The Pella Public Library will host David Connon on January 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. for a Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau program. Connon, an independent researcher and writer, shares practical strategies for uncovering the stories of Civil War ancestors—whether they fought for the Union or the Confederacy. Drawing on his extensive research into Iowans who […]
Join the Toledo Community Theatre Guild for the Speakers Bureau presentation “Response to Coop, the Story of an Amish Conscientious Objector” by Mary Swander. Mary Swander will discuss her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She […]
Join the New Song Episcopal Church for the Speakers Bureau presentation “Response to Coop, the Story of an Amish Conscientious Objector” by Mary Swander. Mary Swander will discuss her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She […]
Join Iowa naturalist, photographer, and writer Larry Stone for an engaging look at the complex history of Iowa’s white-tailed deer. Once wiped out by early settlement, the state’s deer population made a dramatic comeback in the 20th century—so much so that it now sparks debate among farmers, hunters, motorists, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Adapted from […]
Join Iowa State Fair butter sculptor Sarah Pratt at the Ruthven Public Library for a hands-on, all-ages Speakers Bureau program that blends art, history, and creativity. This 60-minute session begins with a brief history of butter sculpting and Pratt’s journey from apprentice to artist, shared through photos and storytelling. Participants will then create their own […]
Join the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council for the latest event in their Spring 2026 Program Series. Across the United States, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upends small towns and rural communities by staging dramatic raids and rounding up hundreds of people in a single day. These worksite raids fracture families, devastate local economies, and […]
Join the Muscatine Art Center for a special presentation of speaker Tom Milligan's one-man show: Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel. In this 45-minute, one-man show, Grant Wood chats with the audience as if talking to an old friend across the backyard fence, or maybe at his home at Five Turner Alley in Cedar Rapids. He tells […]
Join the Gibson Memorial Library for the presentation "Still We Move: Migration, Memory, and the Making of Black Iowa" by speaker Abena Sankofa Imhotep. This talk traces Black movement through Iowa, from early migrations like Buxton and the Great Migration to the modern pursuit of justice and belonging, revealing how Black Iowans have not only […]
Old barns are more than just functional farm buildings—they’re living symbols of Iowa’s agricultural heritage. In this engaging Speakers Bureau presentation, Rich Tyler explores the stories our barns tell about community, craftsmanship, and change. Drawing from his own experience restoring the historic Secrest farmstead and octagonal barn near West Branch, Tyler delves into the golden age of […]
Old barns are more than just functional farm buildings—they’re living symbols of Iowa’s agricultural heritage. In this engaging Speakers Bureau presentation, Rich Tyler explores the stories our barns tell about community, craftsmanship, and change. Drawing from his own experience restoring the historic Secrest farmstead and octagonal barn near West Branch, Tyler delves into the golden age of […]
Join the Elk Horn Public Library for a captivating presentation by Iowa-based storyteller, musician, and photographer Jason Walsmith. For more than 30 years, Jason has traveled across North America—touring with his rock band The Nadas, performing solo from Seattle to the Florida Keys, and photographing people and places for brands and publications around the world. His life […]
Join the NAACP Sioux City Branch on February 17th at 7 p.m. for a special narrated concert honoring the life and legacy of Coretta Scott King. Often remembered as the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King was a gifted concert soprano, civil rights leader, and lifelong advocate for peace and justice […]
Humanities Iowa utilizes funding from sources including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the Federation of State Humanities Councils or the Mellon Foundation.
