1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature
3. poetry

Word Sender*
The Neihardt Foundation Newsletter
“Lakota holy man Black Elk’s description of the Poet”
Volume 43, Number 2
Bancroft, Nebraska 68004 December 2012
12th Annual Laureate Feast
An even dozen wonderful nights of fine food, fine wines, good company
and lots of laughter. On November 11, the Neihardt Foundation held its
annual Laureate Feast fundraiser dinner and auction for 96 participants at
the Culinary Arts Building on the Fort Omaha campus of Metro Community
College in Omaha.
The year the Word Sender Award went to journalist and author Joseph
Starita of Lincoln. Starita has nearly single-handedly revitalized interest in the
moving and politically crucial historical event of the life and trial of Ponca
Chief Standing Bear with his award-winning work I Am A Man.
Wines from Silver Hills Vineyards of Tekamah paired nicely with a
selection of hors d’oeuvers accompanied by an eclectic mix of guitar melodies
by Dr. Ed Elfers of Wayne State College. During the reception, the silent
auction room was crowded with bidders for holiday decor, wine gift baskets,
fine art, and handcrafted jewelry.
As always, the food was exquisite; planned, prepared and served by
students of the culinary school. The various courses were presented at
different stations so guests could decide on the entree or dessert first. With
dishes such as beef short ribs, cornbread and sausage pudding, braised duck succotash and pumpkin fry bread
with cinnamon ice cream it was difficult to decide.
Dr. Jon Cerny, Neihardt Board president presented Joseph Starita with the award and everyone was in rapt
attention as Starita spoke on the importance of Neihardt paving the way for authors of native American historic
biography like himself. Then the enthusiastic bidding for live auction items began as emcee for the evening Paul
Hammel, also a Neihardt Board member, turned it over to Dr. Myrv Christopherson, who has served as our most
lively auctioneer for several years. Items up for bids included a hot air balloon ride, two different condo week
vacation packages, a first edition of Neihardt’s Bundle of Myrrh, a Scotch tasting experience at the Dundee Dell
and a set of hand-made Adirondack chairs called “Laureate Loungers” featuring Neihardt’s portrait burned into
the table top.
Carol Cerny and honored guest Joe
Starita at the 2012 Laureate’s Feast
Nancy Evans, Paul and Don Hammel finish
their meal and get ready for the live auction
Senator Lydia Brasch was ready to
sample the unique food prepared by
the culinary students
Page 2
Word Sender
Sunday at the Museum
A combination of historical and artistic
programs made up the SAM’s for the fall.
In September free-lance writer Marita
Placek showed photos and told stories of
the Great Blizzard of 1948-49. Many in the
audience of 85 shared their own memories
of that storm.
In October we hosted a fascinating
unusual exhibit of fabric art by Beth
Beth Vogel-Baker with felt panels
Vogel-Baker of Norfolk. These hand felted
collages, predominantly on indigenous
themes entranced visitors.
In November, Neihardt Site Director
Nancy Gillis offered a look at the other side
of the Homestead Act of 1862, a balance
to the national celebrations of its 150th
anniversary by examining its impacts on the
tribes living on the Great Plains.
December brought back a popular
group, Troubadour, for a seasonal concert
by the instrumental trio of contemporary
Nancy Gillis with furs common
and traditional holiday music.
during the height of the fur
trading era
Souvenir Book Bags
Handmade souvenir book bags
made by Carol Vogt of Bancroft
are now available at the Neihardt
Center.
Visitors may purchase a bag
for $20, or they are free with the
purchase of $25 or more of books.
The bags feature a variety of
embroidered objects on colorful
quilted material--perfect to carry
any books you purchase home with
you.
Neihardt Journals
Available
Past and present issues of the
Neihardt Journal are available at
the Neihardt Center in Bancroft.
The first journal was
published in 1999 with a forward
written by Hilda Neihardt in
which she explains the reason
for the journals. “Our Spring
Conference, a day-long scholarly
event which is held annually in
April, has been enriched by many
notable speakers . . . to preserve
these valuable contributions to our
spring conferences and make them
available to people who did not
attend as well as those that did, the
idea of their collection in a journal
was born.” Past issues sell for $3.50
and the current issue costs $5.
The Neihardt Foundation Newsletter
Mark Your
Calendars
Upcoming Sunday at
the Museum Programs
All programs begin at 2 p.m. and
are free and open to the public
January 20, 2013
“Backstage”
Ron Hull
Ron’s life and career in
broadcasting--author book
signing
February 17, 2012
Visit Nebraska’s Forgotten
Cemeteries with
Brad Kellogg
March 10, 2013
Learn the impact of singer/
songwriter and activist “Woody
Guthrie”
Mike Adams & Kathryn Benzel
Sculpture Project
On display at the center is a
bronze maquette
of the final
sculpture design
of Black Elk and
John Neihardt
by renowned
sculptor Herb
Mignery of Ft.
Collins, CO.
The larger
than life size sculpture will grace
the grounds of the Neihardt State
Historic Site in Bancroft. Fund
raising is halfway to completion.
