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2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
Wright Times
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A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
THE FORGOTTEN WAR: KOREA 1950 A Special Photographic Exhibit By Max Desfor June 24 - August 12
The Korean war, which raged from 1950 to 1953, is often overlooked because it was sandwiched between World War II and the Vietnam War. The war was vicious, taking its toll on Americans, North and South Koreans, and Chinese. The number of civilian wounded and dead was high. The Wright Museum remembers that war with 36 incredible photographs taken in 1950 by Associated Press photographer Max Desfor. Desfor captured the humanity and inhumanity of the often-forgotten Korean War in his photos. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his work. Desfor went where the action was, capturing photos of American and South Korean soldiers a n d K o r e a n Max Desfor At The War Front. civilians that burn into your brain. Such was his Pulitzer-prize-winning image of a host of Korean refugees “crawling through and into and above and onto the broken-down bridge it was like ants crawling through the girders.”* Or a dead snow-covered civilian shot by the North Koreans with his bound hands reaching out of the snow. Or a soldier comforting a Korean girl. Or a soldier helping his wounded comrade. The Wright Museum is dedicated to educating future generations about American history by presenting moving exhibits. The Forgotten War continues this commitment. The exhibit was created and produced by Cyma Rubin, President of Business of Entertainment. Rubin brought us last year’s American Soldier exhibit. This exhibit is made possible by the generous support of Two International Group.
The Wright Museum • 77 Center Street, Wolfeboro, NH • 603-569-1212 Open May 1st - Oct. 31st • Mon - Sat 10am-4pm • Sunday Noon-4pm To Become A Member Or Make A Donation Visit www.wrightmuseum.org
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2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
WRIGHT MUSEUM VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Dodie Stephens
2018 SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Artwork Of Pvt. Charles J. Miller: The South Pacific 1942-1944 May 1st-June 17th
Dodie Stephens is a busy woman, yet she arranges her schedule to volunteer as a docent on Tuesdays during the season. A native of Brewster, New York, Dodie was a young adult during World War II and lived with the uncertainty of whether her father would return from serving overseas with the Army Corp of Engineers. Part of the 401st Water Battalion, he drilled wells in bombed-out areas in North Africa and French Morocco. Eventually wounded, he was discharged and sent home. Dodie has immortalized his experiences in her recently published third book Water for the Troops: Evacuation Hospitals and Air Fields. After raising their children, Dodie and her husband, Dr. Mallory Stephens, moved to Wolfeboro. As she became familiar with the town, she regularly passed the museum. One day, she decided it was time to finally visit the intriguing building with the tank coming out of the front. She purchased her ticket and made her way into the Home Front Gallery where she found herself in front of the soda fountain display. The exhibit took Dodie back to her childhood, touching a deep emotional place within her. She left the museum, doubtful she would ever return. Then Dodie’s friend Barbara Crowley encouraged her to volunteer with her, and nearly twenty years have passed since she said yes. In the early days of serving, Dodie collected oral histories for the newsletter’s column Wright Moments in addition to acting as a docent. Then, as now, the hours pass quickly as she welcomes guests, answers questions, and shares personal experiences. Her favorite aspect of volunteering is speaking with the veterans and hearing their stories. She remembers a particularly moving encounter with a veteran who showed her the collection of photographs he carried of his platoon mates, many of whom had been killed in action. Dodie, who received the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award, is looking forward to the 2018 season.
Self-taught artist and Nashua, New Hampshire, resident Charles J. Miller considered himself “just a guy with a hobby.” He called the scenes he painted “descriptive,” saying “You see what I saw.” During his lifetime, Miller never tried to sell a single artwork. Yet this remarkable, but unassuming, man left behind an important legacy of over 600 paintings and drawings that depict the everyday life of the common G.I.s who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Being a private person, Miller kept his art works largely out of sight, and they remained unseen for 70 years until the Wright Museum exhibited them in 2015, followed by a 2016 exhibit with more unseen works. Now selections from both exhibits are back on display for everyone to see. These artworks constitute a true “national treasure.” All Miller works are from the Collection of Nancy and Bob Dennis, and James and Joni Clemons.
2018 SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Memories Of World War II: Photographs From Associated Press May 1st - June 17th
The Associated Press sent almost 200 photographers to cover all theaters of the war. Five died and seven won Pulitzer Prizes for their remarkable photographs. Many of the photos are iconic, including the flag raising at Iwo Jima. The photographs cover both the home front and the war front in the various theaters. We’ve selected some of the most popular images from the 2015 exhibit to bring back memories for those who saw the original exhibit and to create new memories for first-time visitors. Memories of World War II is on extended loan from the Associated Press Archives.
