Chautauqua was a traveling tent show that brought culture and live entertainment to rural American communities, including those in Allamakee Co. They brought education and entertainment to small Midwestern towns by presenting great oratory, music and drama under a big circus tent. I thought I'd share the following 'advertisements' or 'endorsements' for the chautauqua; courtesy of the Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries: 1916 Flyer Dr. Edwin D. Starbuck of the State University of Iowa delivered his lecture "The Worth of a Child" to the teachers of this county at the Institute held here last week. I invited many of the prominent people of this place to attend the lecture and all pronounced it to be the greatest lecture ever given in this city. The lecture is clothed in most beautiful language, scientific, intensely interesting, a message of life and should be heard by everyone, W.L. Peck Superintendent of Schools, Allamakee County, Iowa ----- 1916 Flyer Dr. Edwin D. Starbuck of our State University in his three lectures gave us a treat which would cost $1.50 to @2.00 in any Chautauqua program. His first lecture, "The Worth of a Child" was one of the finest the writer has ever heard. The second lecture was equally fine on "Helping Nature to Help Children" worth a dollar of any parent's money in the way it showed how the parent might help the child, from three or four years on, to develop fully. The third, "Just Entering Manhood and Womanhood," was even more in order and more excellent in appropriateness because of the duties the homes of to-day have turned over to the High School. Each lecture, while connected with the preceding or succeeding one, was a gem in itself. Waukon Standard ---- unknown date 19-- Father C. Arthur Macleod's lecture Wednesday evening, the third of the The Cadet Band's entertainment course, was a rare intellectual treat, and despite the inclement weather a splendid audience greeted the reverend gentleman. It was the pleasure of the writer to meet personally and introduce the speaker, and we have never met a more entertaining conversationalist. His lecture on "Evangeline" was handled in a most eloquent and masterful manner, at times displaying wonderful histronic powers. In one sentence -- it was hte best of the entire course. A warm welcome awaits the lecturer when again it will be our pleasure to listen to his charming voice. Allamakee Journal, Lansing and Waukon, Iowa. ---- View both of these Chautauqua flyers: http://sdrcdata.lib.uiowa.edu/libsdrc/details.jsp?id=/starbuck/1 and http://sdrcdata.lib.uiowa.edu/libsdrc/details.jsp?id=/macleodca/1 ---- If you are interested in more on the history of the Chautauqua: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/Bai/redpath.htm ---- Sharyl Ferrall County Coordinator, Allamakee Co. IAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~iaallama/