Barbara Gregorich

April 18, 2022

Newsletter #34 — The Power of F Words

 

Little Free Library — Phil and I went out on a walk a couple of days ago, and what did we find but a Little Free Library less than two blocks away! And it was full of books. I can't wait to contribute to it. And maybe borrow from it.

Presentation: The Power of F Words — Every year for at least 35 years (not counting the pandemic years) I've been presenting programs at libraries across Illinois. My best known such program is Margaret, Nellie, and Rose: When Women Played Baseball. I've developed and presented approximately twenty different programs, some year after year. Two of these other programs are Mountain Passes in American History; and How I Found Maud Nelson Before the Internet Existed. 

 
The program on Maud Nelson makes me chuckle. From 1993, when Women at Play was published, until perhaps 1997, I gave this program over and over. Everywhere. In those days it was titled How I Found Maud Nelson. Finally, around 1999, I permanently (or so I thought) retired this presentation, figuring Women at Play was out of print and practically everyone in Illinois (and Indiana and Michigan, too) had heard me speak on this subject.

 
But then, maybe four or five years ago, I realized that a whole new generation had grown up — and they had never heard this program. Moreover, this new generation does all its research on the internet. It has no idea of what it was like to do research via newspapers, book indexes, microfiche, letter writing, and footwork. So I retitled the program and am offering it again. And I must say that, from audience reaction, people hang on every word about my "primitive" research methods!

 
This year I have an entirely new program to offer: The Power of F Words. You can read about it here. And if you think your library would like such a presentation, please pass the information on to the Adult Program Director or the Teen Program Director.  

 
Blog— Here's the link to The F Words: The Writing. This is my 32nd consecutive blog on The F Words. Starting May 1, I will switch to one-a-month blogs on The F Words rather than two-a-month.