A New Jersey native, Jennifer is a 2001 graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in Spanish. She received a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2006. From 2001-2005 she was employed by Greater Media Newspapers in Freehold, NJ, moving up from copy editor to managing editor before leaving for Medill. While at Medill, she interned in the London bureau of Fairchild Publications. After graduation, Jennifer joined Time Inc. as an intern at Southern Living magazine. She served as assistant copy editor for Southern Living until March 2010. Since March she was freelance writing and copy editing for Hoffman Media in Birmingham.

Jennifer has also been very involved locally with the United Way Young Leaders Society, as well as serving as a volunteer with Grace’s Kitchen and the Time to Read program at Center Street Middle School. Please welcome Jennifer, as she takes charge of our print and electronic communication—including the print Mosaic, eMosaic newsletter, and “Kudzu Twines Journal” blog.

The last of these three, the social element, is not insignificant. The humanities—at least as we practice the public humanities—have an indisputable social aspect. People at public humanities programs are not cloistered in a basement archive, nor are they lecturing and grading tests for high school or college students. They mingle together, chat about their families and tell stories of old times together. They form and renew bonds that extend beyond the program’s immediate context. They often eat and (less often) drink the fruits of the vine or field. Thus these occasions are frequently celebrations as much as “cerebrations.”

We generally don’t make a big deal about the receptions or meals accompanying our programs, but they represent an important means of expressing our appreciation to donors and other constituents. There are never enough opportunities to thank the people who support your work, and TKAM offered them in spades. So take a look at the photos and see how we did. When you are finished with the TKAM albums, surf over to our full website, where you can find:

• Bios of our dedicated and talented volunteer board, comprising 25 individuals from throughout the state. Click here to get to know them!
• Listing of our donors

If you want to add your own gift to AHF, and maybe join us at an upcoming program or reception, take a minute to donate.

We thank you now, and we promise to thank you at every chance we have in the future!

More recent travels led to a closer destination, Florence, where a famous Midwestern architect left his own stamp on Alabama. Not far from the Tennessee River stands the Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939. (Actually, Wright never visited the site or the completed house. His apprentice and associates managed the project.) Meticulously restored by the City of Florence in 1999-2001, the house is one of the Shoals area’s most prominent historic sites today. It is the only Wright-designed building in Alabama and is open to the public on a regular basis.

A house, we like to believe, is in statu quo, a noble consort to man and the trees; therefore the house should have repose and such texture as will quiet the whole and make it graciously at one with external nature.”

–Frank Lloyd Wright, The Future of Architecture (1953)

The Rosenbaum House is considered a first-rate example of Wright’s “Usonian” houses, which he designed for clients across the country in the mid-20th century. What I find most interesting about the Usonian concept, from a humanities perspective, is its reference to the expanded idea of “America” as embodying all of North America to include Canada and Mexico. According to this design philosophy, not only would the house unite nature and artifice, outdoors and indoors—it would also unite the broader sense of what it means to be an American.

Given that the Usonian house is considered a predecessor of the 1950s ranch house, I wonder whether our Canadian and Mexican friends want to celebrate that particular architectural contribution from the United States’ most famous architect. (Perhaps NAFTA has been their revenge.) No matter. The Rosenbaum House is pure FLW, and well worth the trip from anywhere in Alabama.

Written by: Bob S.

Legg incorporates various iconic images in “Another’s Perspective”—work shoes, Bible, judge’s gavel—as well as actual objects such as a chain and torn screen window. In Thompson’s almost photorealist black and white oil painting, “Someone Else,” contemporary children’s shoes stand as metaphors for the perspectives that Scout and Jem bring to the narrative.

These large paintings are only two of 35 fabulous works of Alabama art, drawn from themes found in To Kill a Mockingbird, which will be auctioned on May 22 at Wynfield Estates in Montgomery. Proceeds will support AHF’s various educational programs for teachers, students, schools, libraries and museums. To purchase a ticket for the reception and auction, please contact Paul Lawson at (205) 558-3992 or plawson@ahf.net, or visit this link.

