Chautauqua: An American Institution
Collection: Chautauqua Assembly in Winfield, Kansas
Title
Chautauqua: An American Institution
Subject
Chautauqua Assembly - Kansas
Winfield, KS - History
Description
The Great Plains Chautauqua " From Sea to Shining Sea" held in Island Park, Winfield, Kansas was a free event of programs open to the public in June 25-29, 2004.
Creator
Winfield Public Library and Kansas Humanities Council
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas USA
Date
2004-06-25 - 2004-06-29
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Leaflets
Citation
Winfield Public Library and Kansas Humanities Council, “Chautauqua: An American Institution,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed December 21, 2024, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/59.
Text
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT
WINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Chautauqua:
An American
Institution
Chautauqua study group, Winfield circa 1900
GREAT PLAINS CHAUTAUQUA
“FR OM SEA TO SHINING SEA ”
JUNE 25-29, 2004
Chautauqua:
An American
Institution
The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), a reading program begun in 1878, especially for those unable to attend a college. It featured four-year reading courses of required books and written exercises, at the completion of which the reader would receive a certificate or “diploma.” It also included The Chautauquan, a monthly magazine containing a variety of articles, especially those related to the reading course. Members were encouraged to organize or join small local discussion groups or circles, which by 1910 numbered about 11,000. The CLSC still selects books, but for a much smaller number of readers.
Chautauqua Park, Bandshell, circa 1900
WHAT DOES “CHAUTAUQUA” MEAN? Its actual meaning is unknown. However, many believe it means “a bag tied in the middle,” much like the shape of Lake Chautauqua in western New York. It is NOT an Indian tribe.
THE FOUR PHASES OR KINDS OF CHAUTAUQUAS
The original Chautauqua (Mother Chautauqua), begun at Lake Chautauqua by several Methodist leaders in 1874 to provide opportunities to train Sunday School teachers. Its popularity grew and it soon expanded to include music, art, drama, literature as well as lectures on politics and current affairs. In continuous operation since 1874, it presently schedules nine weeks of programming each summer.
Independent local Chautauqua Assemblies, organized soon after the New York Assembly. As much as possible, they tried to imitate the kinds of programs and activities available at Mother Chautauqua. Being independent, the local sponsoring committees selected their own programs and provided their own finances. At its peak, 100 assemblies were organized, of which 15 were in Kansas. About a dozen local assemblies are still in existence.
Tents at Island “Chautauqua” Park circa 1900
Circuit Chautauquas spread rapidly after 1904 primarily because it became too expensive to operate the assemblies. At their peak, there were at least 10,000 circuit locations in the U.S. Programs were packaged and “sold” by booking companies, such as the Redpath bureaus. Local committees had NO voice in planning the programs; but they had to make up any difference between ticket sales and the amount of the guarantee spelled out in the contract. Although the circuit Chautauqua vanished during the early 1930s, it has witnessed a limited revival in recent years.
CHAUTAUQUAS IN WINFIELD
Winfield was known as one of the leading Chautauqua towns in the nation. From 1887 - 1917, it organized its own assemblies; from 1918 -1922, it contracted with circuit Chautauqua bureaus; and in 1923 and 1924 it organized its own local talent Chautauquas. The site for all of these programs was Island Park, on which were located nine permanent structures built specifically for Chautauquas and 230 sites for camping. For many years, Winfield also had several CLSC circles. In 1984 Great Plains Chautauqua Association provided five-day programs at Island Park. Join us in June of 2004 for the Great Plains Chautauqua, “From Sea to Shining Sea.”
Roland Mueller
Chautauqua 2004 “From Sea to Shining Sea”
Winfield will host the Great Plains Chautauqua in June 2004.
We invite you to travel back in time with us to 1790-1850, a period when our culture changed dramatically as America expanded.
Come and join us in discussion with William Clark, Sacagawea, York, John Jacob Astor, and Tecumseh, with moderator Dolly Madison as we explore the exciting world of these American visionaries.
This event is brought to you by the Winfield community with underwriting from the Cowley County Historical Society and the Winfield Public Library.
Winfield, KS.
June 25-29
Island Park
Join us for an old-fashioned tent-raising, June 24, 5:30 p.m at Island Park
All events are free and open to the public
1913(Winfield
Chautauqua Assembly
SEASON TICKET not transferable
Admit Only Ihe Lady Named Hereln
Photos courtesy
The Cowley County Historical Society
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT WINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
605 College Winfield, KS. 67156
Phone: 620-221-4470
Fax: 620-221-6135
Email: Jcales@wpl.org
KANSAS
Humanities Council
Original Format
Paper
Title
Chautauqua: An American Institution
Subject
Chautauqua Assembly - Kansas
Winfield, KS - History
Description
The Great Plains Chautauqua " From Sea to Shining Sea" held in Island Park, Winfield, Kansas was a free event of programs open to the public in June 25-29, 2004.
