John White speaker series returns to Museum at Central School

The annual John White speaker series returns to the Museum at Central School in January and February.

Every winter for 15 years, the museum has offered a cabin-fever break in the form of four stimulating programs on Montana history and culture. This year’s series includes two living history programs, one Montana culture topic, and another on local history.

Neal Lewing, actor, singer and songwriter, recording artist, playwright, poet, storyteller, author and historian of Polson, starts off Sunday, Jan. 8. He will bring to life Montana’s first territorial governor, Thomas Meagher, the Irishman who distinguished himself as a Union general in the Civil War and is commemorated in the huge statue astride his horse on the Montana State Capitol front lawn.

On Jan. 22, the museum’s own executive director the past 12 years, Gil Jordan, will relate the history of the Flathead Valley, along with the history of the Central School building itself, and the Northwest Montana Historical Society that saved Central School and operated the museum since 1999.

Ellen Baumler, author and interpretive historian of the State Historical Society presents “Profiles of African American Montanans” on Feb. 12. Though small in numbers in Montana, African Americans nevertheless have a rich and varied history in this state that has been largely unexplored.

These pioneers came with the very first waves of frontier settlers seeking new opportunities. This compelling program chronicles the lives and contributions of more than 20 African American families and individuals through historic photographs, headlines, art and architecture.

With a knack for making history personal, Baumler explores the stories, struggles and accomplishments of some of Montana’s African Americans.

The final program on Feb. 26 will feature scholar, speaker, educator and actress, Mary Jane Bradbury, who will bring to life pioneer photographer Evelyn Cameron. British-born Cameron (1868 to 1928) was a Terry, Montana-based photographer and rancher. She and her naturalist husband Ewen moved to the Terry area in the late 19th century. Evelyn Cameron documented the life of early settlers in Eastern Montana over the course of 30 years there, photographing cowboys, sheepherders, weddings, river crossings, freight wagons, people working, badlands, eagles, coyotes and wolves.

All programs are scheduled on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for any individual event are $6 for museum members, and $9 for general public. The series of all four presentations is $20 for museum members and $30 for the public.

Tickets may be purchased at the Museum at Central School, 124 2nd Ave. E, Kalispell, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or at the door prior to the event; the series is popular and occasionally sells out, so purchasing tickets ahead of time is recommended to assure seating.

Call 756-8381 for more information.