Patrisha

January 16, 2005

Dorothy Canfield Fisher

I just got back from the one woman show I went to on this snowy evening. It was at a local church and was Living History sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council. In these meetings, someone in the persona of a famous person dresses like them and talks about their life in first person. I knew nothing of Dorothy Canfield Fisher when I went except that her name was connected with libraries and so I was open to learning a lot.

Some of the things I learned: {In no particular order but just as I remember them}

She was the only woman on the original Book of the Month Club’s panel.
For 25 years she read a new book every two days. This did not stop her raising two children and writing her own books
She earned a batchelor’s and a master’s degree and a doctorate degree and before she died was the recipient of 13 honorary degrees.
She was an admirer and friend of Eleanore Roosevelt.
How she is connected with libraries and why I knew her name although nothing else about her is that she was honored here in Vermont by having the first book reward chosen by children named after her. A panel of adult readers chooses a certain number of new children’s books each year and these are sent to libraries and schools and children choose the best one. This program first began in Vermont and now is all over the States.

The woman who played the part of Dorothy was excellent. When she talked about how her son died, there was a quaver in her voice she was so much into the character. When she was through, she took off her hat and became herself again and asked if anyone had any questions for her. She was asked how she got into doing this and did she play any other living history roles. Apparently Dorothy Canfield Fisher is her second persona. Her first was Beatrix Potter. I would have loved to have seen her do that since she looked a bit like Beatrix Potter! And her third was Agatha Christie. I was longing to ask if she did both of them with the correct accent {English} but I didn’t.

I had a lovely time and I was so glad I got to go even though the weather has been appalling. It has been snowing on and off all day and the temperature is now f degrees. I don’t think it has got above 17 degrees today!

Now…moment of truth! Will this save?

Until later…

~seafarer

January 17, 2005

I’d love to have gone with you to the Living History show….. I love history!! ….. glad you enjoyed it!…. 🙂

tae's heartbeats

that sounds like a neat thing to go to. And I don’t think it got above zero here today! LOL 🙂

lehper

I am interested in history also. However it is mainly history of WWII, Naval and Marine. “Pacific War”. A couple of weeks ago the wife unit got an email from someone on a far out branch of the “family tree” asking for “Family Information”. She went into her Mom’s attic and found a box of her “Grandmothers Junk”. She found “Naturalization Papers” of an ancestor with the statement (C)

Cheesestiks&Students

yeah, it saved. Sounds like you had a great time. I am glad you went.

roseyrays

January 18, 2005

What am amazing woman. I am struggling to get throguht the book i am reading. To read around 3 to 4 a week is amazing acheivement. My youngest can read at that rate, no probs. So pleased you enjoyed your evening out. Best Wishes

TheWoodsprite

I had never heard of Dorothy Canfield Fisher. But the show sounds so interesting! And like you, I’d love to see her play Beatrix Potter or Agatha Christie also. Here’s hoping you have a good day. May we get some nicer weather and some less slippery walking soon! hugs, Weesprite

SomeKindOfACircle

Dear Patrisha, this is fascinating! Since we are studying “persona poems” this semester in poetry class/workshop, I find it even more fascinating! thanks for sharing it & all’s well, so says the D.M. this morning!! Love, Anna PS I was locked out yesterday &miserable abaout it.

What a nice evening out. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Shi

greeneyes&sunflowers

*huggs* I am glad you got out and enjoyed yourself! I would also have loved to see Beatix Potter!

Soroptimist

This is so interesting! I would love to be able to read books that quickly. I have so many on my list! Thanks for dropping by. xxx

LiteBrite

Wow, sounds amazing, I’m glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂

Your outing sounds wonderful. It must take an incredible amount of self confidence to do a portrayal like that woman did. I wonder if she gets stage fright? I only know of one person (of my own aquaintance)who can do a convincing British accent, and Scottish, and Welsh, and that is my son-in-law ‘Kevin’. He can do a very good Sean Connery!

gray tabby

glad you got out and enjoyed yourself. take care,

I’ve never heard of such a thing. I’ll have to see if they do these types of shows around here because it sounds very interesting. I’m glad you made it okay.

RosieLyn

Sounds like it was fun and interesting. Wow. I would love to step up my reading but I would never have time to sleep unless I took a speed reading course.