A Publication of the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies
An Occasional Newsletter for its Friends
DECEMBER 2015
2015
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Mark Twain Study in Snow
©Stu Gallagher Photography
In this issue...
Dr. Joseph Lemak Named Director of the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies..................................2
Meet Nathaniel Ball, Archivist and Curator............................................................................................................3
Welcome Professor Matthew Seybold, Americanist.................................................................................................4
Piling up Manuscript: Quarry Farm Residencies (A 2015 Sampler).......................................................................5
Choice Bits: An Exhibition at the Arnot Art Museum...........................................................................................8
WENY’s Mark Twain Literacy Project Distributes 16,000+ Books..........................................................................9
Mark Twain & the Child: 2015 Summer Teachers’ Institute................................................................................10
A Weekend Symposium MARK TWAIN AND YOUTH October 7-8, 2016..............................11
Thanks to our DEAR FRIENDS............................................................................................................................12
Consider a Quarry Farm Research Residency.........................................................................................................15
Center for Mark Twain Studies | One Park Place, Elmira, NY 14901 | (607) 735-1941 | www.elmira.edu
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 2
DR. JOSEPH LEMAK NAMED DIRECTOR of the
Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies
Several changes occurred at the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies during the past year. Archivist Mark Woodhouse retired in June 2015. In July, Center Secretary Christy Gray accepted a position as a
first grade teacher in Elmira’s new charter school. In addition, Dr. Barbara Snedecor announced that she would
retire from her position as Director of the Center at the end of the calendar year (December 2015). “I have loved
directing the Center for Mark Twain Studies,” Dr. Snedecor noted, “and I’ve been changed and enriched by the
associations I’ve enjoyed here. Sometimes life circumstances require adjustment, though, and I’m at that moment,
perhaps a little earlier than I expected. It’s time for a new director to ‘Dream other dreams, and better!’ I’ll be excited to follow
the advances of the Center under its excellent new director, Dr.
Joseph Lemak.”
MEET DR. JOSEPH (JOE) LEMAK
Dr. Joseph Lemak is a native son of Elmira, New York.
Joe received his Master’s and Doctoral degree in Roman History
from the University at Buffalo. His past publications dealt with
the reception of the classical tradition in the United States, specifically in upstate New York during the time that Mark Twain
was in Elmira. Additionally, he is the past editor of the Chemung
Historical Journal, a publication which deals with the local history
of Elmira and the Chemung Valley region. For the past five years,
Joe was the Director of the Academic Writing Program at Elmira
College. While running the Academic Writing Program, he was
given the responsibility of establishing and maintaining Elmira
College’s first Writing Center.
“I’m honored to be a part of the Center of Mark Twain
Studies, and I’m overwhelmed by the benevolent feelings almost
every person has for the Center,” Dr. Lemak commented. “It’s
hard to find such an ideal combination of high levels of acaDr. Joseph Lemak
demic rigor, a genuine sense of community, and the picturesque
setting of Quarry Farm, all under the legacy, literature, and life
of Mark Twain. I feel fortunate as I begin to dedicate my hard work and talents to this endeavor.”
As Joe contemplates his new assignment, he noted, “It’s vitally important to maintain the feelings of goodwill and high levels of support that scholars expect from the Center for Mark Twain Studies. At the same time, I
hope that the Center can expand its digital presence and become an electronic educational and research tool for
teachers at all academic levels, from primary school to the university. I’ll be working with my colleagues here at the
College to push that work forward.”
Recognizing the widespread impact of Samuel Clemens, Dr. Lemak posited, “I think that one of the reasons
why Mark Twain is so special is that Twain himself was interested in so many different things. Twain’s interests
were so wide-ranging -- religion, politics, animals, economics, race relations, what have you. Because of his myriad
of interests, the figure of Twain is one of the most interesting and most accessible authors of modern literature.”
Dr. Lemak comes to Mark Twain Studies with teaching experiences in Twain texts as well as early reading
memories of Mark Twain’s works. “Probably my longest and earliest relationship with any Twain text was A Con-
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 3
necticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I remember taking out an abridged, quite tame children’s edition from my
elementary school library and reading it when I was eight or nine. I recollect that I liked it quite a bit. I especially
thought it was interesting how Twain placed Merlin in the role of villain, when all the other Arthurian stories I had
previously read characterized him as a kind mentor
and friend to the people of Camelot. However, when
“Great works of literature need to be read
I reread (or perhaps actually read) the book as an
and reread, again and again, as we grow and
undergraduate, I was completely surprised by the digain different perspectives.”
rect anti-religious tone, the downright creepy Daniel
Beard illustrations, and the extremely violent ending.
