Missouri State University's one-of-a-kind Ozarks Studies Program provides students the opportunity to study the history, geography, and culture of one of North America's most fascinating regions.
Here's a new book about Ozarkers who wanted nothing to do with the Civil War. They found themselves in the middle of it, nonetheless. https://www.uapress.com/product/mountain-feds/
This is the fascinating story of the farmers and hill people from northern Arkansas, where slavery was not a big part of the local economy, who opposed the state’s secession from the Union.
If you're in Little Rock tomorrow at dinnertime -- which, of course, was lunchtime in the Old Ozarks -- come on out. https://cals.org/event/brooks-blevins-a-history-of-the-ozarks/
Brooks Blevins will discuss his book A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1: The Old Ozarks, the first in a trilogy on the history of the region that includes most of the southern half of Missouri, much of northern Arkansas, and some of northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas.
Something for everyone. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/08/29/fall-festivals-ozarks-large-and-small/1105319002/
If you love festivals, this is your time.
If you're a student in Dr. Blevins's Ozarks Literature course, go to class Tuesday evening. If not, you're encouraged to attend Jim Rees's presentation in Harrison, AR. http://bnrpartners.org/?tribe_events=bluff-shelters-of-the-arkansas-ozarks-dr-jamie-brandon-archaeologist-tuesday-august-28-boone-co-library-530-p-m
Jim Rees is a member of the Arkansas Archeological Society. He holds a MA in anthropology from the University of Arkansas, a MSE degree in history, and BM and BME degrees in music from Ouachita…
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Ozarks Studies Symposium in West Plains, September 20-22. https://ozarksymposium.wp.missouristate.edu/Schedule.htm
12th Annual Ozarks Studies Symposium September 20-22, 2018 Theme: Social Architecture and Foundations of the Ozarks Entrance to the symposium is free and pre-registration is not required. Those who attend will be invited to register on site when they arrive.
It reads better in a flower garden. http://www.ky3.com/content/news/Missouri-State-professor-publishes-A-History-of-the-Ozarks-the-first-of-a-trilogy.html
A Missouri State Professor published a history book on the Ozarks over the summer and now he's starting off his school year with a new book to teach students from.
Two weeks until the second season of the seamy regional underbelly of "Ozark". https://variety.com/2018/tv/reviews/ozark-season-2-review-1202903403/
In its first season, “Ozark” looked like an aspirant to “Breaking Bad’s” status as a near-universally-admired drama about a charismatic, talented antihero, with one crucial difference. Its pr…
Haven't talked Ozark in a while? Here's your refresher course. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2018/07/11/ozarks-language-explained-missouri-state-university/568481002/
Take our quiz, and watch people make wild guesses about the definitions.
Jonesboro, Arkansas, may not be in the Ozarks, but this symposium will have a hill country flavor, thanks to Alan Spurgeon's talk on Ozark folk music and a performance by Mountain View, Arkansas's own Harmony. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/it-covers-a-lot-of-ground-a-history-of-music-in-northeast-arkansas-tickets-47421620343
The Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives and the Arkansas State Archives are hosting a symposium on Saturday, August 4, 2018. The symposium, "It Covers a Lot of Ground: A History of Music in Northeast Arkansas," will feature speakers Dr. Alan Spurgeon, Dr. Ken Carroll, and Dr. Marti Allen. The music...
Smithsonian Magazine lists Eureka Springs among its 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2018. The write-up is near the bottom; if you get to Trinidad, California, you've gone too far -- but that seems obvious. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/20-best-small-towns-visit-2018-180969125/
From Oregon Trail stops to Mister Rogers' original neighborhood, these towns are worth seeing this year
A great save for history in NW Arkansas. http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/jun/28/shall-we-gather-20180628/#disqus_thread
Even its greatest admirers admit that the newly refurbished Shiloh Meeting Hall is "elegant in its simplicity." In other words, the white-washed two-story structure doesn't have wrap-around plantation porches or gingerbread trim, no stonework, no brickwork, no rolling green lawns and no majestic hil...
The first volume of Brooks Blevins' Ozarks history trilogy is out, and you can catch him on his mini book tour of northwestern Arkansas this weekend. The MSU professor will be at the Boone County Library in Harrison on Saturday morning at 10:00, at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville at 6:30 Saturday evening, and at Hobbs State Park near Rogers at 2:00 Sunday afternoon.
