Judy Nolte Temple as
Mary Austin
Judy Nolte Temple let us meet and question Mary Austin, a prominent literary figure in the early 20th century. Her 1903 book Land of Little Rain is a meditation on the harsh Mohave Desert. Mary Austin also wrote novels, poetry, and essays, many of which are still in print.
Mary Hunter was born in Carlinville, Illinois in 1868 She was a precocious child
who decided that her life work should be writing. She developed an interest in nature
at an early age and her interest lasted throughout her life. In 1888, her family
moved to California and established themselves on a homestead in the San Joaquin
Valley. Mary became fascinated with the area. She spent most of her time out-
Stafford Austin tried many occupations, but was not successful. Mary struggled to keep their marriage working. Stafford’s failed business ventures, the couple’s growing incompatibility, and the strains of coping with Ruth’s mental problems filled her life with heartache. Austin threw herself into writing. The appearance of two short stories in the Overland Monthly established her as a writer and brought her into contact with magazine editor Charles Lummis and his circle of influential friends and writers in Los Angeles. She and her husband were involved in the local water dispute when the water of the Owens Valley was eventually drained to supply Los Angeles. When their battle was lost, Stafford moved to Death Valley, California, and Mary moved to Carmel, California. There, she was part of a social circle that included Jack London, Ambrose Bierce, and George Sterling. She published her first book, Land of Little Rain, in 1903. It was followed by seven more books, a play, and numerous short stories for the leading magazines of the United States
Her marriage ended in divorce , leaving her to cope with Ruth’s mental problems. She decided to commit Ruth to a mental institution. She later died during the great influenza epidemic of 1917. The Owens Valley’s water was almost totally diverted to Los Angeles, and by 1924, Owens Lake was dry. Dismayed by the destruction of the valley, Mary could no longer live there. She eventually moved to New Mexico, where she lived until her death in 1934 in Santa Fé.
Judy Nolte Temple is a member of the faculty of the University of Arizona, where she teaches English and Women’s Studies. Her latest book is Baby Doe Tabor: The Madwoman in the Cabin. During the presentation, Dr. Temple became Mary Austin in the minds of audience, and held her listeners spellbound. After her presentation, she answered many questions as Mary Austin, and then answered questions about her research and methods in assuming the character. Reactions to the presentation were unanimously favorable, and sparked interest in Mary Austin’s work.
Dr. Judy Nolte Temple is a Hunamities scholar appearing under the auspices of the Arizona Hunanities Council. For more information on their programs, events, and initiatives, go to http://www.azhumanities.org/
Jody Drake appeared as the first female Arizona Territorial historian, Sharlot M. Hall. She preserved Arizona’s history as no one else could have. Sharlot’s life is Arizona of the past. She was a politician, activist, a writer, a lecturer, and a poet. She, in an indefinable way is Arizona.
Sharlot Hall was born in Kansas Territory on October 27, 1870. She was taught to read by her mother at the age of three, and words became her passion. At 12, she and her family moved to to Arizona Territory where they established a ranch in Lonesome Valley, near the Fain’s Rafter 11 ranch,east of Prescott. On the journey, Sharlot fell from a horse and injured her spine, which would cause her pain the rest of her life. She was allowed to attend the local school near the ranch, but after one term the teacher admitted that Sharlot knew more than she did. In 1886, Sharlot was then sent to Prescott for further schooling. After a year, Sharlot had to quit school to return to help on the ranch, but, she was determined to become a poet.
While in Prescott, Sharlot met Henry Fluery, who had come to Arizona as secretary to the first territorial governor, John Goodwin. She was fascinated at his tales of early Prescott. She began writing and publishing essays on Arizona’s history, and came to the attention of west coast editor, Charles Lummis. In 1902, she became a temporary editor of his magazine, Land and Sunshine. She also began preserving Arizona history by recording the experiences of early pioneers. When a bill was introduced into Congress to join the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, She wrote a passionate poem against it that was read into the Congressional Record.
