Thomas Fox Averill, a writer-in-residence at Washburn University, Topeka, will speak about “What Kansas Means To Me” at a book signing at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Allen County Community College Theatre.
Averill’s 1990 book features 17 essays and poems about the meaning and appeal of the Sunflower State from noted Kansas authors of the 20th century.
Averill pored through hundreds of writings, paying particular attention to works that focused on the history and culture of the area. The works are arranged chronologically, from 1910 to 1990.
Averill will sign copies of the book after his presentation.
THE PRESENTATION is one of several ACCC Speakers Series events in both its Iola and Burlingame campuses in the coming weeks.
Other speakers will focus discussions on Sarah Smarsh’s book “It Happened in Kansas: Remarkable Events That Shaped History.”
Smarsh, an assistant professor at Washburn, filled the book of nonfiction essays covering everything from Quantrill’s infamous Civil War raid on Lawrence, the exploits of aviator Amelia Earhart and the 2007 Greensburg tornado.
Brian Craig Miller of Emporia State University will be at Burlingame on Tuesday to discuss Quantrill’s Raid.
The next in the series is planned for Sept. 29, with a group discussion about “Serious Satire: Lasting Change in Today’s World.”
That discussion will include the essay “The Flying Spaghetti Monster,” written after the Kansas Board of Education voted to de-emphasize the teaching in evolution in 2005 (which since been reversed). It is from the “It Happened In Kansas” essays.
The author, Bobby Henderson, wrote about worshipping a creator that closely resembled spaghetti and meatballs to protest the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution.
The discussion will be in room B-35 on the Iola campus. A similar discussion follows Sept. 30 in Burlingame.
THE SUBJECTS should appeal to ACCC students, instructors and the public in general, said John Marshall, vice president of student affairs.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about Kansas, without getting too political,” Marshall said, adding that the books are recommended reading by the Kansas Humanities Council.
The myriad topics cover some of the state’s most well known historical figures, as well as those some people may not have known about.
And because none of the chapters is more than a few pages long, readers may become versed on a number of topics quickly and jump around the book if they prefer, Marshall said.
SMARSH WILL BE in Iola Oct. 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the ACCC Theatre to discuss “It Happened In Kansas” and to sign copies of her book, which are available at the ACCC Bookstore for $14.95 apiece. The book also is available at the ACCC Library, which is open to the general public.
Her book and Averill’s are both available at www.amazon.com.
Kerry Altenbernd of Baldwin will be in Iola at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 to cover “A Portrayal of John Brown,” a discussion about Brown’s role in the 1856 Pottawatomie Massacre.
Debi Fuller will be in Iola at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 to discuss the Patriot Guard Riders and their support of fallen soldiers and other veterans activities in the state.
Daneil Holt, former director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, will be in Burlingame Oct. 12 to discuss the Kansas native’s life and figure as a military leader and later president. Fuller will be in Burlingame Nov. 9 to discuss the Patriot Guard Riders.