We made the top ten! -- of worst cities to live in. The Ozark region's largest city is one of the nation's worst to live in, according to this study. At least we're ahead of St. Louis. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/06/13/50-worst-cities-to-live-in/35909271/
24/7 Wall St. created an index with measures in eight categories -- crime, economy, education, environment, health, housing, infrastructure, and leisure -- to identify the 50 worst cities to live in.
Aesthetes. Athletes. Whoever. They're all welcome in the Ozarks. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/bentonville-arkansas-and-ozarks-design-travel-guide
This once-derided region is now rife with travel-worthy art and design, first-rate dining, and sublime natural beauty
If you missed part one of Mike Doyle's interview with historian Blake Perkins on the subject of his book, "Hillbilly Hellraisers," you can catch part two tomorrow at 1:00 on "Arkansas Roots" on KASU radio, kasu.org. https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/48brm8tn9780252041372.html
How Ozark residents have seen and lived resistance to the federal government
Sorry we didn't get this posted before the spring meeting, but here's an interesting piece on the revival of an Ozarks classic. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/05/30/discovery-defunct-society-ozarkian-hillcrofters-leads-its-revival/656023002/
After Curtis Copeland's discovery, people interested in the Ozarks joined him to help his project.
Did you know? When Hickory County native and Polk County resident Mike Parson replaces Eric Greitens as governor of Missouri on Friday, it will mark the first time in more than sixty-one years that Missouri and Arkansas have simultaneously had governors who are natives of the Ozarks. Way back when it was Phil Donnelly (Laclede Co., MO) and Orval Faubus (Madison Co., AR). We look forward to the development of Missouri's online encyclopedia, but for now here's a sketch of Arkansas's current governor, a native of Benton County: http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4517
William Asa Hutchinson first gained national attention as the youngest district attorney in the nation in 1982. He went on to represent the Third District of Arkansas in Congress as a Republican from 1997 to 2001, resigning his post on August 6, 2001, to become the director of the Drug Enforcement A...
Another Ozarks history/murder book on the way, from author Connie Yen.
On the way are a couple of new books on real-life Ozarks murder stories. Here's one of them, from author Nita Gould. https://www.rememberingella.com/
Premiering at Branson's Mansion Theater on June 3, "Bald Knobber, The Movie". https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3431128
The premiere showing of Bald Knobber, the Movie at the Mansion Theater, Branson, MO
Some snippets from past shows: http://ksmu.org/post/opt-and-ksmu-celebrate-20th-anniversary-ozarks-watch-video-magazine-radio-features
In this segment, Ozarks Watch Video Magazine host, Jim Baker, talks with historian, Ed McKinney, and radio broadcast historian, Wayne Glenn, about a
'Tis the season, almost. https://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2018/05/09/opera-in-the-ozarks-announces-2018-summer-season/
There are 19 performances scheduled at Opera in the Ozarks’ mountainside venue at Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs and three Sunday matinees at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale.
One of the region's all-time greatest contributions to the world of music -- back at it. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/05/17/ozark-mountain-daredevils-release-new-album-off-beaten-path/596260002/
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the grand opening of Dogpatch, USA, the backwoods Arkansas theme park based on Al Capp's popular comic strip, "Lil' Abner". Fitting then that the first feature-length documentary chronicling the park's story premiers tonight in Harrison, Ark. http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/may/13/step-back-in-time-20180513/
The story has to start way back in 1934, when a cartoonist named Al Capp envisioned a place called Dogpatch.
Part one of a story of a Springfield living legend. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/05/16/chinese-immigrant-david-leong-arranged-marriage-wwii-springfield-missouri/401452002/?hootPostID=259c6abc2ed94785125d6f26b43133e2
David Leong emigrated from China in 1940, leaving his family behind. He started with $2, but would become a prominent figure in Springfield.
The broadcast premiere of the 20th anniversary special is coming up next week on OPT. http://www.optv.org/programs/ozarkswatch-video-magazine/
This fall marks the 20th anniversary of one of our most popular programs – OzarksWatch Video Magazine. Over the past two decades, the show has brought us great interviews, beautiful locations across the Ozarks, performances from local artists, stories of our collective history, and time-honored tr...
