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2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
Wright Times
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A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
THE AMERICAN SOLDER: FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE WAR IN IRAQ A Special Photographic Exhibit... July 1-Oct.31
• A national guardsman says good-bye to his sweetheart as he leaves for war. • Soldiers get chow during a frigid winter. • A soldier comforts a grief-stricken infantryman whose buddy was just killed. • Marines risk their lives to drag a wounded civilian to safety. These scenes could depict any soldier in any war. And they are just a few of the dramatic images that will be on display in the Wright Museum’s main exhibit for the 2017 season, The American Soldier: From the Civil War to the War in Iraq, A Photographic Tribute. The riveting, 166 poster-size photos illustrate the one constant that runs through 150 years of America’s wars: the soldiers themselves. Culled from almost 4,000 photographs from private and museum collections by curator and producer Cyma Rubin, this photographic tribute focuses on the solders themselves. These powerful images connect soldiers of the past to those of the present by showing their courage and fears, excitement and boredom, joys and sorrows, and love and sacrifices. Most of the photos are not well known and the soldiers in them are just average Americans. The exhibit also celebrates the photographers and photojournalists who risked their lives to record America’s wars for the people at home. The images provide glimpses into history as well as a record of the development of photography. Photos range from posed ones from the Civil War to action-packed ones taken by photographers embedded with the soldiers and marines that make you feel part of the action. The American Soldier is a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit. It is “the first truly comprehensive photographic record of the men and women who have risked their lives to protect the homeland.” -- Cyma Rubin, producer and curator Sponsored by EADS North America and Business of Entertainment, Inc. The exhibit is also sponsored in part by Two International Group and contributions from Pratt & Whitney and Shaun and Ellen Berry and Brian Allen, Financial Focus, Northeast Delta Dental, and O Bistro at Inn on Main.
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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2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
WRIGHT MUSEUM VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Bob Norton Have you seen the army barracks in the Military Gallery? Or the Rialto Movie Theater display and the new display cases in the Time Tunnel? Did you ever wonder who built them? The volunteer’s name is Bob Norton, who retired to Wolfeboro after spending 23 years building exhibits for the Smith-
sonian Museums. Bob stumbled into exhibit building when the company he worked for as a mechanical electrical draftsman went out of business. “Someone told me the company up the street from ours was looking for people,” Bob said. “So I went up and applied.” The company was Design and Production, Inc., which is now the largest exhibit and design company on the East Coast. Bob didn’t know anything about museums or woodworking, but his lack of knowledge and skill didn’t matter. He could learn on the job. Bob started on January 3, 1972 and never looked back. He also learned his trade very well, beginning as an apprentice and working his way up to assistant shop foreman and finally to shop foreman. One day a man Bob knew contacted him about working at the Smithsonian Museums. Bob said he was interested, and ended up running the exhibit building shop at the National Museum of American History – Smithsonian for over fifteen years. Then he moved into project management at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for another seven years. One project Bob is especially proud of was moving the Wright Brothers’ plane into its own gallery whose construction Bob oversaw in the Air and Space Museum. Bob considers building exhibits to be a creative act just like art, photography, or writing. “No customer ever wants the same thing,” he said. “And even though you are using the same materials, you are doing different things with them. Bob retired after spending half his career at the Smithsonian. Beth Nordbeck, a life-long friend of Bob’s wife, Ruth, suggested they move to Wolfeboro. Beth and her husband, Bruce Robinson, had been living there for years and loved the area. Bob and Ruth decided to give Wolfeboro a try and fell in love with the area, too. Then Bob, ever restless, decided he wanted to get involved in the community and volunteered at the Lakes Region Humane Society and Meals on Wheels. Still not satisfied, Bob wanted to do even more and thought the Wright Museum might be a good place to volunteer.
