Cherokee Writers
Cherokee
Writers, organized in 1961, is an outgrowth of an Adult Education
Creative Writing course. Formed for the aid and encouragement of
would-be writers who often find the path to being accepted for
publication filled with obstacles.
Now after six years of trial and
error, studious perusal of suitable markets, a sharing of knowledge and
encouragement when the pen, sputters we can proudly announce that all
members have had works published in their favorite media.
Present members include:
Elizabeth Luge,
whose gentle poems and lyrical prose delight all ages. Her faith in
each member is in itself an inspiration, our moral support in times of
discouragement. As an ex-English teacher, her help has been invaluable.
Mrs. J. S.
(Zelma) Bomar,
has had 30 poems accepted by Ideals Publications, had poems published
for three consecutive years in Lyrical Iowa, contributes a poem a month
to Stethoscope magazine to bring a bit of cheer to patients at Oakdale
State Sanitarium and is often called upon to write poems for special
occasions for family and friends. Also writes children's stories.
Mrs. Gale
(Jeri) Evans,
poems published in North America Mentor Anthology of poems thus
becoming one of the original Mentor poets. Writes short stories,
presently is taking the Westmar College course "Writing for
Publication."
Mrs. Jerry
(Pat) Phipps,
English teacher at Washington High, taught the 1966 Adult Education
course in Creative Writing, had several poems published in "The Aurora"
a Buena Vista College publication. She also served as editor of this
magazine.
Mrs. Carl
(Helen) Schleef,
writes poetry, one of the original Mentor poets, a magazine of wide
circulation in U.S. and several foreign countries, writes feature
articles for area artists and others.
Mrs. Deane
(Colleen) Onnen,
articles published in the Iowan Magazine, Des Moines Sunday Picture
supplement among others. Also writes short stories, hopes to hit in
fiction market, a perceptive writer with keen commentary on the
contemporary scene.
Mrs. Walter
(Laurel) Fuhrman,
director of Women's programs at KCHE radio station, writes and
coordinates own material for this program, writes the news, conducts
interviews, etc. Has had articles and feature stories published in
various farm and family magazines, has a real feel for relating
everyday occurrences in a new light, often called upon as speaker for
women's organizations.
Mrs. Walter
(Pat) Brenner, writes in the "family vein" has had
articles published in Camping magazine, among others.
Joyce Houser,
now attending Minnesota Bible College, versatile writer equally adept
in poetry, short stories, feature articles. Had had poetry and feature
articles published in area newspapers. The Iowan magazine and others.
Joyce's niece Cheri Sears,
a senior at Washington High has also had poems published in church
magazine.
Blanche
Bailey Reed,
one time newspaper editor, specializes in short stories. Has had
several articles and children's stories published in church and Sunday
School magazines. Has spoken often to Business and Professional Women
clubs in northwest Iowa always with a good message spiced with
delightful stories.
Mrs. Clarence
(Myrtle) Benedict, articles and feature stories published
in area newspapers.
Mrs. Phil
(Terry) Salsbery,
poet, short story writer, has had poems accepted by Ideals publication,
and Iowa Poetry Association. Often writes touching essays on everyday
incidents, told with insight and tenderness.
Mrs. Harold
(Mildred) Smith,
editor of Cherokee Courier, in addition to reporting and photography
regular news stories for the weekly newspaper, free lances in several
areas, has had articles published in The Iowan, Sioux City and Des
Moines newspapers and Picture magazine among others. Writes a weekly
column.
The Writers have had several authors of note as guest speakers, the
latest the visit of Col.
Mark Brown, Alta, whose newest book "Flight of the Nez
Perce" is being heralded as "An American Classic".
New members recently added to our membership includes those who
attended the 1966 Adult Education Creative Writing course: Maxine Dixon, Mrs. Ruth Rasmussen,
Mrs. E. O.
Bierbaum and Mrs.
Marie Ring.
We predict they will be making their mark in the writing field very
soon. We hope others will join us as we continue to try to improve our
writing talents or abilities.
In conclusion, we pay tribute to Dr.
Estelle Wise, a revered member of our group who wrote finis to her
manuscript of life on March 11, 1967. She will be sorely missed by the
Cherokee Writers. God calls us all home. One by one. To rest beyond the
setting sun. Life is not over, just begun...for Dr. Estelle.
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In
March of 1966, the community center opened the auditorium to Area art
shows, not only for individuals but for groups showings. The following
people showed during 1966:
March of 1966, Zellma Bomar, artist, published poet, sculptor, self
trained.
April, Al Jolliffe, artist, sculptor, student of Karl Mattern and Jimmy
Ernst, instructor, Cherokee.
May,
the Leonard trio. Mary the mother, water colorist; Iverson, son, oil
and scratch board artist; also a fine singer, Fraser, a son, art
instructor, Florient, Missouri, won numerous awards with his paintings.
June,
Florence Chesnutt, artist, sculptor, received her B.A. at Chapel Hill,
North Carolina. Studied overseas. Adult Education instructor.
