National Willa Cather Center News

Who speaks for the experiences of a generation and their impact on the world around them? What experiences help to create a sense of shared identity?

Join the Willa Cather Foundation as we celebrate the birthday of one of the world's foremost authors, Willa Cather! In honor of Cather's 139th birthday on December 7th, the Foundation staff will host afternoon tea at the recently-restored Cather Second Home on December 8th and December 9th, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Enjoy elegant pastries, finger sandwiches, and desserts, as well as Cather-inspired entertainment and door prizes.

"There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before." ~ Willa Cather

As we celebrate the 100th publication anniversary of Willa Cather's O Pioneers!, the Willa Cather Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the O Pioneers! Essay Contest. We received a number of excellent submissions and would like to recognize our 11th and 12th grade winners and runners-up:

When Jim and Angela Southwick came to Red Cloud for June's Spring Conference and Cather Foundation Board of Governors meeting, they came bearing gifts-very generous gifts. Perhaps the most exciting pieces in the collection are four of the original Benda illustrations to My Ántonia. These illustrations join two additional Benda originals that are part of the Foundation's collection. Willa Cather commissioned W. T. Benda to create these pen-and-ink drawings, eight of which were published in the novel when it was released in 1918.

On Friday, June 1, the Willa Cather Foundation had the pleasure of awarding four Norma Ross Walter Scholarships to female graduates of Nebraska high schools who intend to major in English in college. The recipients were Emily Simmons of Valentine High School, who received $ 2,000 as the first place recipient; Anna Stokely of Papillion La Vista South High School, who received $ 1,000 as first runner-up; and Hailey Hemenway and Emily Zysset, both of Hastings High School, received $ 500 each in a tie for second runner-up.

"We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it - for a little while."

The Willa Cather State Historic Site/Red Cloud Opera House is one of 80 attractions included in the 2012 Nebraska Passport. The program, created by the Department of Economic Development's Travel and Tourism Division, encourages travelers to explore Nebraska. Participants collect stamps from participating attractions and then redeem them for prizes.