2017 SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Saturday Evening Post Covers: The Art of Mead Schaeffer, Norman Rockwell and Friends May 1st - June 24th The Saturday Evening Post was one of the most influential magazines in the first part of the 20th century and had a circulation of four million by the end of the 1940s. The magazine not only reflected traditional American values, but shaped them as well, until the advent of television ended its lengthy reign. The Post’s formula for success was uncomplicated: a blend of business, social issues, sports, humor, cartoons, plenty of advertising, and, of course, illustrated covers. When people think of Saturday Evening Post illustrators, they automatically think of Norman Rockwell. But he was only one of many artists whose illustrations appeared on the Post’s covers. The Wright Museum’s opening exhibit for the 2017 season, Saturday Evening Post Covers 1941-1946: The Art of Norman Rockwell, Mead Schaeffer, and Friends honors those artists. Most of the artists in the exhibit are Dripping Cones, Stevan Dohanos not household names like Rockwell – at ©1944 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Licensleast not to 21st century Americans. But ing, Indianapolis, IN All rights reserved. during The Post’s heyday, names such www.curtislicensing.com as Mead Schaeffer, John Falter, Stevan Dohanos, and Margaret Troop were on everyone’s lips. Their illustrations appeared alongside Rockwell’s and were beloved by Americans throughout the country. The exhibit focuses mostly on middle-class life in urban and rural America during the five war years and the first post-war year. But some warfront covers are included as well. The Post covers reflect not only American values during an important time in our history but also introduce some remarkable artists whose works should be remembered. This exhibit is made possible with sponsorship by John and Evelyn Frank. Additional support was provided by Wolfeboro Inn.
2017 SPECIAL EVENT
4th Annual Wright Film Festival August 14th from 10:30am to 4pm
In keeping with the 2017 theme of honoring The America Soldier, this year’s film festival showcases three of the best Hollywood films about our American servicemen. Red Badge of Courage (1951) Civil War private, Henry Fleming, panics during his first battle and finds a chance to redeem himself. Starring Congressional Medal of Honor Winner Audie Murphy. Directed by John Huston. Shown from 10:30 to 11:39 a.m. 11:40 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – Lunch Break A Farewell to Arms (1932) On the Italian front during World War I, American ambulance driver Frederic Henry falls in love with English Red Cross nurse Catherine Barkley. Starring Gary Cooper, Helen Hayes, and Adolphe Menjou. Directed by Frank Borzage. Shown from 12:10 to 1:30 p.m. Catch 22 (1970) Captain John Yossarian tries to get himself certified insane so he can stop flying dangerous missions. Starring Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, and Richard Benjamin. Directed by Mike Nichols. Shown from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m.
2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
2017 SPECIAL EVENT
On The Air: A Tribute To Bob Hope & The Radio Stars Of The 1940s
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WRIGHT MUSEUM VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Grant Sigsworth
July 22nd - 7pm
In the days before television, families and friends huddled around their radios listening to drama, adventure shows, variety shows, situation comedies, sketches, and music. Back then radios were large and encased in wood. They were expensive, but important, pieces of furniture that families struggled to scrape enough money together to buy. Radio programs brought the country together because they created a culture all Americans could share. Programs were presented live, including the sound effects and commercials. Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, and Red Skelton were four of the top-rated comedians on radio. Their humor was especially important during World War II because it not only brought Americans together for a united purpose but also helped a war-weary public forget – if only for 30 minutes – the carnage found in the daily newspapers and in movie newsreels. In a special performance for the Wright Museum, Lynn Roberts and Chuck Carson bring you back to the days when radio was king by recreating a NBC radio comedy show from the 1940s. Lynn impersonates Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, and Red Skelton. When you see Lynn on stage, it’s difficult to tell him from the real comedians. Chuck acts as the announcer and does the sound effects and the commercials. On the Air provides an evening of nostalgia for seniors and introduces younger people to a unique form of entertainment they’re bound to enjoy The performance will take place at Anderson Hall, located at 205 South Main Street on the Brewster Academy campus. (Limited parking is available. Additional parking is within walking distance.) Tickets for the performance are $18 and can be bought at the museum or online at www.bobhoperadioshow.eventbrite.com. This event was made possible with support from Linda Matchett and contributions from Pam McKinley and Sugar Hill Retirement Community.