Tax exempt con-tributions are
being accepted; please remember
this project in your year end giving.
The Neihardt Foundation Newsletter
Word Sender
Page 3
47th Neihardt Day Salutes
“Men of the River”
The 47th annual Neihardt Day celebration on August
5th focused on the theme “Men of the River” highlighted
by musician and story teller Michael McDonald of Yankton
who told sometimes moving, sometimes humorous stories
and sang songs about the hardy Scots-Irish members of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition in a program entitled “Travels
of the Corps - 1804 .”
Board president Dr. Jon Cerny welcomed everyone to
the outdoor festival and introduced special guests. During
the program, local actor John Mangan read as Mike Fink
from Neihardt’s Song of Three Friends about the AshleyHenry Expedition of 1828 while Director Nancy Gillis interspersed the excerpts with a historical narrative.
As ever, we were happy to welcome Ron Hull of NET for his 46th appearance as moderator and emcee. The
program ended with the recorded recitation of Black Elk’s Prayer by John G. Neihardt.
The event was sponsored by the Neihardt Foundation, Cuming County Visitors Bureau, and the Nebraska
Humanities Council.
4th Annual Beer Fest
Musician/storyteller Michael McDonald
performed at Neihardt Day
Jon Bailey volunteered at the
Beer Fest
The evening of August 4 found a crowd of
120 beer lovers and Neihardt enthusiasts on the
patio at the Country Pub in Bancroft to sample
craft and home brewed beverages, munch on
lots of salty and savory goodies, and listen to
clever limericks penned by audience members
themselves. The limericks were judged by the
crowd, as had been the brew offerings. By
popular vote and a panel of judges (our very
own democratic system) Best Overall Beer went
to Modern Monks of Lincoln who won with an
Alt Beer. The nod for Best Nebraska Brew was
Hopluia brewed by Spilker Ales of Cortland.
In a very close race, Tim Anderson of Lincoln won first place for the
bestlimerick followed by Walt Duda who placed second for his stylistic
“Cycle of Lucky Bucket.” Neihardt board member Paul Hammel chaired
the event and acted as auctioneer for several beer related items. The
weather cooperated and it was never too hot, the beer stayed cold, and
everyone enjoyed a lively evening.
Paul Hammel announced Tim Anderson
was the winner of the limerick contest
Brothers Clare, Jim and Walt Duda rode in
to the Beer Fest on their motorcycles
Page 4
Word Sender
The Neihardt Foundation Newsletter
2013 Spring Conference Scheduled for April 27
Plan to attend the Neihardt Spring Conference on Saturday, April 27, 2013. The conference theme will be
“Neihardt & Education on the Great Plains.”
Neihardt is best known for his poetry and as the author of Black Elk Speaks, but he was also a skilled
educator. In his teaching, he utilized what academia calls the Socratic Method, a combination of lecture,
reading and dialectics. The conference will bring together thebidea of a classical education, a modern education
and a traditional education as seen through both western and Native American perspectives.
Dr. Joseph Weixelman, Professor of American History at Wayne State College will address various historic
legislation including the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1892. Dr. James Work, American Literature emeritus
from Colorado State University will investigate Neihardt’s methods of teaching as well as his personality as
a teacher. Joe Green, a Minden, Nebraska, high school teacher who uses Neihardt’s works extensively will
explore the use and importance of Neihardt’s style and works in today’s classroom, and Jerome Kills Small,
a Dakota/Lakota language and cultures teacher recently retired from the University of South Dakota, will
address how Native Americans educate in a form very similar to the ancient Socratic Method. Nebraska State
archeologist Nancy Carlson, who is also the curator at Genoa Indian School museum, will talk about the
purpose and legacy of the Genoa School and the boarding school experience as it dealt with Native American
children. Moderator for the conference will be Neihardt Board of Directors member Tim Anderson, Professor
of Journalism at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Scanning Correspondence Continues
Eric Johnson returned to
the Neihardt Historic Site this
summer to continue scanning
correspondence from the
Neihardt files and this year
he was joined by Christian
Gossin his roommate at
Northwestern University in
Chicago.
Eric was at the Center last summer and came back this year to
continue work on scanning the material while Christian spent his time
taking photos in and around the Neihardt Center and scanning historical
photographs that will be added to the web site.
Christian’s mother Pam Gossin of Norman, Oklahoma, received
a grant last year to digitize John Neihardt’s professional outgoing and
incoming correspondence. Scanning the documents is the first step to
having them digitized and available for on-line scholarly research. The
University of Nebraska at Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the
Humanities will be encoding the information.
Eric is majoring in anthropology and archeology and studied in
Ireland for one semester where he was involved in archeology field
surveys. He also spent time in Scotland and Ireland and said the
experience was something he would never forget, “it was fascinating
to do archeological surveys in countries where there is such a deep
history.”
This was Christian’s first trip to Bancroft; he is majoring in
journalism and is interested in working for a newspaper or magazine
after he receives his degree.
Foundation Welcomes
New Board Member
The Neihardt
Foundation welcomes James
Hulstein to its
board of directors.
