Iowa History Alive!

Book Discussions and
Presentations

All events free and
open to the public
Pictures from previous Iowa History Alive! events

Funded By:

The Independence Public Library continues with a series of programs called Iowa History Alive! These are book discussions and presentations funded by the Buchanan County Community Foundation and Humanities Iowa. The library has completed the Underground Railroad and Lewis and Clark topics, and is looking forward to Frank Lloyd Wright and Juke Boxes, Pool Halls, and Ducktails..

The Iowa History Alive! events have been educational and entertaining! Click here to see pictures.

Frank Lloyd Wright
Book Discussion

Tuesday, March 9th at 7:00 pm

Facilitator: Stephany Harvey

The book, Frank Lloyd Wright: Recollections by Those Who Knew Him, is now available for checkout from the library!

Frank Lloyd Wright --
Or Was He Wrong?

Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00 pm

by Roy R. Behrens

Roy R. Behrens,
UNI Professor of Art

There is a story (true or not) that Frank Lloyd Wright once testified in court that he was the world's greatest living architect. "I had no choice," he later explained, "I was under oath." During his extended lifetime (he lived into his nineties), Wright and his architecture were far less admired than today. He was almost always controversial, as much for his single-mindedness and his point-blank way of speaking as for his architectural achievements. Regrettably, these same aspects tend to distract our attention from a full, more complete understanding of the traditions that Wright had inherited from the Victorian era, and in turn the amazing influence he had on younger architects in the twentieth century. Where did Wright come from, philosophically? What were his most basic ideas on form, function, the use of materials, and the environment? Was he right about architecture, and about the intrinsic connections between human beings and their earthly surroundings—including the houses in which they reside? This is a thought-provoking, 45-minute presentation, richly illustrated by scores of historical images of his life and the iconic objects he made.
Roy R. Behrens is an Independence native who is a Professor of Art and Distinguished Scholar at the University of Northern Iowa. As a graphic designer, he has illustrated books, short stories and poetry by Jerzy Kosinski, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Joseph Langland, and other American writers. In recent years, he designed Dean and Geraldine Schwarz's massive book on Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus: An Eyewitness Anthology, chosen as a Recommended Book for 2008 by the blog Design Observer. Described by Communication Arts magazine as "one of the most original thinkers in design," he was a nominee for the National Design Awards in 2003. He is also the author of six books and hundreds of articles. His most recent book is the 2009 Camoupedia: A Compendium of Research in Art, Architecture and Camouflage.

The History of Rock & Roll in Iowa

Book Discussion: Tues., April 20th @ 7:00 pm
       Book - The Day the Music Died by Larry Lehmer
       Facilitators - John and Merry Christensen
The Day the Music Died by Lehmer -
The story of the last tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens-- and the fatal air crash that took their lives. Drawing on new documentary information, the author provides new facts about "the day the music died." With 50 photos.

Presentation: Tues., April 27th @ 7:00 pm
       Juke Boxes, Pool Halls and Ducktails
       by Layton Zbornik, musician, performer and author

Layton Zbornik has been entertaining folks since he was a very little boy. When he was 8 he was singing
on the radio. As a teenager growing up in his home state of Iowa in the 50’s under the name of Jerry Martin, he wrote and recorded Iowa’s very first Rock and roll record the now famous “Janet,” which is one of the world’s most collectable records.

In the 60’s and 70’s he became King Zbornik and one of America’s top DJ’s of the rock and roll era setting ratings records all over the country. At the age of 45 he went to college and became a teacher for the next 15 years. Along the way he wrote a book and became a popular voice for peace.

1997 saw him inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and soon he formed a band and Jerry Martin & the sounds became a popular concert draw.

Juke Boxes, Pool Halls and Ducktails is an entertaining look at those good old days of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, seen from the perspective of a young man who grew up in rural small town Iowa and experienced the cultural changes to his society brought on by the music of the time. This fun and entertaining program is full of great memories and music and good for all ages.

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The Independence Public Library continues with a series of programs called Iowa History Alive! These are book discussions and presentations funded by the Buchanan County Community Foundation and Humanities Iowa. The library has completed the Underground Railroad and Lewis and Clark topics, and is looking forward to Frank Lloyd Wright and Juke Boxes, Pool Halls, and Ducktails.. The Iowa History Alive! events have been educational and entertaining! Click here to see pictures.
			Frank Lloyd Wright Book Discussion Tuesday, March 9th at 7:00 pm Facilitator: Stephany Harvey The book, Frank Lloyd Wright: Recollections by Those Who Knew Him, is now available for checkout from the library!

Frank Lloyd Wright -- Or Was He Wrong? Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00 pm by Roy R. Behrens			Roy R. Behrens, UNI Professor of Art
There is a story (true or not) that Frank Lloyd Wright once testified in court that he was the world's greatest living architect. "I had no choice," he later explained, "I was under oath." During his extended lifetime (he lived into his nineties), Wright and his architecture were far less admired than today. He was almost always controversial, as much for his single-mindedness and his point-blank way of speaking as for his architectural achievements. Regrettably, these same aspects tend to distract our attention from a full, more complete understanding of the traditions that Wright had inherited from the Victorian era, and in turn the amazing influence he had on younger architects in the twentieth century. Where did Wright come from, philosophically? What were his most basic ideas on form, function, the use of materials, and the environment? Was he right about architecture, and about the intrinsic connections between human beings and their earthly surroundings—including the houses in which they reside? This is a thought-provoking, 45-minute presentation, richly illustrated by scores of historical images of his life and the iconic objects he made. Roy R. Behrens is an Independence native who is a Professor of Art and Distinguished Scholar at the University of Northern Iowa. As a graphic designer, he has illustrated books, short stories and poetry by Jerzy Kosinski, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Joseph Langland, and other American writers. In recent years, he designed Dean and Geraldine Schwarz's massive book on Marguerite Wildenhain and the Bauhaus: An Eyewitness Anthology, chosen as a Recommended Book for 2008 by the blog Design Observer. Described by Communication Arts magazine as "one of the most original thinkers in design," he was a nominee for the National Design Awards in 2003. He is also the author of six books and hundreds of articles. His most recent book is the 2009 Camoupedia: A Compendium of Research in Art, Architecture and Camouflage.
The History of Rock & Roll in Iowa Book Discussion: Tues., April 20th @ 7:00 pm Book - The Day the Music Died by Larry Lehmer Facilitators - John and Merry Christensen The Day the Music Died by Lehmer - The story of the last tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens-- and the fatal air crash that took their lives. Drawing on new documentary information, the author provides new facts about "the day the music died." With 50 photos. Presentation: Tues., April 27th @ 7:00 pm Juke Boxes, Pool Halls and Ducktails by Layton Zbornik, musician, performer and author Layton Zbornik has been entertaining folks since he was a very little boy. When he was 8 he was singing on the radio. As a teenager growing up in his home state of Iowa in the 50’s under the name of Jerry Martin, he wrote and recorded Iowa’s very first Rock and roll record the now famous “Janet,” which is one of the world’s most collectable records. In the 60’s and 70’s he became King Zbornik and one of America’s top DJ’s of the rock and roll era setting ratings records all over the country. At the age of 45 he went to college and became a teacher for the next 15 years. Along the way he wrote a book and became a popular voice for peace. 1997 saw him inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and soon he formed a band and Jerry Martin & the sounds became a popular concert draw. Juke Boxes, Pool Halls and Ducktails is an entertaining look at those good old days of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, seen from the perspective of a young man who grew up in rural small town Iowa and experienced the cultural changes to his society brought on by the music of the time. This fun and entertaining program is full of great memories and music and good for all ages.