Rex Nelson on Blake Perkins's "Hillbilly Hellraisers": http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/13/raising-hell-in-the-ozarks-20180513/
Historian Blake Perkins begins and ends his book on the history of defiance in the Ozarks with events I remember well. He starts with a violent episode in Lawrence County that ended the life of extremist Gordon Kahl in the summer of 1983. He ends with the rise of the Tea Party almost three decades l...
Time to get out your taw and mibs and knuckle down. A lot of us probably come across old marbles while gardening or doing yard work, but this fad seems a little more deliberate. http://www.ky3.com/content/news/Marble-hunting-gains-popularity-in-the-Ozarks-and-worldwide--482422201.html
Hiding and hunting marbles is an interesting and unique hobby that's become very popular.
For long-term investment in the Ozarks: http://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article210538069.html
Televangelist Jim Bakker suggests if you want to survive the end of days, buy one of his Morningside cabins in Blue Eye, Missouri, near Branson. Bakker promoted the Ozarks church community on "The Jim Bakker Show" on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.
Twenty seasons and still going strong. http://www.optv.org/programs/ozarkswatch-video-magazine/
This fall marks the 20th anniversary of one of our most popular programs – OzarksWatch Video Magazine. Over the past two decades, the show has brought us great interviews, beautiful locations across the Ozarks, performances from local artists, stories of our collective history, and time-honored tr...
Just a little more than two weeks away from the premiere of "Dogpatch: An Average Stone-Age Community" at the Durand Center in Harrison. Or you can catch a matinee the following day at the Lyric on the square. http://thelyricharrison.org/2018/04/04/dogpatch-an-average-stone-age-community-saturday-may-19-2018-at-2pm-filmsatthelyric/
Tickets on sale now!Click here to choose your tickets and get the best seats! Jeff Carter Productions New Documentary:Dogpatch: An Average Stone-Age Community Saturday, May 19 at 2:00PM Jeff Carter Productions will present a new documentary on “the history, excitement and entertainment that was, a...
Looking forward to the 12th annual Ozarks Studies Symposium in West Plains in September. Here's the call for proposals. https://ozarksymposium.wp.missouristate.edu/call-for-proposals.htm
The Ozarks Studies Committee of Missouri State University-West Plains seeks proposals for its 12th annual symposium to be held in the West Plains Civic Center on September 20-22, 2018. The theme of the 2018 symposium is "Social Architecture and Foundations of the Ozarks." This broad theme is intende...
The new issue of OzarksWatch Magazine is out, just in time to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft's adventure in the Ozarks.
A little something fun. http://kuaf.com/post/wallopn-monsters-eve-ozarks
Listen Listening...
Rivers of the Ozarks, then and now, changes and challenges. http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/lifestyles/andy-ostmeyer-searching-for-the-real-american-value-along-an/article_c5bed82e-2c23-58bd-80fa-854e7a90b619.html
WELCH SPRING — Maybe it would have been better if ’possum hadn’t been on the menu.
Fall '18. Back in the classroom after a five-year hiatus. Tell your favorite MSU undergrad.
Tonight in the PSU Theater at MSU. https://calendar.missouristate.edu/viewevent.aspx?eventid=98059&occurrenceid=185694
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, April 09, 2018 - Plaster Student Union, Robert W. - Room: Theater
If you missed KSMU's week of programming on Firearms in the Ozarks, here you go: http://ksmu.org/programs/sense-community
From poverty concerns to major policy decisions, this series dives beyond the headlines to provide in-depth coverage of issues facing people and
And just when Jason Bateman was giving the regional name a little cachet. Apparently the folks down at headquarters don't watch Netflix -- or maybe they do. https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/03/16/why-a-bank-with-a-big-tampa-bay-presence-is.html
The bank is rebranding to reflect its growing footprint.
Greene County, MO archivist Connie Yen, one of the first students in MSU's Ozarks Studies program when it started back in 2010, discovered the long-forgotten story of Milly's suit for her freedom and the mistreatment she endured because of it. Read it here: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/crime/2018/03/21/springfields-founder-incited-1836-mob-beat-free-black-woman-ransacked-governors-ho-court-records-sho/732398001/
An archivist, a librarian and a historian shed light on rediscovered court documents involving Springfield's founder and a free black woman.
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