2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
2018 SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Manufacturing Victory: The Arsenal Of Democracy
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WRIGHT MUSEUM VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Evelyn Frank
August 20th - October 31st
The story of how the Allies won World War II, which was fought on six of the seven continents, has been told countless times. But could the Allies have won the war if they hadn’t had a constant flow of planes, tanks, ships, and weapons manufactured by American industries and American workers? Manufacturing Victory: The Arsenal of Democracy tells the story of how American industries retooled from peacetime to wartime production to supply the Allies with what they needed to win the war. Chrysler built plane fuselages. Ford built airplanes, airplane engines, military gliders, tanks, armored cars, and jeeps. Boeing built B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and B-29 Super Fortress bombers. General Electric made howitzers. ChrisCraft built Higgins Boats landing craft. And Pratt & Whitney made aircraft engines. The exhibit shows how everyday Americans stepped forward to work the production lines and do the jobs it took to manufacture victory. And it wasn’t just the men who came forward. The women did, too, and worked the jobs men had performed before the war. Manufacturing Victory also dovetails with Wright Museum founder David Wright’s vision of educating future generations about the sacrifices average Americans made on the home front to help win on the war front. This is an exhibit you won’t want to miss. It is more than just a story about how American industries and workers came together to win the war. Manufacturing Victory tells how the surge in American productivity brought the country out of the Great Depression and opened the doors to opportunity and social change. This event is made possible with additional support from Pratt & Whitney and The Weirs Times.
HONOR A LOVED ONE WITH A BRICK IN THE NEW REMEMBRANCE GARDEN Our Buy-A-Brick program is in full swing again. This popular program was suspended in 2016 while we prepared another location for the bricks. That location is our new Remembrance Garden, at the right-front of the Museum facing Center Street. Over 50 bricks are already scheduled to be placed on the Remembrance Garden wall this year. The area around the wall will be landscaped and contain granite benches where visitors and families of those honored on the bricks can view the bricks in restful landscaped surroundings. Each year, new bricks will be put on the Remembrance Garden wall in time for Memorial Day. You can order bricks anytime during the year. To have a brick put on the wall in time for Memorial Day, you must order the brick by March 30. Bricks ordered after March 30 will be put on the wall in time for the following year’s Memorial Day. Bricks cost $100. You can download order an form from the Museum’s web site (www.wrightmuseum.org) or you can call the Museum at 603-569-1212. A limited number of granite benches are still available to purchase. The benches can be engraved to honor an individual or an organization. If you are interested in buying a bench, call the Museum for details. Parts of the Memorial Garden will be planted with flowers. Donors can “adopt” a section of the flower garden or the entire garden. If you’re interested, contact Mike Culver for details at 603-569-1212. Weather permitting, we will dedicate the Remembrance Garden on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Please plan to attend this special ceremony.
Evelyn Frank with Wright Museum Director Mike Culver. Evelyn Frank also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the end-of-season Volunteer Appreciation event. Serving for twenty years, Evelyn is grateful for the sense of purpose volunteering at the Wright Museum gives her. A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, and married to her high school sweetheart, John, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Design and Drawing. Evelyn and John moved to White River Junction, Vermont, when their kids were young to take advantage of the state’s excellent skiing. After she and her family moved permanently to Wolfeboro, Evelyn wondered what to do with her free time. John had been going to the “toy” (vehicle) room with the mechanics, and when founder David Wright said he was looking for someone to create and maintain exhibits for the museum, John volunteered Evelyn. She jumped at the opportunity, and David mentored her over the course of several years. Having lived through the war, Evelyn has lots of memories of the era. Rather than approaching the displays from a researcher’s viewpoint, she combines what she feels will appeal to the public using color, space, and texture with what she thinks David would like. The results are eye-catching, engaging exhibits that resonate with visitors who take copious photos. Evelyn enjoys working on exhibits while the museum is open because she can interact with patrons, receive suggestions and feedback from them, and – more importantly – hear their stories. Exciting stories. Amazing stories. Sad stories. She has especially enjoyed creating the Gould’s 5¢ and 10¢ Store exhibit because of the many items included in the display that she remembers from her youth. In addition to her efforts with the exhibits, Evelyn has served on many committees over the years. She currently is a member of the Collection Committee and loves the opportunity to help select a traveling exhibit or items for the permanent collection. Evelyn can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.