Director’s Message You are probably aware that the 2016 season was our best in terms of attendance. We had 18,550 visitors. People often ask the reason for this dramatic rise in attendance. The staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors like to take credit for the increase, and we do work hard to create and maintain what Yankee Magazine calls “the best 20th-century history museum in New England.” Just as importantly, however, is the support and recognition we receive from Wright members, donors and visitors. Year after year, when we survey why people visit us, the primary reason is word of mouth. “Word of mouth” means that you – members, donors, and visitors – are the preeminent advocates for the Wright Museum. Your enjoyment of what you see and learn here compels you to share that fulfillment with others. Consequently, your satisfaction with how we achieve our educational mission enables us reach an audience that we might otherwise not touch. In fact, you become an integral part of how this Museum educates future generations about one of the most influential periods in American history. Your “word of mouth” efforts help ensure that the Wright will perpetually educate and inspire future generations about the enduring contributions of WWII-era Americans. Our members, donors, and visitors, however, do more than share their belief in the validity of the Wright Museum’s mission. Just importantly – in common parlance – “you put your money where your mouth is”. Your financial support is instrumental and we continue to be sincerely grateful for that assistance, which permits us to plan ahead. For instance, this coming season you will see a number of changes inside the Museum that we think you’ll enjoy. And we have already secured a wonderfully apropos 2018 exhibit called Manufacturing Victory, The Arsenal of Democracy. So, as this message started with you, it ends with thank you for your dedication and commitment. Thank you, Mike Culver
Wright volunteer Grant Sigsworth is the quiet guy on the second floor who keeps the Wright Museum’s heart beating. What is the heart of any museum? Its collections. Every Thursday Grant goes up to his office on the second floor to work on the collections. For each donated artifact, Grant maintains the paperwork, writes a description of the object, photographs it, and enters all the information in the museum’s artifact database. Without that information on hand, the Wright could not function. Grant’s route to the Wright Museum was a long one. Born and brought up in San Diego, California, Grant comes from a Navy family and followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the Navy. After graduating from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, Grant served seven years’ active duty and then went into the naval reserves. By a twist of fate, his reserve unit was the same one his father had commanded when Grant was a kid in the 1970s! After he left the Navy, Grant worked as a senior engineer for defense contractors, doing tactical data length analysis. Grant retired in 2010. Both he and his wife, Judy, were tired of San Diego’s cramped city living and decided to move to a more open area with a more relaxed quality of life – the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Grant and Judy were attracted by the sparse amount of traffic they encountered on New Hampshire’s roads. And it didn’t take Grant long to realize that his main cause of stress in California was the traffic. Now rush-hour traffic consists of five cars! Grant first visited the Wright Museum in 2011 and immediately fell in love with it. In 2012 he became a docent. He discovered that he preferred to work behind the scenes and ended up cataloging all the military patches, an exacting task that highlighted his patience. When Mike Culver took over as executive director, he made Grant responsible for cataloging all the museum’s new acquisitions. Grant also became involved in organizing collections and exhibits. He organized the Cigarette exhibit in the Home Front Gallery and assisted in organizing the D-Day and Infamy exhibits as well as the Army Barracks display. Grant is a vital part of the museum.
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2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
The Ron Goodgame and Donna Canney 2017 Education Program Schedule - May 2 - October 17 Admission is $8.00 per person for non-members and free 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. a platoon to brigade-size units.
Tuesday, May 2, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
When is War the Answer? Woodrow Wilson and the Decision for War in 1917. Lecture by Professor Kurk Dorsey President Woodrow Wilson faced a monumental dilemma about how to respond to the war in Europe. In this illustrated talk, Kurk Dorsey describes how Wilson tried to make something good from the Great War, first by trying to mediate a peace without victory and then by choosing to intervene in the war on the Allied side. His decisions still affect America today. Kurk Dorsey has taught History at UNH since 1994. His research interests include US foreign policy and US environmental history.
Tuesday, May 9, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
The Unending Vietnam War Lecture by Professor Amanda C. Demmer While it is a truism that wars are easier to start than they are to end, the Vietnam War in particular has a reputation as “the war that will not end.” The conflict continues to cast a long shadow over American culture, politics, and policy. Because most Americans and Vietnamese no longer possess a living memory of the war, Demmer discusses the conflict’s origins, military phase, and legacies, but from an American perspective. Amanda Demmer is a Ph.D. Candidate in history at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). In addition to teaching history at UNH, she is a frequent guest lecturer. Demmer also has written numerous essays.