In 1909, the office of Arizona Territorial Historian was established, and Sharlot was named to the post. She was the first woman to hold a territorial office. She held the office until Arizona became a state, and Governor Hunt abolished the office.
Sharlot made many trips exploring Arizona. She retraced the route that the pioneers used to come from California, she explored the Little Colorado River, covered the snake dances at Oribi, and observed the Mexican Revolution from Douglas.
Her mother’s death in 1912 forced her return to the ranch, but she continued to write essays and publish articles. Always active in politics, she was elector in 1925 for Calvin Coolidge. She appeared in Washington representing Arizona by wearing a dress made of copper. She avidly collected artifacts and documents of early Arizona, hoping to establish a museum. In 1927, the city of Prescott presented Sharlot with a life lease on the original governor’s mansion. In return, she presented the museum with her historical collection. She began refurbishing the old building, and her efforts inspired others to contribute to the preservation of Arizona’s history.
Sharlot Hall died in 1943, but the Sharlot Hall Historical Society and its State of Arizona counterpart, Prescott Historical Society continued to build the museum and the complex that bears her name.
Jody Drake is the director of the Blue Rose Theater, which has been associated with the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott since 1994. She is an Arizona native, who was born in Prescott. Her knowledge of Sharlot Hall and her works was encyclopedic, and she was able to quote extensively from Hall’s works during the formal presentation and during question and answer segment that followed. Her presentation held the audience spellbound, and they greatly enjoyed it, making comments and asking questions until time ran out.
Jody Drake is a Hunamities scholar appearing under the auspices of the Arizona Hunanities Council. For more information on their programs, events, and initiatives, go to http://www.azhumanities.org/
Jody Drake
As
Sharlot Hall
Joan Sandin allowed us to meet the colorful Eulalia “Sister” Bourne, a legendary southern Arizona schoolteacher, and the force behind the “Little Cowpuncher,” a mimeographed rural school newspaper in the 1930’s and early 40’s. Sister was also a homesteader, rancher, and a published author with strong views on education, bilingualism, and animal cruelty.
Joan Sandin as
Eulalia “Sister” Bourne
Eulalia Collins was born in 1892 on a Texas homestead and raised in the White Mountains of New Mexico. Her nickname "Sister" was given to her by a younger sister who couldn't pronounce "Eulalia". At 17, she married prospector William S. Bourne. The couple moved from New Mexico to Arizona where Sister received a divorce, although she continued to use his name throughout her lifetime.
Eulalia Bourne received an Arizona teaching certificate in spite of having only
three years of schooling, . Her first job was a one-
Eulalia Bourne moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona and teach Spanish-
She taught at four other rural schools (Baboquivari, Sasco, San Fernando and Sopori). At each school she and the students produced the newspaper, continuing to call it Little Cowpuncher. In 1941 Little Cowpuncher won a "Blue Ribbon" award from The Columbia Scholastic Press Association. From 1939 to 1943, the Arizona Daily Star included the February edition of Little Cowpuncher in its rodeo edition.
After her retirement from teaching, Eulalia found the time to write about her experiences. Her book, Woman in Levi's, was the first of three published by the University of Arizona Press. Nine Months Is a Year at Baboquivari School was next, followed by Ranch Schoolteacher, which was named best book of the year by the Society of Southwestern Authors. Eulalia Bourne died on her ranch May 1, 1984. She was 91 years old.
The audience was enthusiastic in their appreciation for Joan Sandin’s presentation. She not only looked the part of the schoolteacher/rancher, but became Sister Bourne during her talk. A lively session of questions, answers and comments followed the presentation. The listeners left with an appreciation of the trials of rural Arizona school teachers, and the rigors of ranching.
Joan Sandin was born in Wisconsin, but her family soon moved to Tucson, where she
grew up. She attended the University of Arizona, graduating with a BFA in Art.