James has
taught for five
years all of them
at Bancroft-Rosalie. He teaches
American History, Geography,
Government, Psychology, World
History and World Affairs in grades
9-12.
He graduated from the
University of Nebraska at Omaha
earning a Bachelors in Education
with a field endorsement in Social
Studies and is currently finishing his
Masters Degree in History.
James says he’s a die-hard
Cubs fan and in his free time
enjoys watching sports, movies and
reading.
He is planning a trip to Europe,
Morocco and Turkey next spring
and says “traveling is another huge
hobby of mine.”
The Neihardt Foundation Newsletter
Book
Aquisitions
Black Elk Speaks,a
screenplay by
Christopher Sergel based on the
book by John G. Neihardt
The Lyrics of John G. Neihardt,
phonograph recording with
notes by Lucille Ally
New Members
We welcome the following to our
membership roles:
Family
Paul & Lori Hosford, Albian, NE
Tim & Molly O”Holleran, North
Platte, NE
Individual
Jean Humlicek, Beemer, NE
Joe Jackson, Virginia Beach, VA
Melanie Throckmorton, Everett, WA
Young Poet’s Contest
The annual poetry contest
honors the memory of John G.
Neihardt as Poet Laureate by
encouraging and highlighting the
work of young poets.
First, second and third place
will be awarded in high school
(grades 10-12) and Junior High
(grades 7-9). Winners will win a
cash prize and publication in the
June, 2013, issue of The Neihardt
Foundation Newsletter Word Sender,
and the Neihardt Journal. The first
place winners will be invited to
the Neihardt Spring Conference on
April 27, 2013 to read their winning
entries.
Deadline for poetry submission
is January 25, 2013. Mail entries to
John G. Neihardt Foundation, PO
Box 344, Bancroft, NE 68004 or email entries to [email protected].
Word Sender
Page 5
Author Researching Black Elk for New Book
Author Joe Jackson spent three
days at the Neihardt Center this
summer on what he called a “literary
fishing trip.”
Jackson is in the information
gathering stage as he prepares to write
a book about Black Elk’s life. He said
he wants to look at Black Elk’s entire
life--the whole picture. “There is no
way you can replace John Neihardt’s
Black Elk Speaks, but I want to take
his story and expand the point of view
and give it a wider perspective from
Black Elk’s birth to his death.”
To gather facts for his book he left his home in Virginia Beach
and traveled to Indiana where he met with Neihardt’s granddaughter
Coralie Hughes. He then stopped at Columbia, Missouri, and Lincoln,
Nebraska, before traveling to Bancroft. “Sometimes you find really neat
stuff,” he said when referring to a 1912 letter he found where Black Elk
asked for money to go to a hot springs.
After leaving Bancroft, Jackson will head to Pine Ridge and
Wounded Knee, South Dakota; and Little Big Horn and the Bitterroot
Mountains in Wyoming. He is thinking about spending time in England
to research when Black Elk was one of six members of Buffalo Bill
Cody’s Wild West Show left behind as the troupe continued.
He said he was drawn to the subject matter because “Black Elk
was given a great vision when he was nine to save his people and this
put an incredible burden on him. He didn’t want the old ways to be lost
and used Neihardt as a communicator of rituals.”
Jackson said he is gathering a “mountain” of material for his book
which he estimates will be 120,000 words and published in 2015. He
is the author of six works of nonfiction and a novel. His latest book is
Atlantic Fever: Lindberg, His Competitors and the Race to Cross the
Atlantic. You can find information on the author at his web site www.
joejacksonbooks.com
Petersen’s Work
Accepted for Publication
Mary Petersen has had one of her
poems accepted for publication in Fine
Lines, a quarterly publication edited by
David Martin that shares poetry and
prose by writers of all ages in an attempt
to “add clarity and passion to our lives.” Mary Petersen is an Administrative
She also submitted an original
Assistant at the Neihardt Historic
sketch to complement her submission.
Site
The John G. Neihardt Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 344
Bancroft, NE 68004
www.neihardtcenter.org
[email protected]
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Dick Moodie
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Robin Neihardt
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Lori Utecht
Marie Vogt
Dr. MerlynVogt
Patty Wegner
Thank You
Tim Anderson
Carole Bagby
Cynthia Cooper
Walter M. Duda
Mike Fisk
Mary Hines
Dr. David Hoelting
James Hulstein
Randy Lukasiewicz
Dr. Michael Mann
Address______________________________________ Box No._____
Board of Directors
Dr. Jon Cerny, President
Paul Hammel, Vice President
Tim Spoeneman, Treasurer
Dr. Jon Bailey, Secretary
Town________________________________ State_____ Zip________
THE JOHN G. NEIHARDT FOUNDATION
Mail to: JOHN G NEIHARDT FOUNDATION, INC.
PO BOX 344, BANCROFT, NE 68004-0344
402-648-3388 or 1-888-777-4667
The Word Sender is the official newsletter of the
John G.. Neihardt Foundation, P.O. Box 344
Bancroft, NE 68004, 402-648-3388
Issued twice a year
Editor: Nancy S. Gillis