Common Places, Common Ground:
Interpreting Midwest Life and Culture
Hosted by Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Cedar Rapids, IA
November 1-3, 2012
Referred to by many as the American heartland, the Midwest is a vast region extending all the way from the eastern edges of Ohio to the far western plains of Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakotas. Generally considered as a flat and far reaching plain, broken up by gently rolling hills with fields of corn or soybeans, the Midwest is a geographically diverse region, extending from the rugged Missouri Ozarks to the vast forests and wilderness of Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. The common perception of the Midwesterner is inevitably linked with the iconic American farmer so often romanticized in 20th century literature, but the people of this region are as diverse as the land they live upon. Given this broad mixture of land, people and resources, one must ask what it is that brings them together in a single cultural label. What exactly does it mean to be “Midwestern?”
Join us in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as we explore our Midwestern heritage, examining our differences and finding the common threads of regional life and culture that bind us together. Possible session topics could include: regional and ethnic foodways Native or ethnic cultures predominant to the region. Collaborative presentations exploring agriculture, artisan and trade skills across the region Pre-conference workshops for foodways, textiles, agricultural or artisian skills
The 2012 fall conference will be hosted by Ushers Ferry Historic Village, a site that teaches, promotes and builds community from the historical perspective of a small Iowa town at the turn of the 20th century. In 2008 Ushers Ferry, along with much of the City of Cedar Rapids, was inundated by floodwaters and very nearly destroyed. Since that time, the site has made a remarkable recovery and is now open to the public. We hope you will join us in Cedar Rapids as we celebrate the spirit and endurance of common people from common places.
SEND proposals for sessions or workshops to Conference Program Chair, Ann Cejka, Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Tr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411, a.cejka@cedar-rapids.org (319) 286-5763 and FAX (888) 423-2122.
INCLUDE: Title, brief description (content, goals, applications), format (workshop, paper, panel), length (sessions approximately 60 min), audio-visual needs, brief biographical sketch, and contact information.
DEADLINE: May 15, 2012