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Empty shoes can be powerful symbols of absent figures. Think of the many shoes shown in photographs from liberated concentration camps—and the actual victims’ shoes on display in various Holocaust museums. Less tragically, but still poignantly, empty shoes speak of rest from hard work. Among the hundreds of photos taken by Walker Evans in Depression-era Alabama is a stark interior, “Fireplace and wall detail in bedroom of Floyd Burroughs’ cabin. Hale County, Alabama.” Muddy brogans face a cold fireplace with a minimum of decoration above. It is a lonely place, barely a rough shelter for the sharecropper inhabitants.

Evans’s 1936 photographs—whether interiors, exteriors or gaunt poor whites themselves—had nearly as a strong an impact on Americans’ vision of the Depression South as did Harper Lee’s 1960 novel. Published in James Agee’s 1941 classic, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, the images have influenced many subsequent artists and photographers, including Alabama’s own William Christenberry. One of Christenberry’s photos will also be auctioned on May 22. Given Evans’s disheartening subjects—and Agee’s turgid prose—I doubt the 70th anniversary of that book next year will be celebrated as abundantly as TKAM’s 50th. But now that AHF has created a visual oeuvre for TKAM, I am proud to say both works have been made richer through art as well as words.

Written by: Bob S.

In “Slavery,” Nall depicts an African-American man, with his hands bound and framed by images from Nall’s native Alabama, such as azalea and camellia blossoms. A board with protruding nails rests astride his shoulders, symbolizing both a crucifix and the scales of justice. Mockingbird readers will recognize that the slave is actually the fictional Tom Robinson, whose fate was nearly as doomed in 1930s Maycomb as it would have been in the 1830s. Nall drives the point home by weighing the scales down in the direction of the approaching rabid dog behind Tom, and away from the innocent mockingbird in front of him.

Yet Nall’s painting directs us to read the book, not just gaze upon an anonymous victim of slavery or Jim Crow injustice. If we do so—and not linger too long in from of his tragic painting—we will find both justice and compassion bound up in the characters of Atticus and Scout.

Caleb O’Connor, who recently moved to Tuscaloosa to paint 16 murals for the new federal courthouse under construction there, addresses the question from the other direction. “Charles” isn’t a character from Mockingbird; in fact, he’s not even from Alabama. He’s a homeless man that O’Connor met on the island of Maui in his native Hawaii. O’Connor, who has maintained a friendship with Charles ever since, shows him enjoying a cup of coffee and pausing as he shares his life story. Eyes closed, fingertips to his lips, Charles appears to savor the coffee as if it’s the first cup he’s had in weeks. We know instinctively that O’Connor is a man of compassion toward his subject, not just an artist with an agenda about justice for the homeless.

The British politician Neil Kinnock told Parliament in 1970, “Compassion is not a sloppy, sentimental feeling for people who are underprivileged or sick…it is an absolutely practical belief that, regardless of a person’s background, ability or ability to pay, he should be provided with the best that society has to offer.” I don’t know if Kinnock meant that compassion required society to provide the best in material goods. But those who take to heart Mockingbird’s message—whether we are artists, lawyers, ethicists or just ordinary readers—understand that compassion surely means society at least owes justice to all its citizens.

Written by: Bob S.

Alabamians have been fixtures for decades on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Celebrated senators and congressmen—Carl Elliott, Bob Jones, Lister Hill, John Sparkman, Howell Heflin and others—have helped shape national policy and profoundly influenced American history in the 20th century. In a recent visit to Washington, however, I discovered two new additions to Capitol Hill, neither of which is a member of Congress.

In the expansive new Capitol visitor center, the newest state statue is that of Helen Keller, who has replaced the more obscure Jabez Curry as Alabama’s official statue. She is depicted in the moment she reaches out to touch the water from the well at her Tuscumbia home, Ivy Green.

Much smaller than the monumental figures around her, Keller’s bronze statue is both lively in form and human in scale. Gov. Bob Riley, the Alabama Council on the Arts and many other individuals and groups are to be commended for choosing Keller and her wonderful statue. I suspect that when other states decide to replace their own lesser-known (and stiff) statues, such as Mississippi’s James Zachariah George or Oregon’s John McLoughlin, they will look to the image of our own Helen Keller for guidance.