Creator
Winfield Public Library and Kansas Humanities Council
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas USA
Date
2004-06-25 - 2004-06-29
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Leaflets
Citation
Winfield Public Library and Kansas Humanities Council, “Chautauqua: An American Institution,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed December 21, 2024, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/59.Text
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT
WINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Chautauqua:
An American
Institution
Chautauqua study group, Winfield circa 1900
GREAT PLAINS CHAUTAUQUA
“FR OM SEA TO SHINING SEA ”
JUNE 25-29, 2004
Chautauqua:
An American
Institution
The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), a reading program begun in 1878, especially for those unable to attend a college. It featured four-year reading courses of required books and written exercises, at the completion of which the reader would receive a certificate or “diploma.” It also included The Chautauquan, a monthly magazine containing a variety of articles, especially those related to the reading course. Members were encouraged to organize or join small local discussion groups or circles, which by 1910 numbered about 11,000. The CLSC still selects books, but for a much smaller number of readers.
Chautauqua Park, Bandshell, circa 1900
WHAT DOES “CHAUTAUQUA” MEAN? Its actual meaning is unknown. However, many believe it means “a bag tied in the middle,” much like the shape of Lake Chautauqua in western New York. It is NOT an Indian tribe.
THE FOUR PHASES OR KINDS OF CHAUTAUQUAS
The original Chautauqua (Mother Chautauqua), begun at Lake Chautauqua by several Methodist leaders in 1874 to provide opportunities to train Sunday School teachers. Its popularity grew and it soon expanded to include music, art, drama, literature as well as lectures on politics and current affairs. In continuous operation since 1874, it presently schedules nine weeks of programming each summer.
Independent local Chautauqua Assemblies, organized soon after the New York Assembly. As much as possible, they tried to imitate the kinds of programs and activities available at Mother Chautauqua. Being independent, the local sponsoring committees selected their own programs and provided their own finances. At its peak, 100 assemblies were organized, of which 15 were in Kansas. About a dozen local assemblies are still in existence.
Tents at Island “Chautauqua” Park circa 1900
Circuit Chautauquas spread rapidly after 1904 primarily because it became too expensive to operate the assemblies. At their peak, there were at least 10,000 circuit locations in the U.S. Programs were packaged and “sold” by booking companies, such as the Redpath bureaus. Local committees had NO voice in planning the programs; but they had to make up any difference between ticket sales and the amount of the guarantee spelled out in the contract. Although the circuit Chautauqua vanished during the early 1930s, it has witnessed a limited revival in recent years.
CHAUTAUQUAS IN WINFIELD
Winfield was known as one of the leading Chautauqua towns in the nation. From 1887 - 1917, it organized its own assemblies; from 1918 -1922, it contracted with circuit Chautauqua bureaus; and in 1923 and 1924 it organized its own local talent Chautauquas. The site for all of these programs was Island Park, on which were located nine permanent structures built specifically for Chautauquas and 230 sites for camping. For many years, Winfield also had several CLSC circles. In 1984 Great Plains Chautauqua Association provided five-day programs at Island Park. Join us in June of 2004 for the Great Plains Chautauqua, “From Sea to Shining Sea.”
Roland Mueller
Chautauqua 2004 “From Sea to Shining Sea”
Winfield will host the Great Plains Chautauqua in June 2004.
We invite you to travel back in time with us to 1790-1850, a period when our culture changed dramatically as America expanded.
Come and join us in discussion with William Clark, Sacagawea, York, John Jacob Astor, and Tecumseh, with moderator Dolly Madison as we explore the exciting world of these American visionaries.
This event is brought to you by the Winfield community with underwriting from the Cowley County Historical Society and the Winfield Public Library.
Winfield, KS.
June 25-29
Island Park
Join us for an old-fashioned tent-raising, June 24, 5:30 p.m at Island Park
All events are free and open to the public
1913(Winfield
Chautauqua Assembly
SEASON TICKET not transferable
Admit Only Ihe Lady Named Hereln
Photos courtesy
The Cowley County Historical Society
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT WINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY
605 College Winfield, KS. 67156
Phone: 620-221-4470
Fax: 620-221-6135
Email: Jcales@wpl.org
KANSAS
Humanities Council
Original Format
Paper