Reservations Open for 2013 Holiday Tea

Can you believe it's already November? Time goes so quickly...before you know it, it'll be Christmas! Which reminds me, our Holiday Tea and Fashion Show is approaching quickly.

Our Annual Holiday Tea is our second-largest fundraiser of the year. We have a wonderful time visiting with our friends, members, and supporters in a festive environment. It's one of the rare opportunities Lew's fans have to visit the home where Susan grew up. This year our second partner, along with the Elston Homestead, is Lane Place, where Henry and Joanna (Elston) Lane lived. Both historic homes will be beautifully decorated for the holidays. We're so excited to share this occasion with you!

The Holiday Tea will feature live holiday music from the Wabash College T-Tones, door prizes, refreshments and tea (of course), an interactive fashion show by heathcliff, artist-created holiday wreaths for sale, and, of course, lots of holiday cheer!

Tickets are $25 per person, and reservations are required. The event runs from 3-6 p.m. on December 6, and attendees can drop in any time between those hours. For reservations, call 765-362-5769 or visit our Holiday Tea website and make reservations online via PayPal.

Smithsonian Museum Day Live!

We are once again participating in the Smithsonian Magazine's annual Museum Day Live! Join us Saturday, September 28, and bring your pass to receive free admission for 2 people.

Visitors may gain free entry to the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum with a printed pass from Smithsonian Magazine. In order to receive your pass, you must sign visit the magazine's website, fill out some basic information, select what museum you want to visit, and print out your pass. This year, we are also experimenting with accepting the pass on the screen of your smartphone.

Two other museums in Crawfordsville are participating--the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County and the Rotary Jail Museum. Each pass is only good for one of those museums. The passes are limited to one per household, and are good for two people.

Last year we had great attendance for that day. This year we have a wedding on the grounds in the afternoon, so if you're planning to come, you might want to show up early in the day!

Fall Events at the Study

Happy September! We have a busy fall planned. We'll blog about all of these events in more detail later, but for now, here's a quick overview of important dates at the Study in September and October. Visit our website for a printable PDF version of this schedule.

Sept 12 - 7 p.m. - "From Daguerreotype to Digital: Dating and Preserving Family Photographs" Genealogy Lecture - FREE at the Carriage House

Joan Hostetler of Heritage Photo and Research Services will discuss photographic processes and formats from the 1840s to the present, as well as clues for dating photos and techniques for preserving them. Bring your own family photos to learn more about them. Please RSVP.

Sept 21-22 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - History Beneath Us Archaeology - FREE on the Study grounds

Assist archaeologists from the University of Indianapolis as they continue excavations on Lew Wallace's reflecting pool. Join in the fun by digging and sifting for artifacts. Great for the family or scout troop!

Sept 29 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Smithsonian Museum Day Live - FREE with Smithsonian pass

Free admission to the Study with printed pass from Smithsonian Magazine. See the Smithsonian Magazine website for more information.

Oct 3 - 7 p.m. - "Writing Your Family History" Genealogy Lecture - FREE at the Carriage House

Ramon and Trisha Arredondo will speak about the process of writing their book Maria's Journey, a family story about immigration, the rise of the unions, the Great Depression, World War II, and more. Please RSVP.

Take a Walk in the Garden with Deb King

Grounds Manager Deb King invites you to visit us Sunday, July 14 at 6 p.m. for a Garden Tour.

Learn about her ongoing re-creation of the Moat Garden, the Montgomery County Community Foundation Going Green Grant she was awarded, and how she chooses what plants to grow here.


Discover plants such as ligularia, moonflower, celosia, and more. Come armed with questions. For a preview, check out Deb's 2013 Bloom Report and 2012 Bloom Report on our Facebook page.

Admission is $5. Some potted plants will be available in exchange for a donation to the garden fund.

Please RSVP or call 765-362-5769 to reserve a spot.

Dr. Howard Miller speaks about the 1959 Ben-Hur

We were fortunate to have Wallace Scholar Dr. Howard Miller with us in March for the Historic Artcraft Theatre's screening of the 1959 film Ben-Hur. Dr. Miller brought a treasure trove of pieces from his collection of Ben-Hur memorabilia to share with movie-goers. He also spoke briefly before the screening to provide information on the making of the film and what an impact it had in American culture.