A few blocks east of the Capitol, behind the Library of Congress, stands the Folger Shakespeare Library. In this quiet and scholarly museum and archives, visitors can escape the tourist hubbub found in the Smithsonian’s museums on the Mall. While there I enjoyed the intriguing exhibition,”Extending the Book: The Art of Extra-Illustration.”

Unfortunately, I was unable to visit Alabama’s own unique contribution to the Folger—a television studio. As I am writing this, Alabama Public Television is constructing a studio in the Folger’s Haskell Educational Building. (The building is named for Birmingham’s Wyatt Haskell, who serves on the Folger board as well as the Alabama Shakespeare Festival board.) Soon APT will be producing from Washington both public affairs programs related to Alabama’s Congressional delegation and educational programs for Alabama English teachers using the vast resources of the Folger.

Congratulations to all our colleagues, partners and friends for expanding the state’s presence in the nation’s capital—in ways far beyond government and politics!

Written by: Bob S.

Is the winter of 2009-2010 worse than usual? The online Encyclopedia of Alabama is a great place to start any research you might undertake about our state.

An overview article on “Climate” by Philip Chaney states that the lowest recorded temperature in Alabama was -27° F at New Market in Madison County on January 30, 1966. If you were in New Market that day, you’ll never let anyone from the North tell you it doesn’t get cold in Alabama!

The article also notes, “The highest recorded amount of snowfall during a 24-hour period appears to be 13 inches on March 12-13, 1993, at Birmingham.” As a matter of fact, many readers of this blog were indeed in Birmingham those days and vividly recall the “Blizzard of ’93.”

But interestingly, the board and staff of the Alabama Humanities Foundation were at a planning retreat at Gulf Shores State Park when the snow hit the state then. We had flurries on the beach and encountered snow on the ground by the time we reached Bay Minette on the way back north.

For those Alabamians who are tired of winter, don’t despair. For one thing, you could be living in the Mid-Atlantic region and trying to swim through 40-50 inches of snow. For another thing, please note that Birmingham Bill, the resident groundhog at the Birmingham Zoo, did not see his shadow on February 2. This promises an early spring—with yards full of growing grass and weeds, mosquitoes on the wing, rising humidity.

In other words, summer in Alabama won’t be far behind. Then the real old timers can tell us about what it was like in Centerville on September 5, 1925, when the thermometer clocked in at 112° F.

Written by: Bob S.

…I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it.” Paul Theroux, writer

Does Buffett’s investment have anything to do with the humanities—other than the presence of 300+ humanists in his hometown the same week, or the history and romance of railroads? Moreover, is it of any relevance to Alabamians?

I would answer the first question by pointing out that Buffett is known as a long-term value investor, an approach not unlike those of us who work in the humanities. Understanding deeply the value of our mission, we don’t expect quick profits but instead long-term gain from the study and appreciation of history, literature and the like.

Most important of all…it’s an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States. I love these bets.” Warren Buffett, billionaire.

As for the relevance of this news to Alabamians, I can only suggest that business, government and civic leaders in Birmingham should note:

• Buffett spent $34 billion on something that runs on steel rails, instead of fiber-optic cable, and carries stuff like coal and corn, instead of tweets and blogs. With all due appreciation for Birmingham’s diversified economy, based on finance, education and healthcare, we shouldn’t forget that many workers here still make and transport actual products.
• Railroads—including passenger trains—still have a vital place in our national transportation network. Why can’t we invest in efficient public transportation systems in Alabama, even if they are only reliable bus systems?
• Two Birmingham parks and cultural institutions, the Railroad Reservation Park currently under development, and Sloss Furnaces, which is nearly 30 years old as an industrial museum, need greater public support. Planners hope eventually to link these two open spaces and icons of our past via a pedestrian corridor alongside the rail lines that bisect the city. Let’s hope that dream becomes reality.

Written by: Bob S.

When the clock reached 00:00 in the football game, I knew that David owed me. The next step was selecting the right excerpt from Hurston’s acclaimed celebration of black life in rural Florida in the early 20th century. Here’s the excerpt, which depicts the death of a famous mule in town and the locals’ reaction. I have encouraged David to substitute “Tim Tebow” for “mule,” and “Nick Saban” for “Stark,” when he reads it at our next state council gathering in Washington in March. It should be a sparkling literary event.