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2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
The Ron Goodgame and Donna Canney 2018 Education Program Schedule... May 8 - October 9 Admission is $8 per person for non-members and $3 for Wright Museum members, unless otherwise noted. Because of limited seating, we strongly encourage you to make reservations by calling 603-569-1212. All programs begin at 7:00 p.m., unless noted otherwise. The museum’s doors open one hour before the program begins. For more detailed descriptions of the programs, go to our website at www.wrightmuseum.org/lecture-series. Tuesday, May 8, from 7 -8p.m.
The Grand Army of the Republic Hall Lecture by Dexter A. Bishop The General Frederick W. Lander Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic is a historic building located at 58 Andrew Street in Lynn, Massachusetts. Built in 1885 by members of the Grand Army of the Republic, the hall serves as a memorial to the Union Army veterans of the Civil War. It was one of many such halls built in the country. On May 7, 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. See many Civil War artifacts and pictures and hear histories of the New Hampshire veterans who belonged to the Post. Dexter Bishop is a retired Criminal Tax Fraud Investigator for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and is actively involved in The Grand Army of the Republic Hall.
Tuesday, May 15, from 7 -8p.m. Songs and Stories of WWII Presented by Curt Bessette and Jenn Kurtz Curt Bessette and Jenn Kurtz honor World War II veterans and their generation through stories and Curt’s original songs, and present the historical background of each story or song. The duo also pays tribute to veterans from all wars and provides a memorabilia table. Curt Bessett is an award-winning songwriter and guitarist who has performed across the country. Jenn Kurtz is a respected harmony singer.
Tuesday, May 22, rom 7 -8p.m.
FDR Speaks about The Home Front Impersonation by actor Gary Stamm The American home front in World War II was just as important as the battles fought on the war front in Europe, Russia, and the Pacific. The men, women, and children on the home front supported the war effort in many ways: by volunteering, participating in government-mandated rationing and price controls, and by
purchasing war bonds. The film industry in Hollywood churned out movies and cartoons to support the war effort. The war also affected the role of women and minorities as women took over “men’s” jobs and African-Americans, Native Americans, and other minority groups served in the armed forces. Join us as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our thirty-second President, recounts these and other incredible changes our nation went through between 1941 and 1945 and helps us understand how those five years shaped the country we live in today. Gary Stamm’s career spans more than forty years in theater, radio, television, and other media. He wrote, directed, and did voice-over work for Hanna-Barbara Productions in Hollywood. Gary also is a voice impersonator and currently tours as Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Tuesday, May 29, from 6:30-8p.m.
Only a Number: A Love Story Amidst the Holocaust A documentary film presented by the film maker, Steve Besserman Note: This event will take place in the Wolfeboro Town Hall’s Great Hall. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Separated by barbed wire and without the aid of a common language, Aranka and Josef fell in love at Auschwitz. Ravaged by torture, starvation and brutality they gave each other the strength to survive their final weeks in captivity and slavery, as their Nazi captors worked to “destroy the evidence,” including them. Only a Number tells their story through their son Steven’s journey of discovery. Steve Besserman holds a BA in Communication Arts and Sciences from Queens College of the City University of New York, with a concentration in television and film. Only a Number won Best Feature Documentary at the Jersey Shore Film Festival in 2011 and went on to receive other awards and recognitions as well.
students spent four years solving the intriguing mystery behind Rich’s letters. Gail Elliott (Thomas) Downs is a retired elementary school educator with thirty-seven years’ experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and school librarian. Growing up in an Army family, she became an Army wife. Gail currently resides on the Oregon Coast.
Tuesday, July 17, from 7-8p.m.
The many different WWII vehicles in the Wright Museum collection are rotated in and out of the exhibit hall. There are too many to display all at once. Tuesday, June 5,from 7 -8p.m. Defiance A lecture and book signing by the author Titia Bozuwa Challenging the expectations of Dutch society, Anna Smits enrolls as a medical student at Utrecht University. But in a country occupied by Nazi Germany, student life is not what Anna expected. Social clubs are closed; Jews are forbidden from attending schools; and in 1943, students are ordered to sign a declaration of loyalty to the occupying German government. Anna and her seven closest friends – the Group of Eight– refuse to sign. Instead they vow to help the victims of Hitler’s brutal regime. But as the war drags on and the Nazis’ hold tightens, the Group of Eight shrinks. Yet Anna clings to her beliefs and mission, aided by her remarkable grandmother, Baroness van Haersolte, as the country awaits liberation. But will they survive that long? Born and raised in the Netherlands, Titia Bozuwa immigrated to the U.S. in 1957 with her husband. They settled in Wakefield, NH, where they still live in the same house. Titia is a professional photographer and started writing in 1990.
