Special Collections Spring Lecture Series Begins this Week

Programming includes oral histories, the artistic legacy of the Faulkner family and covering civil rights

Alysia Steele (left), assistant professor of journalism, opens the Special Collections lecture series Feb. 9 with a discussion of oral histories. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Communications

OXFORD, Miss. – The Department of Archives and Special Collections at the University of Mississippi will host guest speakers on several topics throughout the semester as part of its Spring 2018 Lecture Series.

The semester features partnerships with the University Museum and the Meek School of Journalism and New Media to provide a wide range of programming.

“I am so pleased Special Collections has such a distinguished panel of speakers scheduled for the spring,” said Jennifer Ford, the department’s head. “The presentations address subjects which are both thought-provoking and varied in nature, with something to appeal to everyone.”

The series begins Friday (Feb. 9) and runs through April. Each lecture is at noon in the Faulkner Room of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, on the third floor of the J.D. William Library. All programs are free and open to the public, and guests are welcome to bring lunch to the events.

For more information, contact Ford at jwford@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7408.

The schedule features:

Feb. 9 – “Cotton Oral Histories and the Lessons Along the Way”: Alysia Steele, author and assistant professor of multiple platform journalism, will discuss her work with oral histories and lessons learned along the way.

Curtis Wilkie will discuss his news reports during the civil rights movement Feb. 15 as part of a special collections lecture for Black History Month. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

Feb. 15 – “Covering the Civil Rights Movement: Memories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”: Curtis Wilkie, UM Cook Chair and associate professor of journalism, will talk about his news reports during the civil rights movement and his memories of Martin Luther King Jr., as part of a special collections program for Black History Month.

March 6 – “The Remarkable Life of Theora Hamblett: Stories of Friendship and Art”: Ed Meek, assistant vice chancellor emeritus for public relations and associate professor emeritus of journalism, will be joined by Marti Funke, collections manager at the University Museum, to discuss the life, legacy and artwork of Mississippi artist Theora Hamblett.

April 5 – “On Tour: Promoting the Book”: Ted Ownby, director of the university’s Center for the Study of Southern Culture; Kiese Laymon, professor of English and creative writing; and John T. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, will discuss book publishing and touring.

April 5 – “Art and the Faulkners”: Publisher and author Larry Wells and Rowan Oak curator Bill Griffith will speak about the Faulkner/Falkner family as artists.