KU News Release

KU joins Kansas City area celebration of Hemingway conference June 9 to 15

LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas is joining the Kansas City area celebration of Nobel prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway during the week-long 13th International Hemingway Conference, “War + Ink,” in Kansas City, Mo., that begins Monday, June 9.

Sponsored by the Hemingway Society, the conference is offered every two years, alternating sites in the United States and abroad related to the life and work of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, said James Carothers, KU professor of English and conference participant.

Based at the Marriott Country Club Plaza Hotel, 4445 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., the 2008 conference is focusing on the years 1917 and 1918 when Hemingway worked as a reporter with the Kansas City Star before leaving with the hope of military service in World War I. A number of events are scheduled at sites throughout the city including the Kansas City Star offices at 1729 Grand Blvd. and the Liberty Memorial National World War I Museum, 100 W. 26th St..

On Wednesday, June 11, KU is co-sponsoring with the University of Missouri-Kansas City a daylong workshop at the Marriott for area teachers on “Teaching Hemingway.” KU also is sponsoring a 5:30 p.m. Wednesday reading by winners of the 2007 Hemingway/P.E.N. [writers’ association] Award at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza branch auditorium, 4801 Main St.

On Thursday, June 12, KU is sponsoring the 7:30 p.m. video presentation of a recent world premiere of Hemingway’s Spanish Civil War play, “The Fifth Column,” at the Tivoli Theatre, 4050 Pennsylvania Ave.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said: “The University of Kansas, acting on our mission to serve Kansas City, is proud to be a sponsor of the 2008 International Hemingway Conference. We are pleased to sponsor the P.E.N. Hemingway event and the showing of ‘The Fifth Column.’

“Above all, we are pleased to cooperate with the University of Missouri at Kansas City to bring about the ‘Teaching Hemingway’ program for high school, community college and college teachers in the Kansas City area. These teachers are the ones who will continue to ‘make the earth move’ for the next generation of Hemingway readers.”

About 20 teachers, who are enrolling in programs from either KU or UMKC are expected to attend the “Teaching Hemingway” workshop programs that feature five special sessions on teaching his works including: The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, The Old Man and the Sea, In Our Time and other short stories, and “Hemingway in Kansas City and the Big Read.”

Three KU graduate students attending the “Teaching Hemingway” program include Jennie Jo Joiner and Nathaniel L. Williams, both doctoral students in English; and Andrew A. Kuhn, master’s degree student in English from Hays and from Omaha, Neb.

Christopher Dick, KU Ph.D. candidate teaching at Tabor College in Hillsboro, is presenting a paper on German translations of The Sun Also Rises.

KU faculty participating include Carothers speaking on Hemingway and William Faulkner; Tamara Falicov, KU associate professor of theatre and film, discussing Hemingway as represented by Cuban filmmakers; and Tom Fredrick, lecturer in KU’s School of Business, whose presentation covers Hemingway, Count Basie, Black baseball and bullfights.

In addition several KU alumni are among those making presentations:
-Henry Fortunato, public affairs director for the Kansas City Public Library, 2006 masters’ degree in history
-Adam Klinker, University of Mississippi, 2005 master’s degree in English
-Mark S. Luce, Barstow School faculty,1992 bachelor’s degree and a 1999 master’s degree in American studies
-Steven Trout, Fort Hays State University faculty, 1994 doctoral degree in English
-Jane Wood, Park College English department chair, 1992 master’s degree and a 1999 doctoral degree in English.
-Mark Zieman, Kansas City Star president and publisher,1984 journalism degree

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.