Tuesday, June 12,from 7-8p.m. My Father’s War: Memories from Our Honored WWII Soldiers Lecture and book signing by author Charley Valera Charley Valera tells the stirring stories of WWII veterans from modest backgrounds who became soldiers. Far from home and fighting nasty battles that ranged from dropping bombs to hand-to-hand combat -- even fistfights -- they did what it took to win a war.
Charley Valera writes articles and blogs for various media on topics ranging from real estate to aviation.
Tuesday, June 19,from 7-8p.m. Women War Correspondents of WWII Lecture and book signing by author Linda Shenton Matchett Fighting stereotype and rules designed to prevent them from covering combat, more than 125 women earned the coveted designation as certified correspondent. The grit and gumption of these women enabled them to provide eyewitness accounts to the harrowing events of World War II. Listen to their stories. Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, journalist, blogger, and history geek. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry, Linda has lived in historical places most of her life from Edison, New Jersey to Washington, DC and Wolfeboro, NH. She is a volunteer docent at the Wright Museum of WWII and a Trustee for the Wolfeboro Public Library.
Tuesday, July 3, from 7-8p.m.
The Black Suitcase Mystery – A WWII Remembrance Lecture and book signing by author Gail Elliot (Thomas) Downs Gail Elliot tells how she acquired a battered black suitcase in 1991 that contained almost 200 letters New Hampshire resident George Elliot Rich wrote to his mother between 1929 and 1944. During World War II, Rich served as a radio operator/waist gunner in a B-24 Liberator bomber. The letters included accounts of the bombing missions he and his crew mates flew. Eliot also explains how her fifth-grade
Code Burgundy, The Long Escape by John Katsaros A lecture and book signing by the author John Katsaros tells the true story of his perilous monthslong escape from the Gestapo after his B-17 bomber was shot down over France while returning to England from a bombing run in Germany. Despite multiple wounds in his right arm, Katsaros helped his crewmates bail out before jumping out at 27,000 feet. He cracked six ribs and shattered both ankles on landing. The Gestapo captured him twice, and he escaped both times. He spent three months in hiding and being nursed back to health by a Jewish doctor. Named “Code Burgundy,” he worked with the French Underground while he was recuperating. When he recovered, Katsaros made the difficult journey across the Pyrenees into Spain carrying vital information from the Resistance. Because the information was classified, Katsaros had to sign a secrecy statement. When the information was declassified recently, he could finally tell his wife about what he had done. John Katsaros received numerous awards and recognition for his service, including France’s Legion of Honor. Katsaros still lives in his home town of Haverhill, Massachusetts, and shares his experiences whenever he has the opportunity.
Tuesday, July 24, 6:30-8p.m.
Screening of the 2016 Film Underfire: The Untold Story of Pfc. Tony Vaccaro Note: Because the documentary is 77 minutes long, this program starts at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. .Using a $47 camera and developing the negatives in his helmet at night, WWII infantryman Tony Vaccaro created one of the most comprehensive, haunting, and intimate photographic records of combat from the front lines where he shot 8,000 photos. Returning to the U.S. in 1950, Tony started his career as a commercial photographer, eventually working for virtually every
2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES major publication including: Look, Life, Harper’s Bazaar, and Newsweek. Tony, who is now 95, went on to become one of the most sought-after photographers of his day. In this film Tony shares his unique World War II story and his photographs. Underfire was directed by Max Lewkowicz. The Executive Producer is Tim Van Patten (director of Game of Thrones, Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire).
Tuesday, July 31, ,from 7-8p.m The Seoul Exception: The United States’ Decision to Fight in Korea Lecture by Professor Kurk Dorsey When North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950, its leaders did not expect the United States to come to South Korea’s defense. Most Americans didn’t expect that either. But in a surprising move, President Truman reversed two years of policy and responded to the invasion with force to preserve South Korea’s independence. In this illustrated lecture, Kurk Dorsey discusses how Truman made the unlikely decision that the defense of South Korea was vital to the United States. Kurk Dorsey has taught History at the University of New Hampshire since 1994.
Tuesday, August 7, 7-8p.m
The Longest Winter Lecture and book signing by author Alex Kershaw On the morning of December 16, 1944, eighteen men of the 99th Infantry Division’s Intelligence and Reconnaissance platoon found themselves directly in the path of Hitler’s massive Ardennes offensive. Despite being vastly outnumbered, they were told to hold their position “at all costs.” Throughout the day, the platoon repulsed three German assaults in a fierce day-long battle, killing hundreds of German soldiers. Only after running out of ammunition did they surrender. But their long winter was just beginning as prisoners in Hitler’s brutal POW camps. Alex Kershaw is the author of several best-selling books about WWII, including The Bedford Boys.