Dr. Joseph Lemak
In my second pass through the novel, I took something completely different from the story. I think that
may have been the first moment when I realized that great works of literature need to be read and reread, again and
again, as we grow and gain different perspectives. Now, as I assume stewardship of Twain’s legacy here in Elmira
where the Yankee came to life, the text seems even richer and more deeply interesting. Mark Twain’s writings allow
us to create different interpretations of his works as we, ourselves, change. I would like to think that all great works
of culture -- whether art, music, or literature -- allow that growth, and Twain’s works most definitely stand in that
prestigious group.”
Dr. Lemak will begin directing the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies on January 1, 2016. He
already has begun organizing the Center’s fourth Weekend Symposium, MARK TWAIN AND YOUTH, scheduled
to be held in October 2016 (see page 11 for more information). Organization of the 2017 Eighth International
Conference of Mark Twain Studies will begin in early 2016. Dr. Lemak’s email address is jlemak@elmira.edu
MEET TRISH CORDELL, CENTER SECRETARY
In addition to its new director, the Center for Mark Twain Studies also welcomed a new secretary this fall, Patricia (Trish) Cordell. Trish commented, “I’m
excited to have the opportunity to work as the Academic Secretary for the Center
for Mark Twain Studies. I’ve been at Elmira College for one year now, and since I
began working at the Center this past September I’ve already met so many wonderfully interesting people. I look forward to working alongside our new director and
meeting many more.”
Trish believes her life came full circle in coming to work at Elmira College.
In 1982, she had taken a state exam for job placement in the area, but while she
waited for the results, life took a different turn, and she joined the military instead.
While at Basic Training for the United States Air Force, her mother informed her
that the state had found her a job, and she could come home and work in the library
at Syracuse University.
“Well, you can’t just leave the military,” Trish commented with a smile, “so
after serving 29 years and enjoying two years of retirement, I thought it was time to
head back into the working world. A very dear friend of many years suggested apply- Trish Cordell, Center Secretary,
ing the various skill sets I had learned in the military at Elmira College. I took her on the Cowles Hall Portico
advice to heart, and, the rest, as they say, is history.” Trish’s considerable skills will
be a great benefit to the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies.
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 4
MEET NATHANIEL BALL,
ARCHIVIST and CURATOR
Nathaniel’s current goals for the Mark Twain Ar
Nathaniel Ball, Elmira College’s new Archivist and Curator, has had strong connections to the Elmira chives involve enhancing access through description and
area from birth. Nathaniel grew up in the Southern digitization. This requires creating finding aids for curTier, and now, years later, returns to the area as the stew- rent collections, creating metadata, enhancing searchabilard of records related to Mark Twain’s connection with ity of collections and having more content of the archive
available digitally. “I think there may have been a disconElmira.
Nathaniel notes that his introduction to Mark nect between Quarry Farm and the Archives in the past,
Twain began with Twain’s most well-known works, and I am looking to bridge that gap by having more content available in print and online.
many of which were written at
A database and shelf lists will enQuarry Farm. “My reading, like
hance access to books in the liso many others’, began and endbrary, and finding aids of Twain
ed with those works. I am actively
related collections held by the arrevitalizing my study in the areas
chives will be available on site at
that truly demonstrate the arc
Quarry Farm.”
and depth of Twain’s biblio
Nathaniel holds degrees
graphic output. ‘Letters from the
from Corning Community ColEarth’ and ‘Mysterious Stranger,’
lege and the State University of
both of which were published
New York at Geneseo, and he
posthumously, are in my reading
earned a Master’s degree in Library
queue.”
and Information Science from
Nathaniel is pleased to
Kent State University. While at
join both the Elmira College and
Kent State, he contributed to the
Mark Twain communities. “The
development of an Encoded Arbreadth of professional growth
chival Description (EAD) tool at
that Elmira College had to offer
the Center for Psychology, a part
was integral in my decision to
of the University of Akron. He
come here. The diversity of the
continued his career with grantarchives that include institutionfunded positions at the Adironal archives and manuscript coldack Museum in Blue Mountain
lections as well as art collection Nathaniel Ball in the Elmira College
Lake, New York and Truman
responsibilities were paramount. Mark Twain Archive.
