National Willa Cather Center News
Visit this page often for the latest Cather-related news as well as information about the Willa Cather Foundation's programs, collections, and events.
61st Annual Spring Conference Call for Papers
“Both Bitter and Sweet”: Cather, Literature, and the Great War
CALL FOR PAPERS
2015 Spring Conference & Seminar a Great Success
2015 was a very special year for the Willa Cather Foundation’s annual Spring Conference. As we celebrated our 60th Spring Conference in Red Cloud, we also welcomed the return of our International Seminar to Nebraska by combining the two events into a weeklong, Nebraska-wide celebration of Cather’s work. In all, we welcomed scholars and guests from 25 states and 5 countries to Red Cloud and Lincoln, with 289 taking part in the activities and paper sessions.
Albertinis Become Charter Members of Legacy Society
Dr. Virgil Albertini and his wife Dolores first visited Red Cloud in the 1970s on a road trip from Maryville, Missouri, over Thanksgiving break. During the visit, they learned about the Willa Cather Foundation’s annual Spring Conference. The couple later returned to attend their first Spring Conference in 1978 and have missed only one of the annual gatherings since that time.
WoW Celebrates Anniversary of The Song of the Lark
The Willa Cather Foundation is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Willa Cather’s The Song of the Lark with a series of special activities in Red Cloud. Weekend of Willa (WoW) has ample entertainment to offer guests the weekend of August 14-15, including a picnic and night sky viewing on the 612-acre Cather Prairie, guided tours of the Cather historic sites, an art exhibit commemorating the novel’s centenary year, and a special program at the historic Red Cloud Opera House.
Barkell Honored with Miriam Mountford Volunteer Award
Each year the Willa Cather Foundation recognizes a volunteer who has been especially dedicated to helping the Foundation meet its mission. Volunteers are vital to the success of the Willa Cather Foundation, and the family of Miriam Mountford recognized the importance of a strong volunteer core when they established the Miriam Mountford Volunteer Award.
2015 Scholarships Awarded
On June 5, the Willa Cather Foundation honored its 2015 scholarship recipients. In addition to awarding the Norma Ross Walter and Antonette Willa Skupa Turner scholarships, a new program provided five high school educators with a complimentary registration for the 60th annual Willa Cather Spring Conference.
A.P. Andrews to Lead Writing Workshop
When famed novelist Willa Cather received the advice to write about the part of the world she knew best, she turned for inspiration to the Nebraska prairie that impacted her youth. The eighth in an annual series, Prairie Writers' Workshop will provide participants with the rare opportunity to gain valuable writing experience while visiting the town that inspired Nebraska’s Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Exhibition & Performance Celebrate Publication Anniversaries of Two Novels
The Willa Cather Foundation and University of Nebraska−Lincoln’s Cather Project are examining Willa Cather’s interest in the arts with a special exhibition and performance taking place in conjunction with their 15th International Cather Seminar. An evening celebrating the 100th publication anniversary of Cather's The Song of the Lark and 80th publication anniversary of Lucy Gayheart is set to take place in Lincoln on Thursday, June 11.
Free Concert at Nebraska State Historical Society's Burlington Depot
The public is invited to attend a free outdoor concert at the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Burlington Depot on Sunday, June 7. The show will feature flamenco classic guitar music performed by Daniel Martinez. This unique performance is part of the Willa Cather Foundation’s 60th annual Spring Conference, which celebrates the 100th publication anniversary of Cather’s third novel, The Song of the Lark. This concert is a homage to the novel’s beloved Moonstone musician Spanish Johnny, a talented folk singer and guitarist.