Museum launches annual speaker series

The Museum at Central School invites the public to attend its eighth annual John White Series of four distinguished presenters speaking on topics of local interest.

All programs begin at 2:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of January and February.

Jan. 10 — The series kicks off with local bird expert Dan Casey of the American Bird Conservancy, speaking on “Birds of the Flathead.”

Casey will cover some of the area’s common birds by season, those species of some conservation concern and what is being done to address that; and how people can learn more or get involved.

Jan. 24 — Glacier Park curator and archivist Deirdre Shaw will speak on the history of Glacier Park in its centennial year.

Shaw oversees the park’s historic collections and will share a wealth of tales and facts about the storied history of the park.

Feb. 14 — Local author Carol Buchanan speaks on the history of Montana’s notorious vigilantes. Buchanan devoted years of research to the vigilantes before writing her recently published literary Western novel, “God’s Thunderbolt: The Vigilantes of Montana.”

The book won the 2009 Spur Award for Best first novel from the Western Writers of America for best representing the reality and spirit of the American West.

Feb. 28 — The John White Series concludes with a presentation by Richard Sims, director of the Montana Historical Society in Helena, speaking on “The Literary Linderman.”

Frank Bird Linderman was a Montana pioneer and statesman, an author of 20 books. Sims is knowledgeable of Linderman’s literary work and will share his insights.

The Northwest Montana Historical Society, which operates the Museum at Central School, dedicates this series to John White, the son of a Texas slave and a central figure in the history of Kalispell’s Central School.

White graduated from Flathead County High School in 1922.

He later served as bell ringer and custodian of Central School for more than 30 years. He knew all the students and they knew and respected him, as did the people of Kalispell.

The Museum at Central School is located at 124 Second Ave. E, in Kalispell.

Tickets are available at the museum both prior to and on the day of he events. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and one hour prior to each event.

Series tickets for all four presentations are $25 for historical society members or $35 for the general public. Single event tickets are $7.50 for historical society members or $10 for the nonmembers.

In prior years some events have sold out, so it is advisable to purchase tickets early.

For more information, call 756-8381.