State University in KirksComing from a background
in archives, particularly a “I am honored to have such a noble figure as ville, Missouri. In 2013,
Nathaniel returned to the
background working with
Mark
Twain
as
my
archival
accomplice.”
Adirondack Museum as
manuscript collections, I’ve
the Library Automation
become accustomed to the Nathaniel Ball
and Digitization Project
various tasks required to
Manager, responsible for
enhance access. Because organizational and research
methods are required to properly document collections, cataloging and digitizing manuscript collections and
over time, a person becomes inextricably linked with ephemera and architectural records. He joined Elmira
the stewardship they are charged with maintaining. I College in July.
am honored to have such a noble figure as Mark Twain
as my archival accomplice.”
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 5
WELCOME
Professor Matthew Seybold, Americanist
Dr. Matthew Seybold joined the Elmira Col- es we associate with his era or our own. Twain isn’t a prolege faculty in September 2015 as Assistant Professor gressive or a socialist or a neoliberal or laissez faire. I argue
of English and the College’s new Americanist. Dr. that recent research in behavioral economics actually synSeybold was attracted to Elmira College because of thesizes Twain’s inconsistencies by placing human irrationality at the center of an economic
its uniqueness: “For a Twain
theory. The dominant assumption
Scholar, there is nowhere else
of the hugely popular discipline of
like it. It possesses a rich tradipolitical economy in Twain’s time
tional archive, but the College
was that economic agents (both inand the town itself are also a
dividuals and institutions) acted acgeo-cultural archive. cording to rational self-interest.
Matt received his Ph.D.
Anybody who has read Twain
from the University of Califorknows he is perhaps our most eminia, Irvine (2012) after which
nent cataloguer of human irratiohe spent two years teaching
nality, and this fascination made
American Literature at the Unihim predisposed to satire all ecoversity of Alabama. He received
nomic positions which presumed
his undergraduate degree in
otherwise.”
English & American Studies
Dr. Seybold’s research also
from Washington University in
Dr. Seybold on the steps of the Mark Twain Study.
draws on the works of John MaySt. Louis, where he was a Mylonard Keynes, Henry James,
nas Scholar in the Humanities. Dr. Seybold’s “Even putting Mark Twain aside, the institution- Herman Melville, Deirdre
scholarship focuses on al and regional connections to abolitionism, the McCloskey, Charlotte Perkins
intersections of print women’s movement, the Union Army, etc., make Gilman, Maria Ruiz de Burton, John Kenneth Galbraith,
culture and economic
Elmira wildly appealing to a scholar of American
T. S. Eliot, and John Dos Pasrhetoric in the United
literature
and
history.”
sos. In 2013 he was given the
States, primarily from
Dr.
Matt
Seybold
Eliot Society’s Fathman
the founding of the New
Young Scholar Award for his
York Stock Exchange in
1817 to the Crash of 1929. His most pressing current work on the poet’s formative years at Lloyds Bank. In 2014
Twain-related project is a paper called “Mark Twain, he was a Lillian Gary Taylor Fellow in American LiteraBehavioral Economist” which will be featured at the ture at University of Virginia, where he explored the Dos
conference of the Modern Language Association in Passos Papers. Recent and forthcoming publications can
be found in Western Humanities Review, Reception, the Mark
January.
“Much of my recent scholarship,” Dr. Seybold Twain Annual, and the Mark Twain Journal.
Matt notes that he has “a beautiful, patient wife,
noted, “has focused on Twain’s ever-evolving and seam- ingly inconsistent treatment of economic subjects. In Michelle, who I met in Long Beach, and a border collie
short, he was clearly fascinated by the economic theory mix, Dahlia, with nigh unprecedented frisbee-catching
and policy of the Gilded Age (the explosion of finance, ability.” He adds that he is also “a rabid fan of the Chithe rapid accrual of corporate and private wealth, theo- cago Cubs and the Los Angeles Clippers, two teams who
ries of marginal utility, the monetization of media, have gone a combined 152 years without winning a single
etc.), but he doesn’t fall neatly into the ideological box- championship.”