Tuesday, May 16, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
The Doolittle Raid: the 75th Anniversary Lecture by Dana Robertson On Saturday, April 18, 1942, US Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle led an air raid on the Japanese island of Honshu. Doolittle’s was the first air raid during World War II to strike the Japanese Home Islands . The raid demonstrated that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, served as retaliation for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and provided an important boost to American morale. Colonel Dana Robertson (US Army retired) served 27 years of active service in the United States Army. During that time, he commanded everything from
Tuesday, May 23, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
The US Carbine caliber .30 M1, Why? Lecture by George R. Gurick, Jr. George R. Gurick, Jr., gives an in-depth look at the reasons behind the adaption of a “light rifle” to replace the M1911A1 pistol for troops in World War II. Gurick also discusses the virtual miracle worked by American industry to produce six million M1 carbines between 1942 and mid 1945. George R. Gurick Jr. is a former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant of the regular Air Force. He also is a competitive shooter, attaining the classification of NRA Expert in open competition and enjoys shooting U.S. military small arms.
Tuesday, May 30, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Three Stooges and the Axis Presented by Daniel Schroeder Join Wright museum volunteer and Stoogeaholic Daniel Schroeder as he presents Part Five of his popular “Three Stooges take on the Axis Powers” lecture series. Come along with the Three Stooges, America’s first SEALs (SEa, Air, Laughs) as they poke fun at the Axis and do their part to win the war. This is a fun time for young and old. Please – no pie throwing allowed. All pies must be checked in at the door.
Tuesday, June 6, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Songs for Soldiers, Veterans and Patriots Presented by “Ramblin’ Richard” (Richard Kruppa) Accompanying himself on three instruments, “Ramblin’ Richard” sings songs and tell stories about how the songs relate to the lives and experiences of our men and women in uniform. Songs range from the earliest days of our military up to recent times. A retired professor, Richard Kruppa is a member of the New England Foundation for the Arts. He studied American folk and Gospel music and performs more than 300 shows each year to audiences of all ages and interests.
Tuesday, June 13, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail The Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, The American Independence Museum,
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. and The Millyard Museum The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail consists of 17 New Hampshire Museums, from the seacoast to the mountains between Portsmouth and Plymouth. The diversity within the Trail is astounding, ranging from farm and aviation museums to museums focusing on a submarine and Lake Winnipesaukee. In this presentation, staff from three of the Trail Museums will speak about their extraordinary institutions.
in America’s wars, from World War II to Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). Graser seamlessly weaves their firsthand experiences into the history of the wars in which they served, putting their stories into historical context. Sergeant First Class William R. Graser, USA (Ret.) served in the US Army Security Agency. Among his assignments were Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Germany, including West Berlin.
Tuesday, June 20, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
The Bedford Boys Lecture and book signing by author Alex Kershaw Note: This is a Monday event and it takes place in the Wolfeboro Town Hall’s Great Hall. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. June 6, 1944: Nineteen boys from Bedford, Virginia – population just 3,000 in 1944 – died in the first bloody minutes of D-Day. The Bedford boys were part of Company A of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Division and among the first wave of American soldiers to hit the beaches in Normandy. Later in the campaign, three more boys from this small Virginia town died of gunshot wounds. Twenty-two sons of Bedford were lost. Theirs is a story one cannot easily forget and one that Bedford families will always remember.
Women Soldiers of the American Civil War Lecture by Professor Sarah Batterson For a small but significant number of women, war not only brought them into battle, it motivated them to disguise themselves as men and take up the musket and sword. This lecture focuses on the adventures of some of the known women who risked their lives, asking what motivated them and if they were truly ahead of their time. Professor Sarah Batterson holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of New Hampshire and a joint M.A. in Anthropology and Women’s Studies. She currently teaches courses in African-American history and Gender History at University of New Hampshire.
Tuesday, June 27, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Veterans’ Reflections: History Preserved Lecture and book signing by author William Graser Graser’s Veterans’ Reflections contains personal experiences of sixty veterans who served
Monday, July 17, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, July 25, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Give Me Tomorrow Lecture and book signing by author Patrick O’Donnell Note: This program will take place in the Wolfeboro Town Hall’s Great Hall. Doors open
at 6:00 pm. This program is free, thanks to a grant from the Town of Wolfeboro’s Cate Memorial Fund. Give Me Tomorrow tells an epic story of valor and sacrifice by a legendary Marine company in the Korean War. “What would you want if you could have any wish?” asked the photojournalist, looking expectantly at the haggard and bloodied Marine before him. The Marine gaped back incredulously at the photojournalist. “Give me tomorrow,” he said. After nearly four months of continuous and agonizing combat on the battlefields of Korea, such a desperate yet simple re-quest seemed impossible. And for many men of George Company his was a wish that would not come true. Combat historian, bestselling author, and public speaker Patrick K. O’Donnell has written ten critically acclaimed books that recount the epic stories of America’s wars from the Revolution to Iraq.