Thanks to videographer Nancy Van Arendonk, you can view Dr. Miller's entire talk here on our blog. Dr. Miller is an engaging speaker with a distinguished teaching career. So make yourself some popcorn, turn up the volume, and enjoy!

Membership and Sponsor Appreciation Party

If you are a member of the Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society and haven't yet RSVPed for the Membership and Sponsor Appreciation Party on Sunday, June 2, make sure you do so today! You won't want to miss seeing Lew Wallace, Jr.'s Duesenberg automobile, here for this weekend only. We also have ongoing offerings including:

• Refreshments by Juniper Spoon & Iron Gate
• See Lew Wallace, Jr.’s Duesenberg
• Meet Wallace family members
• Update on the Making a Historic Difference Campaign
• Take a Behind the Scenes Tour
• History Beneath Us archaeology with Anne & Chris Moore
• Enjoy live music by The Brass Masters Quintet
• Play lawn games

You won't want to miss out on this fun and informative event. If you're not a LWSPS member, you can join online via Paypal by visiting the Join & Support page of our website.

We hope we'll see you on Sunday from 4-6 p.m.

Genealogy Lecture Series Opens with "Cemeteries"

Join us Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the Carriage House for the first of our genealogy lectures!

Cemeteries can be invaluable resources for genealogists and historians. They serve as community museums in some respects. Many a genealogist has pored over cemetery records and traipsed across overgrown rural cemeteries to find an elusive ancestor.

Jeannie R. Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives for the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, will discuss the state of cemeteries in Indiana, what is being done at various levels to protect and restore them, and what we can do to help.

Jeannie Regan-Dinius has a life-long interest in history, family history, and research.  She earned her Bachelors in Public History from Ball State University, where she studied also anthropology and American Studies.  She has her Masters in Urban Planning and Information Management/Library Science from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis with additional graduate course work in public history.

Our "Cemeteries" lecture is free and open to the public, but we ask that you RSVP ahead of time. Email us at study@ben-hur.com or call 765-5769 to register.

History Beneath Us Day 1

Some interesting things have been found so far on the first day of the spring History Beneath Us.  A marble, horseshoe, and a hip bone from a small mammal have all been found in Unit 10, one of the units that contains part of the reflecting pool.  A group of boy scouts have been assisting with the dig.  They are getting closer to the top of the wall of the reflecting pool so should be finding more artifacts.  Archaeologists will be here until 4:00 p.m. today and from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Come out and help unearth this piece of history!

A Preview of 2013 Events

We have a lot of great programming planned for our 2013 season, and a lot of what we are offering has never been done here before! Some dates are still being finalized, but here's a little preview of what you can look forward to:

April 6 is Civil War Trust Park Day - Come to the Study grounds to help Grounds Manager Deb King clean up and do general maintenance projects. This is a great chance to do some one-time volunteering here at the Study!

April 13 our Associate Director/Collections Amanda McGuire is giving a Behind the Scenes Tour. You can view the Study basement, learn what is in the tower, and view our Carriage House storage vault. The tour is $5 (free to members) and requires an RSVP. Email Amanda McGuire or call the museum at 765-362-5769.

April 27-28 is our twice a year "History Beneath Us" archaeological program. University of Indianapolis archaeologists will be excavating the reflecting pool and the structure site to the west of the Carriage House. The archaeologists will return again in September.

May 9 is our "Cemeteries" Genealogy Lecture.

June 2 is our special Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society Membership Thank-You. All members of the LWSPS are invited. Membership starts at only $25 - see our Join & Support page for more details.

June 20 we will have the second of our Genealogy Lecture series. This one will focus on the recently released 1940 Census records and how to access and use them to research your family history.

June 25-26 is our ArchiCamp for youth.

In July we have a Genealogy Lecture about the Wallace Family, as well as a Garden Tour led by Grounds Manager Deb King on July 14.

Our big August event is the TASTE! of Montgomery County on Saturday, August 24. Our headlining musical act is Michael Kelsey. Stay tuned for more music information!