DEAR FRIENDS
DECEMBER 2015
Page 6
“Piling up Manuscript”
Quarry Farm Residencies -- A 2015 Sampler
by Steve Webb, Quarry Farm Caretaker
A great many visitors journeyed up Elmira’s East Hill this
year to enjoy residencies at Quarry Farm. As the Farm’s caretaker, I
feel privileged to greet and share experiences with the passionate
and appreciative scholars-in-residence who stay here. Each member
of the Mark Twain scholarly family adds a chapter to a story that
began almost one hundred and fifty years ago. Their collected tales
weave a tapestry of brilliant minds fortified by cool afternoon breezes and the quiet blessings that remote places instill so unassumingly.
Since the inception of the Quarry Farm residency program,
a guest book in the kitchen -- now several volumes (see right) -- has
recorded the feelings of the Farm’s various residents. A sampling of
comments from the past year appears here.
Ksenia Romashova
Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Germany
“This place was a great inspiration
and motivation. Here my work went
three times faster.”
Laura Skandera Trombley
Thea Anderson
Huntington Library
University of Rochester
“The visit was wonderful, and I accomplished far more than I thought
I would when I started.”
“To be granted the time to work in
this inspiring environment is a rare
and unexpected luxury beyond
belief.”
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 7
Jacques Lamarre
Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT
“I did what I set out to do at Quarry
Farm -- write two plays based on
Twain’s work.”
Alan Manning & Nicole Amare
Brigham Young University
University of South Alabama
“What an amazing privilege this has
been. We are so thankful to be here
in Twain’s airspace.”
Mark Dawidziak & Sara &Becky
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Independent Scholar
“We considered chaining ourselves to
the front porch, in desperate hopes of
staying forever.”
Joe & Charlotte Csicsila
Eastern Michigan University
“Another productive and inspiring
stay. The Michael Kiskis Collection
transforms the house. What an
excellent resource.”
Alan Gribben & Irene Wong
Auburn University Montgomery
“Quarry Farm holds a special place
for all who have lived in the house,
trekked to the Study site, and
experienced the quiet on the front
porch.”
Jeanne Reesman
Susan K. & Billie Harris
University of Texas at San Antonio
“Warm thanks for the opportunity
to stay in the house. It was magical.”
“It’s been a perfect stay.”
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
CHOICE BITS
An Exhibition at the Arnot Art Museum
Elmira College’s Mark Twain Archive hosted a
Spring exhibition at the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira.
Mark Woodhouse organized the exhibition and the
accompanying catalogue and offered several lectures
to community
members
and
students.
The
exhibition’s title
piece, Choice Bits,
(left) came from a
collection published in London by Diprose
& Bateman in
1885.
The exhibition featured
an assortment of
items from the
Mark Twain Archive including
first and rare editions, association
volumes, pieces
from the Antenne Collection, letters, a manuscript,
and a number of special items like the wager stones,
the manuscript trunk (below), and a Jabberwock.
Right: Julia Beecher’s
creation, dubbed a
“Jabberwock” by
Mark Twain.
Middle: One of a set
of cards written by
Mark Twain acknowledging receipt of a
‘Jabberwock” from
Mrs. Beecher.
Bottom: Mark Woodhouse speaking at the
Arnot Art Museum
exhibition.
Page 8
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 9
WENY’s Mark Twain Literacy Project
Distributes 16,000+ Books
Ten years ago, the Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies received a generous invitation to forge a
partnership with WENY. Mr. Brian Lilly, station owner, proposed a collaborative project that would put books
written by Mark Twain into the hands of schoolchildren throughout the region. Since 2005, Mr. Lilly’s television
station has placed more than 16,000 books into the hands of young readers in New York and Pennsylvania.
“Mr. Lilly’s generosity has been quiet and steadfast,” Dr. Snedecor commented. “He has never refused a request for books in the past ten years, no matter how large or small.” Students receive bookplates (below) and take
ownership of their books. A quote on the bookplate, attributed to Samuel Johnson, summarizes Mr. Lilly’s philanthropy well: ““The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” After
enjoying the books in a classroom setting, many students participate in field trips to visit the Mark Twain sites in
Elmira. Michelle Halperin, an elementary school teacher at Elmira’s Hendy Elementary School, has participated
in the Literacy Project since its inception. “The books provided to the children have been a gateway not only to
Twain, but to community pride. Reading a biography of Twain, and then furthering their study through The Center for Mark Twain Studies, helps students gain an understanding of the rich historical
relationship between the author and Elmira. Students feel a personal connection which
only grows as we share Twain’s stories. I’m grateful for the generosity of the Mark Twain
Literacy Project and look forward to sharing the Twain experience with each new class.”