After living in New York City, and Stockholm, Sweden, she has returned to live in
Tucson. Ms Sandin is the author of many books, an illustrator of her and other author’s
books, and has translated over 20 books written in Swedish. Her book, Coyote School
News is set in a one-
Her latest book is At home in a New Land, a story of Swedish immigrants in Minnesota. For more information about Joan Sandin and her books, go to: http://members.authorsguild.net/joansandin/ .
While teaching at Redington, Eulalia Bourne filed a claim on a homesteads in Pepper Sauce Canyon. At first she lived on the property in a tent, but eventually built an adobe house and acquired 50 head of cattle. She became a member of the Arizona Cattlemen's Association, winning the respect of the neighboring cattlemen. She managing all the ranch operations, including roping and branding, activities that took their toll in broken arms, ribs, hip and pelvis, plus a dislocated kidney.
Joan Sandin
Joan Sandin is a Hunamities scholar appearing under the auspices of the Arizona Hunanities Council. For more information on their programs, events, and initiatives, go to: http://www.azhumanities.org/
As Mulholland, Chris Smith shows how he ensured the city’s water supply as superintendent of growth for Los Angeles, although his search for water caused numerous clashes with other communities, some resulting in deadly violence. Meet the man who is still remembered in movies (Chinatown), dams (Mulholland Dam in Hollywood), and streets (Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles).
William Mulholland was born on September 11, 1855 in Belfast, Ireland. At age of fifteen he ran away and became a member of the British Merchant Marine, spending the next four years as a seaman. On June 9, 1874, Mulholland sailed into New York Harbor and decided to stay in the United States. He worked as a deck hand on the Great Lakes, in a lumber camp in Michigan, and traveled widely as Mechanic’s assistant. After meeting up with his brother, he worked in his uncle’s store for two years.
Chris Smith as
William Mulholland
Needing facilities to ensure a constant water supply, Mulholland constructed several storage dams. He was the first American engineer to utilize hydraulic sluicing to build a dam. That dam was built at Silver Lake Reservoir which served for almost 70 years. At the peak of his career, in 1928, he was dealt a disastrous blow with the failure St. Francis Dam. The resulting flood killed more than 500 people. During the inquiry, Mulholland placed full blame on himself, and broke down sobbing several times, in the end he was found responsible for the disaster, but innocent of professional negligence and manslaughter.
In 1902 the City of Los Angeles purchased the Los Angeles Water Company and William Mulholland was retained as Superintendent. The water supply of Los Angeles was based on the small Los Angeles River, with its limited flow. During the early fall of 1904 Mulholland and Eaton quietly traveled to the Owens Valley where they believed that Los Angeles could obtain water for its expanding population. Los Angeles succeeded in purchasing water rights throughout the valley, and work on an aqueduct started in July 1907, being completed in June 1913 at an under budget cost of $24.6 million. The first water flowed into San Fernando on November 5, 1913. As the first of the water came into Los Angeles, Mulholland made his famous short speech, “There it is, take it.”
He followed his family to California, where he obtained a job as Deputy Zanjero with the newly formed Los Angeles Water Company. In 1880 Mulholland worked under Water Company Supervisor Frederick Eaton overseeing a crew laying the first iron pipeline in Los Angeles. In October of that year he became a naturalized American citizen. At the end of that year he was named superintendent of the water company.
In July 1935, Mulholland died at the age of 87. His last public appearance was the dedication of the Colorado River Aqueduct, a project that he began, but for which he never received credit.
Dr. Smith is a member of the History faculty at Arizona State University. He has been portraying William Mulholland for over 15 years in Chatauqua presentations. He became William Mulholland during his presentation, expressing the ethos, joys, and sorrows Mulholland experienced. The standing only room audience enjoyed the presentation and had many quest ions for Dr. Smith, both as Mulholland and then as himself.
Dr. Smith is a Hunamities scholar appearing under the auspices of the Arizona Hunanities Council.. For more information on their programs, events, and initiatives, go to http://www.azhumanities.org/