Thank you, Erika… great idea! Cather is one of my all-time favorite authors (Death Comes for the Archbishop being my favorite of her novels—I was born in New Mexico). I came upon Cather via a reference (Truman Capote, in a book) during a harsh Wyoming winter when I had lots of time… and I was able to read most of her work. I also appreciate Cather’s life and quiet influence. For readers who appreciate Cather’s novels, the novels of Louise Erdrich might also bring them “bushels” of joy…
I love Willa Cather as well. Her writing captures so much and has depths to uncover. I read one of her books in a book club I was part of and one of the members attended the Willa Cather convention every year. I mentioned noticing some symbolism where the characters were entering a cave that was very sensual during the book club. Another member told me later that the one who attended the conventions had never seen that aspect in all the years he had gone to the conventions. Different perspectives can open our own sightlines!
Thanks very much for including Lost in the Archives in your excellent round-up, Erika! I did enjoy writing about Eileen Power and love the way that she insisted that an interest in fashion and love of parties did not preclude a woman being a serious scholar (wish I could have gone to one of her kitchen dances too). She really did her best to make history accessible to more people through new technology like BBC radio and public lectures.
And, sorry it sounds like that’s all I got from it--not so! I found it refreshing and inspiring that she did not back away from nor hide her “feminine” interests in order to fit in with the patriarchal concept of academic success. Unlike so many women, she resisted the extreme pressure to let go of such “frivolity,” and she apparently did it with grace and lightness and even joy. Such a wonderful model for women in any male-dominated field. Thank you so much for sharing her story with us.
I imagine it must be great fun (as well as a lot of work--but satisfying work!) to dig up these almost lost stories.
Just out of curiosity, do you do most of your research on the internet, or do you spend great loads of time in libraries?
Ha, no I wouldn't have minded and I love the idea of kitchen dances myself. For most my research I'm in the Manuscripts Room (for letters) and the Rare Books Room (for out of print books) at the Cambridge University Library. In the case of Eileen Power, there was quite a lot of printed material on her so most came from library books or online sources such as the LSE website and ODNB.
Oh, all that time in Rare Book and Manuscript Rooms sounds dreamy. :) maybe sone day I’ll make it to visit the Cambridge Library. It was always a dream of mine to do research at the British Museum. It’s getting rather late in the day for me to realize that, but you never know!
I’m so happy to know about her! I was delighted by your article (as I am, actually, often by your pieces), and shared with several friends. We all thought the kitchen dances idea was a wonderful twist on salons.
Thank you, Erika… great idea! Cather is one of my all-time favorite authors (Death Comes for the Archbishop being my favorite of her novels—I was born in New Mexico). I came upon Cather via a reference (Truman Capote, in a book) during a harsh Wyoming winter when I had lots of time… and I was able to read most of her work. I also appreciate Cather’s life and quiet influence. For readers who appreciate Cather’s novels, the novels of Louise Erdrich might also bring them “bushels” of joy…
Wow, how interesting!
I love this concept Erika, thank you for sharing some of the things that have touched you with us!
I love Willa Cather as well. Her writing captures so much and has depths to uncover. I read one of her books in a book club I was part of and one of the members attended the Willa Cather convention every year. I mentioned noticing some symbolism where the characters were entering a cave that was very sensual during the book club. Another member told me later that the one who attended the conventions had never seen that aspect in all the years he had gone to the conventions. Different perspectives can open our own sightlines!
Thanks very much for including Lost in the Archives in your excellent round-up, Erika! I did enjoy writing about Eileen Power and love the way that she insisted that an interest in fashion and love of parties did not preclude a woman being a serious scholar (wish I could have gone to one of her kitchen dances too). She really did her best to make history accessible to more people through new technology like BBC radio and public lectures.
And, sorry it sounds like that’s all I got from it--not so! I found it refreshing and inspiring that she did not back away from nor hide her “feminine” interests in order to fit in with the patriarchal concept of academic success. Unlike so many women, she resisted the extreme pressure to let go of such “frivolity,” and she apparently did it with grace and lightness and even joy. Such a wonderful model for women in any male-dominated field. Thank you so much for sharing her story with us.
I imagine it must be great fun (as well as a lot of work--but satisfying work!) to dig up these almost lost stories.
Just out of curiosity, do you do most of your research on the internet, or do you spend great loads of time in libraries?
Ha, no I wouldn't have minded and I love the idea of kitchen dances myself. For most my research I'm in the Manuscripts Room (for letters) and the Rare Books Room (for out of print books) at the Cambridge University Library. In the case of Eileen Power, there was quite a lot of printed material on her so most came from library books or online sources such as the LSE website and ODNB.
Oh, all that time in Rare Book and Manuscript Rooms sounds dreamy. :) maybe sone day I’ll make it to visit the Cambridge Library. It was always a dream of mine to do research at the British Museum. It’s getting rather late in the day for me to realize that, but you never know!
I’m so happy to know about her! I was delighted by your article (as I am, actually, often by your pieces), and shared with several friends. We all thought the kitchen dances idea was a wonderful twist on salons.