Tuesday, August 1, 7 - 8 PM
The Life and Times of the Civil War Soldier Lecture by Chris Benedetto Chris Benedetto will share some of his original letters and photos of New Hampshire soldiers and the amazing stories they tell about their experiences in the Civil War. Benedetto has studied the lives and times of Civil War soldiers for more than two decades and has been an active member of the 5th New Hampshire Volunteers living history unit since 1993. In 2012 he co-authored the book Union Soldier of the American Civil War: A Visual Reference.
2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
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Tuesday, August 8, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
The Women’s Land Army of America Lecture by Linda Shenton Matchett Although the Woman’s Land Army of America (WLAA) originated in World War I, the organization came into its own during WWII. Recruiting over one million women, the WLAA ensured that food would be available for both the home front and the troops overseas. The WLAA also ensured that the U.S. would not suffer the privation and scarcity experienced by other Allied countries. Matchett provides first-person accounts of women who planted the fields, harvested the crops, and milked the cows to keep America fed. Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, journalist, and blogger of all things historical. In her “free time,” she can be found volunteering as a docent at the Wright Museum of WWII.
Tuesday, August 15, 7 - 8pm
Boomtown, Portsmouth: The World War II Transformation of a Quiet New England Seaport Lecture and book signing by author Rodney Watterson Boomtown, Portsmouth is a fascinating look at how a global war changed one small New England city. The story contains many subplots, including: a booming Navy yard; hordes of Immigrant workers; a flood of federal dollars; a burgeoning population; U-Boat threats; blackouts; a raucous liberty town; and soaring VD rates. After a Naval career steeped in submarine design and engineering, Captain Rodney K. Watterson (USN Retired) shifted disciplines and earned a PhD in history from the University of New Hampshire. Besides Boomtown, Portsmouth, he has written two other books that focus on Portsmouth.
Tuesday, August 22, 7 - 8 PM
Finding Phil: Lost in War and Silence Lecture and book signing by author Paul Levy Paul Levy was a year old when his Uncle Phil was killed in World War II and his family, like many other families, faced their grief with silence. Upon retirement, and seventy years after his uncle’s death, Levy set out to discover what might still be found about Phil. At every step, research led him to unexpected turns, and ultimately revealed a vivid portrait of Phil’s life and, astoundingly, of his death. Paul Levy and his wife, Elizabeth, are retired and live in Concord, New Hampshire. Currently, Paul is active in social justice issues and is a frequent contributor to the Concord Monitor.
Tuesday, August 29, 7 - 8P
Miss Fortune’s Last Mission Lecture and book signing by co-author John Hartley Torrison Bill Boyce always wanted to
know why his father refused to discuss his tour of duty on a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II. The experience had affected every aspect of his father’s life, but an unspoken agreement kept the topic classified. Twenty-five years after his father’s death, Bill found the one man – Ray Noury – who might tell him what his father would not. Noury took Boyce through a mid-life journey that enabled him to finally understand his father. Torrison co-authored Miss Fortune’s Last Mission with William J. Boyce and John DeMers.
Tuesday, September 5, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Remembering Pearl Harbor A screening of Tim Gray’s newest documentary film, narrated by Tom Selleck. Presented by the film maker, Tim Gray Note: This film is 84 minutes long and begins at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 1941, threw America into World War II. Every sailor, airman, soldier and civilian who was in or near Pearl Harbor on that day has their own individual story of courage, fear, heroics or tragedy. No two stories are the same. This film presents some of their stories from December 7, 1941. They will always Remember Pearl Harbor. Tim Gray is an award-winning director, producer, and writer based in Rhode Island. He has made 17 documentary films. All of his films have aired nationally on American public television and in other countries such as China, Australia, France, and England.