We have also created a 2013 Events Flyer in a printable PDF for you to download.

Civil War Music Coming to the Study

Lew was a fan of music. He played the violin and Susan played the guitar. One of his reasons for building the Study was so he could play the violin at midnight if he chose. We think he would approve of our upcoming event! A choral group from Wabash College will be performing a concert of Civil War songs inside the Study building Thursday, April 4.

Songs being performed will include:
Battle Cry of Freedom
The Soldier's Return
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
The New Emancipation Song
Ashokan Farewell
Battle Hymn of the Republic

Because seating is limited, RSVPs are required. Please call the Study at 765-362-5769 for details and to reserve a spot.

Greenery Workshop Planned

Just in time for the holiday season, the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum will host a garland making workshop on Saturday, December 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Tannenbaum Cultural Center, located at 107 W. Spring Street, directly behind the Rotary Jail Museum.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Please RSVP by calling 765-362-5769 or e-mailing study@ben-hur.com.

All garlands made at the workshop will be on display at the Dorothy Q Chapter DAR House during the annual Holiday High Tea & Fashion Show on Friday, December 7.

Live greenery will be provided, but attendees should bring their own gloves and clippers. Refreshments will also be provided. 

Holiday High Tea is fast approaching

As I write this, the weather is sunny and warm, but as impossible as it seems, the holidays are right around the corner. Christmas is less than two months away!

Here at the Lew Wallace Study, we always ring in the holiday season with our Holiday High Tea and fashion show. This year, the event is scheduled for December 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join us for a sneak peek into two of Crawfordsville's most prestigious historic homes, specially decorated for the holidays!

The Colonel Isaac C. Elston Home, chapter house for the Dorothy Q chapter of the DAR, and the Elston Homestead, home of the President of Wabash College, serve as the host locations for the fashion show and boutique, high tea, holiday concert, and the spirit of the season.

As in past years, hand-designed holiday wreaths like the one pictured at right will be available at the "Making Spirits Bright" sale beginning at 4 p.m. Local merchant Homestead Greetings and Gifts will be providing a Vera Bradley boutique and other home decor.

Reservations are $25 per person and due by December 5. For reservations, please call 765-362-5769 or email study@ben-hur.com. Proceeds from ticket sales directly benefit the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum and the Dorothy Q Chapter DAR.

Meet Our Lecturers

The last installment of the 2012 Civil War Lecture Series is scheduled for Thursday, October 18 at the Crawfordsville District Public Library. We will have two lectures that evening, beginning at 7pm.

Chuck Beemer will present "Breakfast at Fort Donelson," discussing Lew Wallace's actions at Fort Donelson in February 1862. Immediately following Beemer's presentation, Roger Adams will present "Tarnished Stars:  Lew Wallace and the Defense of Cincinnati, September 1862."

Chuck Beemer was born and raised in Crawfordsville and holds a MA from the University of Wisconsin and a JD from the University of North Carolina. He recently finished a manuscript, "My Greatest Quarrel with Fortune: Major General Lew Wallace in the West, 1861-1862." He is the Vice President of the Western North Carolina Civil War Roundtable and serves on the Wallace Scholars Advisory Board to the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum.

Roger Adams is associate professor of library science and curator of rare books & special collections at Kansas State University Libraries. He is from Kenton Hills, Kentucky. Growing up near the earthwork fortifications built in 1862 for the defense of Cincinnati led to a life-long fascination with Wallace. Adams serves on the Board of the Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society and owns a large collection of Ben-Hur and other Wallace books.

Come out to this free event and benefit from the expertise of these two scholars. We'd love it if you would RSVP at (765)362-5769 or study@ben-hur.com.

Bohumir Kryl photos

Be sure to visit Wabash College's online photo album for great pictures of the Bohumir Kryl Project!

http://www.wabash.edu/photo_album/home.cfm?photo_album_id=3346

You can view pictures and download hi-res images.