Far left: Recipients of books gather at
the Mark Twain Monument in the
Woodlawn Cemetery.
Left: The bookplate.
Far left: A student creates
a Mark Twain t-shirt as
part of a class visit.
Left: A completed t-shirt.
Far left: An illustrated
thank you note.
Left: A collection of thank
you notes from students.
Top: Boxes of books
awaiting shipment.
Bottom: Another
illustrated thankyou.
DEAR FRIENDS
DECEMBER 2015
Page 10
MARK TWAIN & THE CHILD
2015 Summer Teachers’ Institute
The Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies again collaborated with the Schuyler-Chemung-TiogaCorning Teachers’ Center to offer the 2015 Summer
Teachers’ Institute in late July. More than 50 teachers
attended the two-day institute held in Cowles Hall on
the Elmira College campus (below) and at Quarry Farm.
On the front porch at
Quarry Farm
Attendees were delighted by the stimulating discussions
and lectures led by Dr. Kerry Driscoll of the Univeristy
of Saint Joseph and Dr. Ann M. Ryan of Le Moyne College. Drs. Ryan and Driscoll posited that although Mark
Twain is most often celebrated for his novelistic progeny—Huck, Tom, Jim, and Puddn’head—his short stories
and
tall
tales showcase his wit
and originality in a
wonderfully
condensed
form. Over
the two-day
period, dis-
Dr. Kerry Driscoll (left) and
Dr. Ann Ryan (right)
Sharing thoughts
cussion focused on the ways Twain both adapted and innovated his love of a story well told—in taverns, around
campfires, on the stage, and even on a front porch.
Summertime blossoms
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
A Weekend Symposium
MARK TWAIN & YOUTH
October 7-8, 2016
It has been more than fifty years since a book devoted to the theme of youth in
Mark Twain’s life and writings has been published. Mark Twain and Youth, a collection of
twenty-five previously unpublished essays on that topic, is scheduled for publication in
the late summer of 2016. The book also contains an introduction by editors Kevin Mac
Donnell and R. Kent Rasmussen,
and a foreword by Hal Holbrook.
All royalties from the sale of this
book will be divided equally among
the four major Mark Twain centers
at Berkeley, Elmira, Hannibal, and
Hartford.
To celebrate the publication of
this book, a symposium will be
held at Quarry Farm on October
7-8, 2016. Panels will follow the
chapters of the book—Overviews,
The Clemens Family, Sam Clemens’s Life Experiences, Mark
Twain’s Writings, and Modern Perspectives, and most of the essayists
have already enthusiastically confirmed their participation. Unlike
previous symposiums, the entire
event will be held at Quarry Farm
and will give both essayists and attendees abundant opportunities to
discuss the variety of topics covered
in the book. Editors Mac Donnell
and Rasmussen will act as moderators, the tone will be informal, and the setting was described by Mark Twain himself as a
“foretaste of heaven.”
The symposium will begin with a dinner at Quarry Farm on Friday, October
7, followed by a keynote address by Jon Clinch, the author of the widely acclaimed novel
Finn. Saturday will be filled with at least four panels, each held in the Barn and none
running concurrently, and lunch and dinner will be served at Quarry Farm as well. It is
possible a fifth panel will be held Sunday morning; otherwise, essayists and attendees are
invited to linger at Quarry Farm during the day and enjoy the autumnal tints before returning home, certainly a bit older, but perhaps a bit wiser.
COST$140.00
HOUSING On the Elmira College campus or the Holiday Inn
TRANSPORTATION
The Center for Mark Twain Studies will provide
shuttles to and from Quarry Farm.