Tuesday, September 12, 7 - 8PM
The Holocaust: the Twisted Road to Auschwitz Lecture by Tom White White’s presentation focuses on the cascading radicalization and evolution to genocide that took place from 1939-1945. White explores how Nazi policy incrementally evolved and adapted over time in the complex face of changing political, military, and social circumstances. He places specific attention on the Nazi racial laboratory of Poland 1939-1940 and also examines the “moral universe” created by willing perpetrators. Thomas M. White is the Coordinator of Educational Outreach for the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College.
Tuesday, September 19, 7 - 8PM
John Winant: New Hampshire Man of the World Lecture by Richard Hess Note: This program is free, thanks to funding by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. John G. Winant, three-time New Hampshire Governor, went on to serve the nation in several capacities on the national and international scene. In the process he became a hero to the British in World War II and to the common man throughout the developed world. Winant’s life, marked by highs and lows, ended tragically in his Concord mansion. Richard Hesse examines Winant’s life and measures his impact at home and abroad. Richard A. Hesse J.D., Georgetown University and Professor Emeritus University of New Hampshire School of Law, has published widely on a variety of legal and ethical topics.
Tuesday, September 26, 7 - 8PM
The Zimmermann Telegram, 1917 Lecture by Professor Douglas Wheeler British Naval Intelligence’s interception, decoding, and leaking of the famous Zimmermann Telegram of 1917 helped propel the United States into World War I on the Allied side. In his lecture, Wheeler shows the significance of this secret British intelligence operation in the earlier stages of contemporary signal warfare and how secret intelligence services build expertise in an effort to discover enemy plans and intentions. Wheeler’s lecture also provides a case study in how intelligence services tried to manipulate “public opinion,” which was a new factor in warfare. Wheeler served in U.S. Army Intelligence (1963-65) and as a consultant on international affairs for the Department of State and the C.I.A., analytical division. Since 1965, Wheeler has been a member of the History faculty at University of New Hampshire, Durham.
Tuesday, October 10, 7 - 8PM
The Middle East Lecture by Mohamed Defaa Note: This program is free, thanks to funding by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. The term “Middle East” is a changing geopolitical concept. Throughout recent history, this term referred to a political, a cultural, and a geographical region with no clear boundaries. Moreover, the concept of “middle East” generates stereo-types and misunderstanding. Defaa’s lecture provides an analytical framework to understand the
histories, social identities, and cultures behind this complex concept of “Middle East.” Mohamed Defaa 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. Currently, Defaa teaches French and Arabic at Merrimack High School and Arabic at Southern New Hampshire University.
Tuesday, October 17, 7 - 8PM
When Women Played Baseball: The Story of Margaret, Nellie, and Rose Lecture and book signing by author Barbara Gregorich In 1934 three young women, still in their teens, played hardball on the last traveling Bloomer Girl baseball team. Margaret, Nellie, and Rose came from different backgrounds and had different reasons for playing baseball. When the season was over they followed different paths – two went on to serve in the WAVES and the WACS during WW II, and one went on to play for the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Baseball League. Playing baseball profoundly affected their lives and helped determine their futures. Barbara Gregorich writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She has a B.A. in literature and history from Kent State University and a M.A. in literature from the University of Wisconsin.