“When the news got around, it was like the end of a war or something like that…But finally there was nothing to do but drag him out like all other dead brutes. Drag him out to the edge of the hammock, which was far enough to satisfy sanitary condition in the town. The rest was up to the buzzards…”

“Out in the swamp they made great ceremony over the mule. They mocked everything human in death. Stark led off with a great eulogy on our departed citizen, our most distinguished citizen and the grief he left behind him, and the people loved the speech…He stood on the distended belly of the mule for a platform and made gestures…He spoke of the joys of mule-heaven to which the dear brother had departed this valley of sorrow…”

“Everybody enjoyed themselves to the highest, and then finally the mule was left to the already impatient buzzards…”

Note: The Encyclopedia of Alabama claims that the controversy has been largely settled in Alabama’s favor.

Written by: Bob S.

• Cathy Crenshaw
  Cathy is president of Sloss Real Estate Company in Birmingham, a commercial real-estate firm focused on urban renewal and redevelopment of historic buildings. Her firm developed the Pepper Place project on Birmingham’s Southside and co-developed the HOPE VI mixed-use, mixed-income project in downtown Birmingham. A graduate of Converse College, she attended Harvard University in 2007 and 2008 as a Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design. Cathy serves on numerous local, state and national boards. She was named Birmingham Business Journal’s 2002 “Woman of the Year.”
• Robert Olin
  Robert (Bob) is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama. He joined UA after serving for 25 years on the faculty of Virginia Tech, including six years as chair of the Department of Mathematics. Under his leadership, the UA College of Arts and Sciences has added numerous buildings and programs, and has significantly increased its undergraduate enrollment and endowment. Through the College, he provided substantial financial support to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, and he has encouraged UA participation in AHF grants, events and programs. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Ottawa University in Kansas and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Indiana University.
• Carolyn Brinson Reed
  Carolyn is a very active civic and community volunteer in Birmingham. She has a special interest in cultural organizations, having served on the boards and advisory councils for Alabama Operaworks, Junior Women’s Symphony Committee, Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University, Auburn Center for Arts and Humanities, and Birmingham Music Club. She has also served on the boards of the Auburn University Foundation and the Baptist Health System Foundation. A graduate of Auburn, in 1992 Carolyn was named one of Auburn’s 200 Most Outstanding Women Alumni.
• Nancy Meeks Sanford
  Nancy has served as Executive Director of Florence-Lauderdale Public Library since 2004, which serves a county population of 88,000 and the entire northwest Alabama Shoals Region. A graduate of the University of North Alabama in Dramatic Arts and Speech, she is currently pursuing a master’s in public and private management at Birmingham-Southern College. Prior to joining the library, Nancy held administrative and public relations positions at Sheffield City Schools and Helen Keller Hospital. She has served on numerous Shoals-area organizations, including serving as president of the Sheffield Rotary Club, Tennessee Valley Art Association and Colbert County Red Cross.
• Dafina Cooper Ward
  Dafina is Coordinator of Alabama Community AIDS Fund for Aids Alabama, headquartered in Birmingham. In this capacity, she manages the development of a statewide fundraising campaign in partnership with the National AIDS Fund. An attorney by training, Dafina has practiced law in Birmingham and served as a legal intern at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery and with a private firm in Philadelphia. In addition to her work in the legal arena, Dafina has actively participated as a consultant or advisor to the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, Birmingham Museum of Art and Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts. She received a B.A. with honors from Clark Atlanta University and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
• Wyatt Wells
  Wyatt is Professor of History at Auburn University Montgomery, where he served as department chair from 2005 to 2008. He is the author of numerous books and articles on business and economic history, including The American Economy Since 1945, Antitrust and the Formation of the Postwar World, and Economist in an Uncertain World: Arthur F. Burns and the Federal Reserve, 1970-1978. He also served as assistant editor of the Andrew Jackson Papers at the University of Tennessee. Wyatt earned a B.A. with honors in history at Vanderbilt University, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Written by: Bob S.