Clear Your Schedule for Two Civil War Lectures

Make sure to keep the evening of Thursday, October 18, open to attend the last lecture of the 2012 Civil War Lecture Series. The lectures are being held at the Crawfordsville District Public Library in the Donnelley Room at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Chuck Beemer will present "Breakfast at Fort Donelson," discussing Lew Wallace's actions at Fort Donelson. The Battle of Fort Donelson in February 1862 was a strategic battle for the control of the Cumberland River in Tennessee. Brigadier General Wallace created a defensive line along Wynns Ferry Road against orders. The line held through three Confederate surges, protecting the Union right flank and leading the Confederates to surrender the fort the following day. Beemer will also discuss what these actions reveal about Wallace's character and personality.

Immediately following Beemer's presentation, Roger Adams will present "Tarnished Stars:  Lew Wallace and the Defense of Cincinnati, September 1862." Although Wallace lost his command after the Battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, he was called upon in September to help defend nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. Confederate armies had invaded Kentucky in the late summer and Cincinnati, with its strategic position on the Ohio River, was thought to be a prime target. Wallace was instrumental in preparing Cincinnati for such an attack and hoped to restore his military reputation along the way.

Both lectures are part of public programming associated with the museum's 2012 exhibit, "Courage & Conflict: Lew Wallace in 1862," on display in the carriage house on Study grounds until December 15, 2012.

Please RSVP for the lectures at (765)362-5769 or study@ben-hur.com.

Museum Day Live!

Today is Museum Day Live, presented in affiliation with the Smithsonian. People who visit the Museum Day website and print out a ticket can get free admission to one museum for two people. So far today we've had a lot of people participate, and we've only been open two and a half hours! It's great to see people taking advantage of these offers. Some of my visitors just came from the Rotary Jail, another great museum here in Crawfordsville, and I understand they're also pretty busy today.

It's a beautiful fall day in Indiana, so if you don't have afternoon plans, check out the Museum Day Live offer and come visit us!

Exciting Archaeological Find!

Dr. Chris Moore (right) explains the find to his students and
members of the public participating in History Beneath Us.

Unit 12 (the unit that was opened near the Carriage House) has proven to be interesting.  Yesterday, the archaeologists from the University of Indianapolis found flat glass (like what is used in window panes), coal, a piece of yellow ware and square nails.  Both the yellow ware and the square nails date to Lew Wallace's use of the property.  Today they uncovered a feature of dark, ashy soil that could be left over from a chimney.  They have also found more square nails in this feature which dates it to Lew!



The dark soil in the upper left corner of the unit contains the
dark, ashy soil and could be the remains of a chimney.

Archaeologists in Training

More pictures of archaeology on the grounds today.  Kids are uncovering some great finds in the Archaeologist Training area and helping out at the reflecting pool, too!

History Beneath Us

The archaeologists from the University of Indianapolis are here and have started working.  They have already opened up a new unit between the Carriage House and the south wall and have found some window glass, coal and bricks.  They have also started opening up new units around the reflecting pool to continue uncovering the top layer of bricks.  This will allow us to see the original shape of the pool and how it relates to the Study building.

 

Come out and assist in the dig, sift for artifacts, check out the Archaeologist Training area or just observe the archaeologists at work! 

Bohumir Kryl Project This Saturday

Saturday, September 22 has been designated Bohumir Kryl Day by Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton. Bohumir Kryl was hired in 1896 by General Lew Wallace to carve the limestone frieze on his Study building. Kryl also worked on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis. While in Indianapolis, Kryl auditioned for John Phillip Sousa and was hired as the virtuoso cornetist. Kryl joined several bands during his musical career, travelling and performing across the country and the world. Kryl also wrote his own music.

In cooperation with the Wabash College Visiting Artist Series and the Michigan & International Antique Phonograph Societies, the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum will present The Bohumir Kryl Project on September 22 from 8-10pm at Salter Hall on the Wabash College campus, with a pre-show program at 7:30pm.

The Bohumir Kryl Project will include a narration of Kryl’s life and live audio phonograph recordings of Kryl’s music. An hour-long concert band performance will follow featuring music Kryl wrote and performed during his lifetime.

This event is free, but seating is limited and tickets are required. Call the Wabash College ticket office for more information. If you aren't able to get tickets for the evening show, consider attending the dress rehearsal from 3-5pm. It is free and open to the public, and we will have souvenirs for sale at both dress rehearsal and the main event.