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2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
DONATIONS & ACQUISITIONS
Tuskegee Airman Howard Lee Baugh’s Letter &Photo
Lieutenant Colonel Howard Lee Baugh wrote this letter to Wolfeboro resident Lindy Visco sometime around 1 9 9 4 . Baugh also included this 1943 photograph of himself standing beside his P-40 airplane “Connie Jeanne,” which he named after his wife. Baugh flew 135 combat missions as part of the 332 Fighter Group’s 22th Fighter Squadron in Sicily, Italy. Baugh was one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, an all-African-American fighter group in the Army Air Corps that trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Tuskegee Airmen included not only pilots, crew, and maintenance personnel but every other person who helped keep the planes flying. In all, 450 Tuskegee Airmen flew combat missions during World War II. These African American airmen accomplished a feat no other fighter group did: they never lost a single bomber that was under their protection. In a time of racial prejudice, the Tuskegee Airmen overcame discrimination to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups in World War II. – Donated by Lindy Visco, Wolfeboro, NH
1943 GMC CCKW 353 Truck
The Wright Museum recently purchased a 1943 GMC CCKW 353 truck that was manufactured by General Motors Company. People generally refer to the truck as a “Deuce and a Half” because it weighs two and a half tons. The GMC CCKW was a workhorse of World War II, transporting cargo for the Army. After the Normandy Invasion, these trucks were a mainstay of the Red Ball Express, which hauled supplies to support the Army as it pushed east-ward into Europe. The GMC CCKWs saw heavy service during the Korean War as well. GMC produced about 562,750 CCKWs during the war and stopped manufacturing them in 1950. However, the military continued to use CCKWs well into the 1960s
Wright Museum Sherman Tank Is On The Move Again For years our engineless Sherman tank has stood in lonely isolation in the Military Gallery, unable to move while the other vehicles were rotated in and out of the exhibit room. Now we are happy to announce that our Sherman tank is on the move again! Last year we obtained an unused and unassembled 70year-old Sherman tank engine. Our dedicated group of volunteers, the Wright Mechanics, spent many months laboriously putting the engine together piece by piece. The Mechanics were guided by Paul Zanis, a radial engine specialist. On January 20, 2017, the Wright Mechanics moved the Sherman tank from the Military Gallery into the Wright garage, where they will install the engine. Moving the 33-ton behemoth wasn’t easy and would have been impossible without the help of Jack McDevitt. Jack, who owns McDevitt Truck, Inc., filled one of his heavy trucks with sand and then used the truck to drag the Sherman from the Military Gallery to the garage’s entrance. Finally, the Mechanics used our Pershing tank to push the Sherman into the work bay. During the next few months, the Wright Mechanics will install the “new” engine and hope to have the Sherman ready to move on its own for Family Day on Sunday, July 9th. Check closer to Family Day to see if the engine has been installed. Perhaps you’ll get to see our long-silent behemoth roar to life!
Become a Wright Docent Does spending a few hours each week in a great history museum talking to people from all over America and the world sound like fun? If your answer is “Yes,” then the Wright Museum has just the opportunity for you as a docent. Our distinguished Docent Program is seeking additional volunteers. What do docents do? They act as tour guides who educate our visitors about the Museum, its mission, and our extraordinary permanent collection. You do not have to be a World War II “expert” -- just someone who enjoys people and would find pleasure in making each visitor’s time at the Museum a memorable event. Since 1994, the Wright Museum’s goal has been to educate, entertain and inspire visitors by sharing the story of the WWII-era Americans who forever changed our nation. If you consider sharing their legacy as important as we do, and want to help, please contact Mike Culver or Donna Hamill at 603-569-1212 or e-mail Mike at Michael.Culver@WrightMuseum.org
2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
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2017 SPECIAL EVENT
WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS
Have Fun at Family Day
BUY-A-BRICK PROGRAM RETURNS
Sunday, July 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
If you’ve been to Family Day before, you know why it’s one of our most popular events. This year is the Year of the American Soldier and the Wright Museum is celebrating our fighting men and women by hosting a special exhibit, The American Soldier: From the Civil War to the Iraq War (July 1- October 31). In keeping with our theme, you’ll see reenactors from many of America’s wars, including the Civil War. You can talk to them about their roles on the warfront and on the home front across 157 years of American history. Of course there will be rides around Wolfeboro in our World War II vehicles. Plus magic shows, “Mo” the balloon artist, face painters, and two live animal shows presented by the staff of the Squam Lake Natural Science Center. And don’t forget the live music by the New England Country Boys. Food will also be available for you to purchase. And, of course, there will be family-oriented games for children of all ages . Off-site parking is available in the Wolfeboro Municipal Parking Lot, just a short walk down the Bridge Fall 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 cars. Admission: Adults $12; children 5-17 $10; Museum members $9. Kids 4 and under are free. Family Day is made possible in part by contributions from Black’s Paper Store, NFP Insurance, and People’s United Bank and Wolfeboro Trolley Company and Doran Independent Insurance.
2017 SPECIAL EVENT
Cruise in to The 4th Annual Antique Auto Show Saturday, August 19th from 10am-2pm
Cruise on in to the Wright Museum for our 5th Annual Antique Car and Motorcycle Show. We’ll be holding the event, come rain or shine. The show will feature live music from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Food will be available to purchase. Remember, only the first 100 antique autos and motorcycles will be allowed into the show. This year you can easily 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 be in authentic condition. Sorry – no hot rods and customized vehicles are allowed. Regular museum admission admits you 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 between Memorial Day and Labor Day when they show their ID.) This event was made possible with contributions from Sunday Paving.