June, Mary Lowenberg, poet, did "Haiku" interpretations for Chesnutt
show.
July, Evonne Kludas English, versatile in all mediums of art.
August, Grand Meadow artists, a really outstanding group, twelve member
group organized in 1965.
September, Rose Plagman, artist, musician, former teacher,
watercolorist.
October,
Larry Rosenow, water colorist of western scene, art training at
Westmar, Billings, Montana and Laramie, Wyoming, art instructor in
Marcus, Ia.
November, Dorothy Skewis, Storm Lake, art instructor, for forty years,
still active in Buena Vista College.
December, Helen Schleef, artist, poet, police matron Cherokee, self
trained.
Showing in 1967:
January, Helen Schleef, continued through January.
February, O'Brien Art group, twenty-six members, versatile in all
mediums.
March, Emma Henderson, a realist in the finest sense, uses familiar
subjects.
April, Byron Burford, guest artist for fine arts week.
May, elementary schools, the first of this type for this Community.
June, two man show. Dick Petit, Sheldon, agent for Bureau of Criminal
Investigation, self taught artist.
Harold Tuttle, Sheldon, received his B. A. and Masters, in art at
Drake, art instructor at Sheldon high.
July,
Margaret Midland, versatile in all mediums of art, exhibited in Life of
Christ, traveling exhibit. Motorola exhibit, one man shows.
August, Marla Miller Manske, Minneapolis, art training at Wayne,
exhibit there.
September, Edith Pylman, Primghar, a member of the O'Brien group, very
accomplished artist.
October, Phyllis Craig, artist and sculpture, took one year of art at
Buena Vista College.
November, Jean Foley, Artist, self taught. One of the charter members
of the area artists.
December, Tentative Area artist Christmas sale of paintings.
Velda
Lohff (Mrs. Raymond), artist, a prolific painter, self taught, mother
of a small son, home Holstein. Stand-in artist for '67 community center
show cancellation.
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In
September of 1958, Mrs. Janet Koser and the late Edith Meloy attended
the initial meeting in Des Moines of the Community Theater Association
for guidance in starting a community theater in Cherokee. Professor
Ronald Gee of Iowa U. promised to help them organize. In January of
1959, from that meeting the theater was formed. With record breaking
speed committees were appointed. James McDonald a member drew up a
constitution and the non-profit organization became the Cherokee
Community Theater Inc., with Janet Koser, president, Dick Brown, vice
president, Kenneth Wilson, treasurer and Norma Vetter, secretary.
Income is from ticket sales and memberships. Within three months they
produced their first play, "You Can't Take It With You."
The fall of
59 they produced "Night of January 16th"; Curious Savage"; "The Man Who
Came to Dinner"; "The Little Foxes"; "Goodbye My Fancy"; In 1962:
"Uncle Toms Cabin"; "Endgame"; "My Three Angels". 1963 and 1964: "Send
Me No Flowers"; "Antigone"; "Green Grow the Lilacs". 1964 and 1965:
"Take Her She's Mine"; "The Typist and the Tiger"; "Death of a
Salesman". 1966: "See How They Run"; "Glass Menagerie"; "Everybody
Loves Opal". 1967: "Chalk Garden"; and during fine arts week will
produce "Barefoot In the Park."
In 1965, the State meeting of the
Iowa Community Theater Association met in Cherokee. Cherokeans also
sponsored the Cedar Rapids Community Theater road show production "John
Browns Body."
In 1965 in honor of their first president, they
started giving JANNEY AWARDS (named for Janet Koser) to the best actor
and actress of the year.
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In
1956, Mrs. R. C. Thomson of Cleghorn and MRs. Wm. A. Robinson,
organized the Cherokee Symphony Orchestra, under the sponsorship of the
Adult Education Program. That first year they gave their first public
performance as the final session of Adult Education, later the same
year they assisted the Cherokee Women's County Chorus in a Christmas
program. Mrs. Thomson served as conductor until 1962.
In 1957m now a
twenty-five member Orchestra, took part in the annual "Messiah". By
1962 their membership had grown to such an extent they formed the
Symphony Association. In 1965 the Women's Symphony Guild was
organized.
Their first all Symphony Concert was sponsored by the
Museum Association in 1962, and was attended by some three hundred
people. In May of that year the Orchestra included the junior and high
school vocalists and musicians, later they included college students.
Their young members have appeared on T.V. and won scholarships.
In
1962, Donald Jackson, then instrumental instructor at Aurelia high
school, becameem the new conductor. The 63-64 season saw them perform
not only in Cherokee but in two out of town concerts, besides the
"Messiah" and the Tone Circle Vespers Service.
In March of 1965 they
received nation-wide publicity, for the concert given in honor of Sir
Tyrone Guthrie, and the dedication of the Community Center, led by
their new conductor Dr. Fred R. Glassburner. Glassburner later accepted
a position in Wisconsin; Lauren Jakey, conducts now.
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