Tuesday, August 14, 7-8p.m.
Top Secret Rosies, The Female “Computers” of WWII A 2010 documentary film presented by Producer/Director LeAnn Erickson NOTE: This program will be held in the Wolfeboro Town Hall’s Great Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. In 1942, a secret US military program was launched to recruit female mathematicians who would become human “computers” for the Army. These women worked roundthe-clock shifts creating ballistics tables for every weapon in
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the US arsenal. Rosie made the weapons, but the female computers made them accurate. When the first computer was developed to aid the calculation efforts, six women became its first programmers. Their work was crucial to allied victory, but it also carried a moral weight – reconciling the issue of ending a world war with the recognition that their computations made every Allied bomb and gun more deadly. Temple University Professor LeAnn Erickson has been an independent filmmaker for over 25 years. Her award-winning work has appeared on television and in galleries.
Tuesday, August 21, 7-8p.m
Once Adrift on the Wind: World War I Poison Gas and Its Legacy A lecture by Marion Girard Dorsey Poison gas emerged onto the battlefield in World War I, and the belligerents on the Western Front used it in increasingly sophisticated ways and in growing amounts over the course of the conflict. Poison Gas had a physical and mental impact on the soldiers in the trenches as well as on the politicians and other civilians on the home front. Because of these experiences, poison gas lived on in the minds of the people involved in the war and influenced their actions after the Armistice. Molly Dorsey explains how World War I shaped people’s perceptions of poison gas and the gas’s legacy once it was allowed to drift on the wind during the war. Molly Dorsey is an associate professor of History and a core faculty member in Justice Studies at the University of New Hampshire. She earned her BA at Stanford in History and Human Biology, a JD at Harvard, and a PhD in History at Yale. Her book A Strange and Formidable Weapon: British Responses to World War I Poison Gas is published under the name Marion Dorsey.
Tuesday, September 4, 7-8p.m Documentary film Survivors of Malmedy: December 1944 By filmmaker Tim Gray; narrated by Jason Beghe, star of NBC’s Chicago P.D. Survivors of Malmedy: December 1944 tells the story of the World War II massacre of American soldiers in Malmedy, Belgium on December 17, 1944, during the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge. After a short battle, over 130 American GI’s were taken prisoner just outside Malmedy and herded into a field by a German SS division led by one of the Nazi’s most brutal commanders. The Germans gunned down the unarmed American in the largest single massacre of American troops in WWII. Some survivors talk about the
massacre in the film. Tim Gray is a national awardwinning documentary film director, producer, and writer based in Rhode Island. Tim has produced and directed 20 documentary films on the personal stories of the World War II generation.
Tuesday September 11, 7-8p.m The Portsmouth Naval Prison Author lecture and book signing by Katy Kramer The Portsmouth Naval Prison, now vacant, sits at the far end of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey Island on the Maine and New Hampshire border. For over a century, “the Castle” or “the Rock,” with its deceptively appealing exterior, has kept both visitors and New Hampshire residents in its thrall. Since its opening in 1908 to its decommissioning in 1974 and into the present day, myth and lore have surrounded this iconic building. Routine inside often reflected the latest advancements in the criminal justice field. Yet, designed or deserved, the prison’s legacy remains an intriguing mix of dread and redemption. The dearth of information about the prison not far from her home kept author Katy Kramer researching the facility for over a decade. Currently freelancing and teaching college composition, she has written features for magazines, university publications, and local newspapers.
Tuesday, September 18,7-8p.m Conflicts in the Middle East, and International Security Lecture by Mohamed Defaa
Since 1979 wars in the Middle East have cost billions of dollars and caused more than one million casualties. Conflicts were exported to other countries in Africa and Asia, and movements like Al-Qaida and ISS made it their Jihadi duty to bring the fight to the
European and North American capitals. Mohamed Defaa will talk about the historical, sociocultural, and religious background of these conflicts and the threat they represent to international security. Mohamed Defaa is certified by the International Center for Educational and Cultural Consulting in Lyon, France. He earned an MA in Communication and Expression at the University Mohamed V in Rabat, Morocco, and a BA in French Language and Literature from the University Ibn Tofail in Kénitra, Morocco.
