For immediate release
Contact: Steve Scholl
Phone: 541-301-7469
email: stevescholl@jeffnet.org
The Inaugural Southern Oregon Arts and Lecture Series
With Historian and Best Selling Author Douglas Brinkley
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2009
Location: South Medford High School Auditorium
For tickets and information, see http://www.jclf.org/
The Jackson County Library Foundation is reviving the region’s long-standing interest in having acclaimed literary and cultural figures come to southern Oregon to share ideas through the Southern Oregon Arts & Lecture Series.
The inaugural lecture will be given by historian Prof. Douglas Brinkley on October 17. Called “America’s new past master†and “the best of the new generation of American historians,†Brinkley is a distinguished professor of history at Rice University and a fellow at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. His writing covers a broad range of topics, including presidents, military campaigns, American leaders, Catholicism and Hurricane Katrina. He thrills audiences with his insights on history’s biggest people and events and how they relate to current events. He is the history commentator for CBS News and a contributing editor for Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times Book Review and American Heritage.
“The Lecture series,†notes Shelley Austin, Executive Director of the Library Foundation, “connects our community with renowned writers and thinkers in a spirit of curiosity and engagement. This is a renewal of the spirit of the original Chautauqua Lectures, and brings distinguished novelists, scholars, historians, scientists, filmmakers, journalists and cultural figures to our area. While here they will talk about themselves, their work, and issues of contemporary culture.†Opportunities for additional dialogue will take place through salons at the 15 Jackson County branch libraries and at area high schools and colleges.
“We are thrilled to have a figure of Dr. Brinkley’s stature to launch the series,†says Austin. “His new book, The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America, is a perfect fit for the series. It deals with a topic — our relationship with the land — that is of concern to every one.†The establishment of Crater Lake National Park is an important part of Roosevelt’s story and will be featured in Brinkley’s lecture.
Brinkley’s book is being released in June, but The Wilderness Warrior is already gaining advance acclaim and an excerpt from the book is published in the May 2009 issue of Vanity Fair (www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/05/teddy-roosevelt-excerpt200905).
The body of work written by Brinkley is significant in its breadth and monumental in its contribution to our collective understanding of historical eras, American leaders, everyday citizens and current events. Brinkley’s research provides audiences with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the past and to further develop their opinions about tomorrow’s headline news.
The New York Times selected five of Douglas’ award-winning books as Notable Books of the Year and the recently released Reagan Diaries was a New York Times best seller.
For more information, please contact either Shelley Austin, Library Foundation Executive Director, at 541-774-6572, jclf@jcls.org or Steve Scholl, Series Producer, at 541-301-7469, stevescholl@jeffnet.org.
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