The new Friends year began on September 1, 2001, and immediately moved into high gear. The new officers who were elected at the April 20, 2001, meeting took office in September. These officers are Daniel Kauth, president; Betty Bob Buckley, first vice president; Richard Francaviglia, second vice president; Dorothy Rencurrel, secretary; Mary Ellen Emery, treasurer; and Charles Deur, parliamentarian. The individuals added to the Advisory Council were Jenny Hudson, Jim Johnson, and Allan Saxe.
The first program of the year was a resounding success as the Friends welcomed popular author and former Arlington resident Jane Roberts Wood on September 14th. Wood discussed her new book, Grace (E. P. Dutton, 2001), with a capacity audience. The book is a novel set during the turbulent WWII years and deals with the war and its impact on relationships on the home front in small town Texas. At the autograph session and reception following her talk, Wood signed copies of her book, and the Friends sold every copy they had! Friends’ president Daniel Kauth gave a book away to a lucky Friends’ member at the meeting.
The second meeting was held on October 26 and featured Ron Tyler, author and director of the Texas State Historical Association, discussing “An Honorary Citizen: John James Audubon and Texas.” Tyler gave a visually stunning power-point presentation that focused on the talent, drive, and dedication of Audubon, and his efforts in the mid-19th century to capture in a magnificent publication the fauna of North America. Tyler’s presentation was part of a conference that the Friends’ co-sponsored titled “Natural Encounters: Understanding Habitat and Society in North Texas.” Both the conference and Tyler’s talk attracted a large audience.
As Library Notes goes to press, the Friends are planning their holiday meeting. The meeting will be held on December 7 and will include a presentation by author Neila Petrick about Jane Long, an early pioneer resident in Texas. Petrick will recount Christmas celebrations in early Texas, including Long’s bleakest winter at Point Bolivar on the Texas coast and the joyous gatherings in the days before the Texas Revolution. Students from the UTA Music Department will provide the music.
A full slate of programs is also planned for 2002. There will be more information about those in the next issue of Library Notes. For those wanting information about the Friends, please contact Betty Wood at 817-272-7421 or email bwood@uta.edu .
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