Tuesday, September 25, 7-8p.m World War I and “The Great Migration” Lecture by Professor Sarah Batterson “The Great Migration” occurred during World War I when men and women migrated to industrial cities to search for military jobs which were in high demand. Many of these migrants were African-Americans who wanted to escape from being share croppers, a farming method that kept them in an endless cycle of debt. The migrants encountered discrimination: denial of services in the districts where they lived, violence, rejection by Northern blacks, and overcrowding in black ghettos. Yet the migrants’ cultural influence impacted cities, music, art, entertainment, civil rights, culture, and the meaning of what it is to be American. Sarah Batterson holds a Ph.D. in American history from the University of New Hampshire. She has taught many courses on 19th-and 20thcentury racial and cultural history.
Tuesday, October 2 7-8p.m
“Rally ‘Round the Flag” Civil War show: Songs from the Civil War A musical look at the politics, personalities, and perspectives that remade a nation in the Civil War era Presented by The Hardtacks Combining documents and
visual images from primary sources with camp songs, parlor music, hymns, battlefield rallying cries, and fiddle tunes, the Hardtacks examine the folksong as a means to enact living history, share perspectives, influence public perceptions of events, and simultaneously fuse and conserve cultures in times of change. Audience members are encouraged to participate. The Hardtacks formed in 2012 to present folk music of the Civil War era for the New Hampshire Humanities’ “Humanities To Go” programs. They perform at libraries, historical societies, schools, encampments, and other events. The Hardtacks’ wide-ranging programs take inspiration from the participatory culture of the Lyceum movement and 19th century folk traditions, engaging audiences in immersive explorations of history as a sung, spoken, and lived experience.
Tuesday, October 9, 7-8p.m
WWII-Era Documentary Films Lecture by Professor Thomas Jackson Independent documentary filmmaker Tom Jackson will speak about World War II-era documentary films, focusing on how they influenced subsequent and contemporary American filmmakers. FDR, Stalin, and Hitler recognized early that this new medium of documentary film, along with news reels, were potentially very powerful communication tools. Jackson will show brief segments from classic documentaries and will discuss the stylistic and technical influences that are still used in many productions. Professor Jackson has traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other war zones, while working in various capacities on documentaries. In addition to ongoing documentary production, he teaches documentary film-related courses in the Communication Department at the University of New Hampshire.
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2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
WWII HISTORY
FREE A MARINE TO FIGHT
By early 1942 with 143,388 Marines on board and tasked to add another 165,000, the Marine Corps lowered its recruiting standards and raised the age ceiling to 36. However, those strategies failed to obtain enough recruits. Some say there were officers who preferred to enlist ducks, dogs, or monkeys rather than recruit females. But the matter was settled for the Corps on November 7, 1942 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the creation of the Women’s Reserve. Other military branches sported clever nicknames for their women’s auxiliary units: WACS, WAVES, WASPs and SPARS and suggestions were offered for the Marines such as Femarines, Glamarines, and Sub-Marines, but General Thomas Holcomb rejected them. “They are Marines,” he said. “They don’t have a nickname and they don’t need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere at a Marine post. They inherit the traditions of Marines. They are Marines.” The first director of the Women’s Reserve was Ruth Cheney Streeter, a confident, fiery, and fiercely patriotic woman, but the Marines were not her first choice. Surmising the U.S. would eventually be drawn into war, she wanted to serve as a pilot. After purchasing a plane and obtaining her commercial license, she joined the Civil Air Patrol. To her consternation, she was refused flight duties and was assigned administrative responsibilities instead. Applicants for the Women’s Reserve had to meet stringent requirements for age, education, health, and marital status. Determined to serve no matter what, underweight candidates devoured bananas washed down with water to increase their weight to the required 95 pounds. Not everyone wanted their daughters in the military. Marian Bauer’s parents were so upset at her enlistment they refused to see her off. Others wondered why 18-year-old boys could be sent to combat, yet 18-year-old girls couldn’t serve at all. Uniforms were ladylike and fashionable, including the Montezuma Red lipstick designed by Elizabeth Arden to meet regulations. Officer candidates attended an eight-week training course, and the first class graduated in April 1943. Retired Colonel Julie Hamblet recalls her dismay when “that first weekend we were mistaken for Western Union girls.” Despite difficulties and challenges, the women served with distinction, receiving understated praise from Holcomb: “Like most Marines, when the matter first came up, I didn’t believe women could serve any purpose in the Marine Corp . . . Since then, I’ve changed my mind.”