REGISTRATION AND PANEL INFORMATION
WILL FOLLOW IN 2016
Page 11
A
N
N
O
U
N
C
I
N
G
Elmira’s
Fourth
Weekend
Symposium
2008
The Mysterious Stranger
Chad Rohman &
Joe Csicsila
2010
“en route”
Terry Oggel
2012
Complicating Twain
Kerry Driscoll &
Ann Ryan
DEAR FRIENDS
December 2015
Page 12
THANKS TO OUR DEAR FRIENDS
Contributions (to $25)
Christina Aguila Chicago, IL
James Alt Edina, MN
Nicole Amare Fairhope, AL
Jim Bartels Chandler, AZ
Lawrence Berkove Southfield, MI
David Bianculli Cherry Hill, NJ
Carolyn Bossard Elmira, NY
Norma Brooks Elmira, NY
Mrs. William Brunning Elmira, NY
Kevin Budd Toronto, ON
Ann Cady Elmira, NY
Lisa Carpenter Syracuse, NY
Sabrina Chambers McKenzie, TN
Katsuhiko Chikugo Iwate, Japan
Joseph Church SUNY Binghamton
Benjamin Click St. Mary’s City, MD
Thomas Copeland St. Paul, MN
Steve Courtney Terryville, CT
James Curyk Simpson, PA
Leslie Dann Brooklyn, NY
Sarah Daugherty San Jose, CA
Alan Dedrick Erin, NY
Diana Denner Troy, NY
Anjana Dev New Delhi, India
Shirley Edsall Campbell, NY
Richard Enders Clinton, NY
Allison Ensor Knoxville, TN
Christine Ewanyk Horseheads, NY
George Farr Elmira, NY
Martin Fertig Lansdale, PA
Suzanne Fudge Belfast, ME
Rebecca Glenister Allentown, PA
Lulu Gmoser Bronxville, NY
Jules Hojnowski Ithaca, NY
Martha Horton Elmira, NY
Ellen Hyland Elmira, NY
Hiroyoshi Ichikawa Osaka, Japan
The Justis New Brighton, PA
Joyce Kane Elmira, NY
Gary Keister Goshen, IN
Laurie Kelechava Bethlehem, PA
Dear Friends,
It is impossible to express adequate thanks for
your support for our efforts at the Center for Mark
Twain Studies. With each gift of membership, we feel
immense gratitude. Please know that your money is
used exclusively to support the programming, preservation, and publications of the Elmira College Center for
Mark Twain Studies. Names appear here to honor your
support.
Jan Kinch Edinboro, PA
Jonathan Klemens
Randall Knoper Amherst, MA
Harold Kolb, Jr. Covesville, VA
Anne Kromer Elmira, NY
Mary Ann Leonard Gillett, PA
Joan Lindquist Jackson, NV
Albert Locher Mattenweg, Switzerland
Sharon McCoy Winterville, GA
Marjorie MacPherson Elmira, NY
Robert McKinnon Elmira, NY
Jenny Monroe Corning, NY
Jeffrey Morgan Redding, CT
Gloria Moss Elmira, NY
Paul Nelson Tryon, NC
Marian Oldroyd Elmira Heights, NY
Sally Randall Penfield, NY
Timothy Rodgers Hubbard, OH
Roy Rosenstein Paris, France
Sam Rosenthal Castaic, CA
Brandt Rowles Medina, PA
Katsumi Satouchi Osaka, Japan
Ann Savage Elmira, NY
Robert Schmieder Lewisburg, PA
Charlotte Taylor Scott Elmira, NY
Janeen Sheehe Troy, PA
Mary M. Smith Rochester, NY
Mary Wells Smith Elmira, NY
Kathleen Solometo Elmira, NY
Alta Stevenson Elmira, NY
Jeff Steinbrink South Portland, ME
Nancy Swartwood Elmira, NY
Ronald Taylor Richardson,TX
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Margaret Tenney Charleston, SC
Tom Thurber Gillett, PA
Martha Treichler Hammondsport, NY
Heather Turnbull Chicago, IL
Deanne Vandevert Grants Pass, OR
Kathy Weitzel Bayport, NY
Howard Zendle Vestal, NY
Contributions (to $30)
Scott & Laurie Anderson Addison,NY
Elizabeth Barenthaler Elmira, NY
David Foster Ashland, OH
Susan McWilliams Barndt Claremont, CA
George Bevington Atlanta, GA
Kevin and Pegge Bochynski Beverly, MA
Mr. & Mrs. John Boedicker Elmira, NY
Blair & Barbara Boyce Pine City, NY
Mary Ann Caroscio Elmira, NY
Mary Chapman Lawrence, KS
Jane Cummings Elmira, NY
Susan J Cummings & Josef Pisko Moro Ithaca, NY
John & Sarah Davis Meefreesboro, NC
Anthony & Constance DeBerardinis Athens, OH
Ray & Linda Delamater Poughkeepsie, NY
Patrick Dooley Cuba, NY
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Drahl Belvidere, NJ
