of two important American authors and social critics: Mark Twain and Toni Morrison. According to Hughes, “Though writing a century apart, Mark Twain and Toni Morrison have dared to explore in their fiction the great truths underlying their cultures’ espoused attitudes and beliefs. From Twain’s indictment of the hypocrisy of the 19th Century to Morrison’s examination of contemporary society’s duality, their voices have provided readers penetrating portrayals of their fellow countrymen. An examination of the historical, political and biographical contexts of major works by these authors reveals the parallels in their social criticism—of the post-Civil-War era and the post-Civil-Rights period in America. ‘Morrison and Twain: The Black and White of It’ is a presentation that attempts to put before an audience those questions about ourselves that we have difficulty confronting: our beliefs, our prejudices, our fears. Through examination of works by two major American writers—writing during tumultuous times in our country—we can understand those elements in our society that shape us and perhaps seek a better understanding of ourselves. Racism was at the root of the problems resulting from slavery; racism remains today at the root of many of our social problems. Literature can provide the vehicle by which each of us, and thus our society, can make that painful journey to self understanding.”

For the past 35 years, Hughes has been a professor of American literature at the University of Montevallo, with a specialty in contemporary literature. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in Southern literature and in Alabama literature. She has delivered more than 200 lectures to varied audiences—from high-school honors students to retirees in UAB’s New Horizons—in many locations. In 1998-1999, she received the Carnegie Foundation CASE Professor of the Year Award for Alabama and was the 2007 Recipient of the Eugene Current-Garcia Distinguished Scholar Award. Hughes has been involved with the Alabama Humanities Foundation since 1978 and chaired the board of directors from 2004-2006. She holds the honor of professor emerita from the University of Montevallo.

Barbara Belisle, Mary Jo Buff, Lelia Mitchell, Robin Norsworthy, Mary Lou Williams, and Thomasyne Hill Smith will read from American authors Toni Morrison and Mark Twain. Event sponsors are the Montevallo Branch of AAUW, Alabama Humanities Foundation, and Parnell Memorial Library. All are welcome.

Carmichael Library Celebrates Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month and your campus library is recognizing this observance with a special display in the library's foyer.

Just inside the library's doors you'll find a selection of books and DVDs, as well as a collection of biographies highlighting famous women from Alabama and beyond.

Women's History Month Resources Online:

• Carmichael Library Women's History Month Bibliography - Over 30 items chosen by library students and faculty
  
• Alabama Women's Hall of Fame - Located on the campus of Judson College in Marion, the Hall recognizes the lives and achievements of notable Alabama women
  
• National Women's Hall of Fame - Honors over 200 American women "whose contributions to the arts, athletics, business, education, government, the humanities, philanthropy and science, have been the greatest value for the development of their country"
• National Women's History Project
  
• Women's History Month - Biographies, learning activities, and links provided by Gale Cengage
  

I'd like to acknowledge the many here in the library who assisted with this project, including Carey Heatherly, Kathy Lowe, and Patsy Sears, who all made contributions to our bibliography. Patsy also provided items for our display. The display itself is the creative work of Mary Seagle and our Technical Services student assistants Cierra, David, and Tiffany.

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Carmichael's own Barbara Belisle, who graciously consented to the use of her story for this first Women's History Month display. To those who don't know Ms. Belisle's story, I hope you'll have a chance to come in to the library and read about it. Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your story, and for your continued contributions to the Montevallo community.

More Women's History Month display photos are available at our Flickr. Photos by Joel Bullock.