Wright Museum Hosts Its First Community Photo Exhibition The Wright Museum will host its first Community Photography exhibition this season. The exhibit’s theme is American Families on the Home Front, 1939-1945 and the photographs will feature members of your families (and yourselves). Photo submissions are open to everyone – Museum members, volunteers, and the general public. The subject matter can be casual or formal, as long as the photos were taken between 1939 and 1945. The photos can show your family performing war-related activities such as scrap drives, tending victory gardens, participating in war-bond drives, working in factories, and socializing at USO clubs. Or the photos can show everyday activities such as attending a family picnic, riding bicycles, going to school, standing in line for ration coupons, dancing, playing games, or posing with cars. The photos might focus on family members wearing 1940sera fashions and hairdos. Photos also can be of military personnel home on leave. All photos will remain on display from May to October. The rules are simple: Photo submissions begin on April 1, 2018. You must bring the photos to the Wright Museum, and can bring as many photos as you like. Photos must be framed, and no larger than 16x20 inches (including the frame). You must pick up your photos after the Museum closes, between November 1 and 15. For further information, call 603-569-1212.
2018 SPECIAL EVENT
6th Annual Antique Car, Hotrod & Motorcycle Show Saturday, August 18th from 10am-2pm
Bring your blankets and beach chairs, put on your poodle skirts, grease up your duck’s tail hairdos, and cruise in to the Wright Museum for our 6th Annual Antique Car, Hotrod, and Motorcycle Show. The popular doo-wop group The Bel Airs will entertain you with live music from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. While you’re walking down Memory Lane with The Bel Airs, you can enjoy the day seeing a remarkable variety of cars and motorcycles. This year’s featured car is the classic 1964-73 Mustang. We’ll hold the event, come rain or shine. Only the first 100 vehicles will be allowed into the show. You can register your vehicle online at www.wrightmuseum.org. You also can contact us by e-mailing Donna Hamill at donna.hamill@wrightmuseum.org or by calling her at 603-5691212. There is a non-refundable $10 registration fee for each vehicle. Cars and motorcycles must be at least 25 years old and antique cars should be in authentic condition. Regular museum admission admits visitors to both the Car Show and to the Wright Museum. (We are part of the Blue Star program which gives free admission to all active duty military personnel between Memorial Day and Labor Day when they show their ID.) Food will available to purchase. Sponsors: Sunday Paving and Calico Graphics
2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
2018 SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Posters From World War I From The Collection of Brewster Ely May 1st - August 12
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the Wright Museum is hosting a special exhibit of World War I propaganda posters from the collection of Brewster Ely. World War I was the heyday of war posters. By the beginning of the war, advertising posters had evolved into an art form and were a major form of advertising that everyone was familiar with. The U.S. government used war posters to send messages (advertisements) to the public that would alter their view about the war, the enemy, and their own role in the war. (The iconic poster featuring Uncle Sam pointing and saying “I Want You” originated in World War I.) World War I propaganda posters also had a greater impact on changing people’s attitudes than in any other war. The reason is simple: today’s forms of communications -- such as radio, movies, and television -- either were in their infancy or didn’t exist. World War I items from Randy Cook’s collection also will be on display.
2018 SPECIAL EVENT
Have Fun
at
Family Day
Sunday, July 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Family Day is one of our most popular events and this year will be no exception! There will be rides around Wolfeboro in our World War II vehicles. Plus “Mo” the clown and balloon artist, face painters, reenactors, and two live animal shows presented by Squam Lake Natural Science Center along with live music by the New England Country Boys. Food will be available to purchase. There will also be familyoriented games for children of all ages. Off-site parking is available in the Wolfeboro Municipal Parking Lot, just a short walk down the Bridge Falls Path. If you prefer to ride in a World War II military vehicle, you can park at the The Nicholas J. Pernokas Recreation Park (aka The Nick) at 10 Trotting Track Road (Route 28), near the Allen A Motor Inn. Our military vehicles will shuttle you back and forth to your car. Food will be available to purchase. Admission: Adults $12; children 5-17 $10; Museum members $9. Kids 4 and under are free. Family Day is made possible with additional support from Black’s Paper Store, Wolfeboro Trolley Co., and NFP Insurance. Also sponsored by Doran Independent Insurance.