Rebecca Floyd Manchester, CT
Dr. & Mrs. John Forrest Elmira, NY
Joseph & Hallie Fulton Lorena, TX
Ray Gibson Bath NY
Michael & Michelle Halperin Elmira, NY
James & Alicia Hare Elmira, NY
William Heaney Belfast, NY
Robert & Gail Henderson Seaford, DE
Jerry Holleran Elmira, NY
Dr. & Mrs Jon Homuth Elmira, NY
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hovencamp Elmira, NY
Robert & Anne Ichihana Herkimer, NY
Dorothy Jones New Carlisle, IN
Mike Kaplan Marina Del Raya, CA
Lee Krauth Boulder, CO
Kevin & Donna Mac Donnell Austin, TX
Mike McDonough Brinnon, WA
Kenneth & Gay Poetzl Houston, TX
Michael & Linda Pratt Elmira, NY
James & Martha Rapp Quincy, NY
Bob & Marilou Ruble Elmira, NY
Peter & Linda Sedlak Horseheads, NY
Daniel Teed Watkins Glen, NY
Martha Pierce & Jack Walsh Elmira, NY
Ron & Kelly White Elmira Heights, NY
Contributions (to $100)
John Alexander Elmira, NY
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Aneshansley Ithaca, NY
Margaret Arnesen Elmira, NY
J. Seeley & Anne Booth Pine City, NY
Bruce & Shirlee Boselli Sayre, PA
Sandra Bradley Potomac, MD
John & Jacquelyn Chotkowski Elmira, NY
Marvin Cole Candler, NC
Beverly Dates Painted Post, NY
Natalie Denton Elmira, NY
Kerry Driscoll West Hartford, CT
Dennis Eddings Salem, OR
Dr. Alan Gribben Montgomery AL
Charles & Shawn Hast Rome, NY
Joy Hoffman Elmira, NY
Alan & Barbara Hutchinson Elmira, NY
Lee Keisling Elmira, NY
Herbert Klepper Tallahassee, FL
Judith Yaross Lee Athens, OH
The Lincolns Horseheads, NY
Sandra Littleton Uetz Hammond, IN
John Lockwood Washington, DC
Richard Lowenstein Westport, CT
Malcolm & Virginia Marsden Elmira, NY
Denton May Dolores, CO
Barbara McDowell Elmira, NY
John & Patty Pascal West Caldwell, NJ
Jeanne Reeseman San Antonio, TX
Tom Reigstad Kenmore, NY
Samuel & Jeanette Ricco Kent, OH
Sally Riggs’45 Middleburg, VA
Charles Rogers APO-AE
Karen Russell Atlanta, GA
Neil Schmitz Buffalo, NY
Stuart & Lucy Schweizer Pine City, NY
Thomas Silkaitis McHenry, IL
Barbara Smith Altoona, PA
Richard Wack Wilmington, DE
Thomas Werge South Bend, IN
Carl Wieck Tampere, Finland
Page 13
DECEMBER 2015
Contributions (to $200)
Joseph & Sue Alvarez Charlotte, NC
Tedd & Carol Arnold Hawthorne, FL
Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Calderone Horseheads, NY
Angelo Cifaldi North Haledon, NJ
Joan Covici Dallas, TX
Patricia Decker Horseheads, NY
Jacqueline Droleski Elmira, NY
David Dussere Mckenney, VA
Henry Feldman Newtonville, MA
Charles & Sandra Gold Chicago, IL
Hal Holbrook Hollywood, CA
Dr. Thomas Inge Ashland, VA
Janice Beaty Janssen Cape Coral, FL
McAvoy Lane Incline Village, NV
William Linn Lakewood, CA
Karen Lystra Indianapolis, IN
Dr. K. Patrick & Cathy Ober Clemmons, NC
Martha Olmstead Pulteney, NY
Chad Rohman Elmhurst, IL
Paul & Lauren Schweizer Phoenix, AZ
Robert & Phyllis Steward Carson City, NV
Matthew Uzzle New York, NY
Dr. Thomas Wilmeth Megno, WI
France & Linda Laux Elmira, NY
David Sloane Hamden, CT
Douglas & Meredith Tifft Elmira, NY
Patron Members ($250)
Karen Bartholomew Menlo Park, CA
Rene Berry Savannah, GA
John & Ruth Elliott Millport, NY
William Loos Towanda, NY
Bruce Michelson Urbana, IL
Linda Morris Berkeley, CA
Alan Parsons Elmira, NY
Nancy Ruffner Chappaqua, NY
Harry & Connie Wonham Eugene, OR
Patron Members ($300+)
Susan & William Harris Brooklyn, NY
William S. McConnor Rancho Santé Fe, CA
James Perry Chevy Chase, MD
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 14
Benefactor Members ($500+)
Rahn & Timberley Adams Boone, NC
Carol Everingham Lafayette, NY
Blanche Bacorn Everingham Lafayette, NY