A unique feature at the Wright Museum is the entrance courtyard where hundreds of memorial bricks adorn the walls up to a height of eight feet. Many of these bricks honor men and women who played active parts in World War II, both in the military and on the home front. Other bricks honor individuals and groups who served in the military and in civilian life during other periods too. Last summer we suspended accepting brick requests because the courtyard was literally filled to a height where additional bricks could not be read easily. The Wright Museum is delighted to announce that we are taking orders for memorial bricks again, which will be put up in the spring of 2018. These bricks will be displayed in a new place of honor on the Museum wall facing Center Street. The area around the bricks will become a Remembrance Garden where visitors can view the Memorial Bricks in a restful landscaped surrounding with granite benches and flags. The new Remembrance Garden will quickly become one of the most popular and beautiful features on the Museum campus. If you would like to make a donation to help create this wonderful new space, please contact Executive Director Mike Culver at michael.culver@wrightmuseum.org or at 569-1212 for details. To order bricks, visit our web site at www.wrightmuseum.org and download Army Air Corps veteran an order form or contact Luther “Smitty” Smith Donna Hamill at Donna. gives a thumbs up to the hamill@wrightmuseum.org Remembrance Garden. or at 603-569-1212. The number of granite benches in the Remembrance Garden is limited. You can purchase a bench and have it engraved with the name of a loved one you would like to honor. The cost of a bench is $1,000, plus engraving. If you would like to buy a bench, contact Mike Culver for details. Your support of the Remembrance Garden is greatly appreciated. Part of your brick donation will help maintain the Garden as a beautiful setting for all Museum visitors. The Garden and your brick will help preserve the names and stories of Americans from all walks of life who united to achieve a common goal. Your sup-port for the Museum’s educational mission shows you are part of a community that values American history and recognizes that the contributions of the World War II generation are worth celebrating and preserving for future generations.
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2017 WRIGHT MUSEUM NEWS - A SPECIAL FEATURE TO THE WEIRS TIMES
RECIPROCAL MEMBERSHIPS WITH SISTER MUSEUMS The Wright Museum has month-long reciprocal memberships with three sister museums during the 2017 season. To take advantage of the reciprocal arrangement, members of the participating museums must show their membership cards at the admission desks of each other’s museums.
WRIGHT MUSEUM PARTICIPATES IN BLUE STAR PROGRAM
During May, the Wright Museum has a reciprocal membership with the Woodman Museum in Dover, NH. Members of the two museums will get 50% off the regular admission price by showing their membership cards at the Admissions desk. During July, the Wright Museum has a reciprocal membership with the New Hampshire Telephone Museum in Warner, NH. And during August, the Wright Museum has a reciprocal arrangement with the McAuliffeShepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH. Members of the two museums receive free admission by showing their membership cards at the Admissions desk. For more information about the New Hampshire Telephone Museum, visit www.nhtelephonemuseum.org. For more information about the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, visit www. starhop.com. The reciprocal membership applies only to regular museum members, not to library or other institutional members.
Why Membership Is Important To The Wright Museum Your membership dollars are an important source of funds to support our exhibits and programs. By joining the Wright, you become an actual partner in helping us carry out our mission of providing “a vivid perspective on the profound and enduring impact of the World War II experience on American society.” In return, you receive specific benefits that depend on your membership level. Benefits can include: • Free admission to the museum • Invitations to members-only previews of special exhibits such as “Norman Rockwell in the 1940s: A View of the American Home Front” • 10% discounts from the museum store • Subscription to the museum’s newsletter, Wright Times A new, special benefit is the Wright’s Member Shopping Days. Every Thursday in June and in September, you will receive 20% off everything you buy at the Museum Store.
To honor our active-duty military personnel, the Wright Museum is participating again in the 7th 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 29th through Monday, September 4, 2017.
FREE ADMISSION WITH MUSEUM DAY LIVE! TICKET Once again the Wright Museum is participating in the Smithsonian Museum Day Live! program in September of 2016. 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.
Wright docents Dodie Stephens, Dana Robertson and Sheldon Jones.