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HISTORICAL FACTS
WAR PROPAGANDA POSTERS
Propaganda posters played an important role in America’s wars up through World War II. The posters tried to persuade the public that a war was worth fighting by appealing to people’s emotions instead of their intellect. Successful war propaganda demonized the enemy and promoted patriotism and nationalism. Demonization included characterizing the enemy in racist terms and embellishing atrocities the enemy committed. Promoting patriotism and nationalism included urging citizens to do things to support the war effort such as enlisting in the armed forces, planting victory gardens, buying war bonds, and switching eating habits to provide essential items to the military. These propaganda poster didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. They had antecedents dating back to the broadsides used in colonial times. A broadside was a large sheet of paper that was printed on one side that contained advertisements, political speeches, or ballads and songs. Some broadsides also contained political cartoons. Benjamin Franklin’s Join or Die cartoon of a snake cut up into pieces urged the colonies to band together to oppose the British during the American Revolution. And Paul Revere’s engraving of the 1770 Boston Massacre (called “The Incident on King Street” by the British) deliberately distorted the incident to incite colonists against the British. Revere succeeded in his goal. His engraving “was probably the most effective piece of war propaganda in American history”.* (Future president John Adams successfully defended the soldiers in court.) To demonize both the British and their Native American allies during the War of 1812, American propaganda portrayed the British as encouraging their Native Americans to scalp American prisoners. The truth is that the British didn’t want prisoners scalped and even offered bounties to Native Americans who brought in live prisoners with their scalps intact. Civil War recruitment posters were as common as beach sand. Some posters appealed to people’s patriotism by employing themes such as flags and George Washington and See posters on WRIGHT 8
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2018 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
Dan Lutts Speaks at 99th Annual Conference of the New England Museum Assoc. Last October the Wright Museum’s own Curatorial Researcher, Dan Lutts, participated in a panel discussion at the three-day 99th Annual Conference of the New England Museum Association, which took place at Falmouth on Cape Cod. The conference consisted of individual and panel presentations and discussions about museumrelated subjects presented by museum professionals throughout New England. Dan’s panel spoke about Hazards in Collections: What to Do When Quebec construction workers with 258-year old You Find Something Unusual. unexploded cannonball Dan’s subject was literally explosive: “Explosives and Flammables.” Dan spoke about black powder and black powder firearms; modern smokeless powder and modern firearms; and how to identify potentially hazardous artifacts and how to render them safe within museum collections. When he talked about the volatility of black powder, Dan mentioned how last summer city workers in Old Quebec unearthed a 258-year-old exploding cannonball the British had fired during their siege of the city in 1759. The cannonball hadn’t exploded – and was still lethal! Besides Dan, panel members included David DeBono from Harvard University’s Peabody Museum; Shana Hawrylchak from Eco Tarium Science and Nature Museum; and Elena Cordova from Northeast Document Conservation Center. posters from WRIGHT 7 by emphasizing virtues such as honor and courage.
Other posters appealed to specific ethnic groups such as the Germans, the French, and the Irish. At the beginning of the war, attitudes about slavery were mixed on both sides. By the end of the war, propaganda posters had helped harden northerners’ attitudes against slavery and southerners’ attitudes for slavery. The United States designed and printed almost 200,000 different kinds of war propaganda posters during World War II – more than either its Allies or its enemies. While the Allies’ propaganda posters promoted ha-
tred of the enemy, American posters took a different route. Most of them displayed positive messages that encouraged Americans to ration food, gas, and other products vital to fighting the war; to buy war bonds; and to raise money for the war effort. World War II posters also competed against newer forms of propaganda. Comic book heroes such as Captain America fought Nazis while others such as Superman and Batman protected the home front and urged readers to buy Savings Bonds. Cartoon characters such as Walt Disney’s Daffy Duck fought the Japanese. And movies stars such as Charlie Chaplin and the Three Stooges lampooned the Nazis. On the radio, popular cooking show characters such as Betty Crocker shared recipes created specifically to help housewives cook meals using rationed food. After World War II, war posters faded into history.
WRIGHT MUSEUM PARTICIPATES IN BLUE STAR PROGRAM
To honor our active-duty military personnel, the Wright Museum is participating again in the annual Blue Star Museums Program, which offers free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families. The program runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day (Monday, May 28th through Monday, September 3, 2018.)
FREE ADMISSION WITH MUSEUM DAY LIVE! TICKET Once again the Wright Museum is participating in the Smithsonian Museum Day Live! program in on Saturday, September 22, 2018. On that day we will be one of 1400 museums around the country that give free admission to visitors who have Museum Day Live! tickets. To learn more about Museum Day Live!, including the date, and to see a list of participating museums, visit www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday.
Save These Dates May 18 -- Dedication of the Remembrance Garden June 26 -- Members Opening Reception for the Forgotten War July 4 -- Annual 4th of July Parade (Wright vehicles take part in it.) July 8 -- Family Day August 18 -- 5th Annual Car Show August 28 -- Members Opening Reception for Manufacturing Victory Late October -- Annual visit by members of the Veterans Home in Tilton, NH November 11 -- Veterans Day Ceremony
The Wright Museum • 77 Center Street, Wolfeboro, NH • 603-569-1212 Open May 1st - Oct. 31st • Mon - Sat 10am-4pm • Sunday Noon-4pm To Become A Member Or Make A Donation Visit www.wrightmuseum.org