Holger & Kristin Kersten Magdeburg, Germany
Harvey & Elizabeth Lynch Granada Hills, CA
William McConnor Ranch Santé Fe, CA
Wiley & Karen Wilson Holland, MI
In Memoriam
In Memory of Blanche Bacorn Everingham ’38
Carol Everingham Lafayette, NY
Martha Bacorn Houston, TX
Mac & JB Cotton, Jr. Lubbock, TX
Howard Scherry New York, NY
Taylor Egy Syracuse, NY
Sandra Hunt King of Prussia, PA
In Memory of Irene Langdon
Carl & Cindy Hayden Elmira, NY
In Memory of Dr. Thomas Tenney
Carol Drowota Hanahan, SC
Please Note
In order to meet our publication deadline, contributions received after November 30 could not appear in this issue of Dear Friends.
DECEMBER 2015
DEAR FRIENDS
Page 15
Consider a Quarry Farm Research Residency
The Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies offers Fellowships-in-Residence to scholars pursuing research or
writing in the field of Mark Twain Studies. The Quarry Farm Fellowship program covers limited travel expenses and
provides lodging at Quarry Farm, where Mark Twain resided and wrote over the course of twenty summers throughout the 1870s and 1880s. An honorarium may be negotiated. The length of the residency will also be negotiated in
an effort to meet the needs of the scholar.
Quarry Farm Fellows have access to a fine collection of secondary scholarly material shelved on the premises including the collections of the late Drs. James Wilson and Herbert A. Wisbey, Jr., and the comprehensive Michael J.
Kiskis Collection. In addition, Fellows are welcome to use the Mark Twain Archive located in the Gannett-Tripp
Library on Elmira College’s nearby campus. The Archive houses an exhaustive assemblage of biography, criticism,
and reference sources; microfilm of material related to Elmira from the collections of the Mark Twain Project, the
Mark Twain House, Vassar College, and the Huntington Library; and a library of photographs. The Archive also
holds the association volumes from Quarry Farm, containing Mark Twain’s marginalia, the Antenne Collection of
books form Mark Twain’s personal library, and the John S. Tuckey Collection of more than two hundred and fifty
scholarly titles. The Collection grows each year.
When a Quarry Farm Fellow is in residence, the Center reserves the right to make occasional use of the first floor
of the house. The Quarry Farm Fellow is, however, assured of privacy on the second floor where a comfortable
study contains the collections of secondary material and a computer with wireless internet access.
Quarry Farm Fellows have access to a fully equipped kitchen and shared laundry. Linens are provided. The pantry
and refrigerator will be stocked with supplies upon the Fellow’s arrival. On-campus meal plans can be arranged with
the College’s dining service. An automobile is desirable, as Quarry Farm is located three miles from the Elmira
College campus. Immediate family members may accompany Quarry Farm Fellows, but this must be pre-arranged
with the Director. A full-time caretaker is on the premises in an apartment adjacent but separate from the main
house.
Application is by way of an email or letter to the Director of the Center, Dr. Joseph Lemak. Please specify the
nature of the project and indicate at least two sets of preferred dates for the residency. Include a resume and three
letters of reference. For more information, please contact twaincenter@elmira.edu or jlemak@elmira.edu.
Photo courtesy Elmira College Mark Twain Archive
(607) 735-1941
CENTER FOR MARK TWAIN STUDIES
One Park Place
Elmira, NY 14901
The Mark Twain Monument in Elmira’s Woodlawn Cemetery against a backdrop of autumn leaves.