Podcasts

Odd Fellows in the Ozarks: A Beginner's History
The history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) in the Ozarks is explored by Shiloh Museum collections manager Carolyn Reno and Jon Peterson, Past Sovereign Grand Master of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 2006. (52:00 minutes, 29.2MB, MP3)

Giving Recognition to the Gifted Ones: Blanche Elliott and Ozark Crafts
The work of Blanche Elliott, founder of the War Eagle Craft Fair, is highlighted in this program by Ellen Compton, archivist with the Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries. 2007. (53:57 minutes, 22.9MB, MP3)

Ted Richmond and His Wilderness Library
Willow Hancock, independent historian pursuing a degree in library science at the University of Arkansas, discusses the life of Ted Richmond. 2007. (28:14 minutes, 14.1MB, MP3)

Women Writers Promoting the Ozarks: Cora Pinkley Call and Lida Wilson Piles
Dr. Diane Worrell, special projects librarian with the Special Collections Department at the University of Arkansas Libraries, discusses the work of authors Cora Pinkley Call and Lida Wilson Piles. 2007. (32:08 minutes, 15.46MB, MP3)

Jimmy Driftwood at One Hundred
Dr. Brooks Blevins, professor of history at Lyon College, discusses the life and times of folk singer Jimmy Driftwood. 2007. (1:13:41 minutes, 17.08MB, MP3)

My Spirit is Free: The Life and Art of Peggy McCormack (video podcast)
Peggy McCormack was stricken with polio at the age of 16, and lived the rest of her life in an iron lung. She taught herself to paint by holding a brush in her mouth, and became a well-known artist in Northwest Arkansas. Peggy's inspiring life story is recounted here by Shiloh Museum outreach coordinator Susan Young. 2007. (35:33 minutes, 44.1 MB, MP4)

The Essie Ward Story (video podcast)
The life of folk artist Essie Ward, often called the “Grandma Moses of the Ozarks,” is featured in this documentary produced by Springdale Har-Ber High School EAST Lab students Hayden Herrera and Josh Goseland. Hayden and Josh won a My Community Project Governor's Award for their work. Sponsored by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the My Community Project is a statewide initiative to educate Arkansas students about filmmaking. 2008. (7:41 minutes, 47.5 MB, MP4)

No Longer Strangers: The Hispanic Presence in Our Midst
Msgr. David LeSieur from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Rogers offers insight as to how the influx of the Hispanic/Latino community into Northwest Arkansas has influenced or changed the Catholic Church in the region. 2008. (55 minutes, 19 MB, MP3)

Orval Faubus Remembers Madison County
Videotape by Robert and Elizabeth Bartlett of a speech by former Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus at Pettigrew Day, an annual celebration in the Madison County community of Pettigrew. 1993. (45 minutes, 72.8 MB, MP4)

"Been A Busy Day": The Diaries of Milton Cooper
In 1984, at the age of 70, Madison County farmer Milton Cooper began keeping a diary. His daily writings describe a way of life common to many Ozark rural families, but rarely chronicled--raising chickens, hunting, fishing, gardening, visiting neighbors, going to town for groceries, and welcoming family for weekend visits. Museum outreach coordinator Susan Young shares some entries from Milton Cooper’s diaries. 2010. (1:00:00 minutes, 20.8MB, MP3)

Under the Cover of Darkness: Buried Treasure, Magic, and Deception in the Ozarks
Independent researcher Robert Myers of Champaign, Illinois, discusses the life and times of Ozark treasure hunter Charlie Gonzales. [NOTE: Audio quality improves as podcast plays.] 2011. (1:01:33 minutes, 56.5MB, MP3)

"Whatever You Do, Stay in Print": The Life of Ernie Deane
Journalist, educator, and historian Ernie Deane is remembered by his daughter, Frances “Fran” Deane Alexander. Deane was a press officer for General George Patton during World War II and at the Nuremberg Trials after the war, a newspaper columnist, a professor of journalism, a director of the War Eagle Fair, a champion of historic preservation, and a community activist. 2011. (58:04 minutes, 66.5MB, MP3)

Historic Monte Ne
The Benton County resort founded in 1900 by William "Coin" Harvey is highlighted in this program by Shiloh Museum director Allyn Lord, author of Historic Monte Ne. 2006. (57:00 minutes, 58 MB, MP3)

Dead Men in Madison County Do Tell Tales!
Joy Russell with the Madison County Genealogical and Historical Society shares tales of colorful lives and mysterious deaths of people buried in Madison County cemeteries. 2006. (41:00 minutes, 19.5 MB, MP3)

La Storia de Tontitown
The rich history of the Italian community of Tontitown is featured in this program by Denise Pellin and Vanessa Sbanotto, members of the Tontitown Historical Museum board. 2006. (23:40 minutes, 11MB, MP3)

The Peaceful Desegregation of Fayetteville High School
Gene Vinzant, professor of Arkansas and American history at Northwest Arkansas Community College, discusses the peaceful desegregation of Fayetteville High School in 1954. 2007. (55:06 minutes, 27.5B, MP3)

Myths, Legends, and the Nitty Gritty: Solving Questions at the Drennan-Scott House
Tim Mulvihill, archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, and Tom Wing, assistant professor of history and director of the historical interpretation program at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, discuss archeological and historical research at the 1836 Drennen-Scott House in Van Buren. John Drennen was a founder of Van Buren, politician, Indian agent, landowner and businessman. The Drennen-Scott House sits on 26 acres purchased by the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith from the descendents of John Drennen and Charles Scott. 2008. (1:08:40 minutes, 15.8 MB, MP3)

Archeology at the Shiloh Meeting Hall
We tag along on a school tour of the excavations at the 1871 Shiloh Meeting Hall, conducted by Shiloh Museum director Allyn Lord and Jerry Hilliard, archelogist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey. We also interview archeologists, volunteers, and museum staff about the history of the building, the archeology, and the renovations, and gets predictions on what might be discovered. 2008. (1:07:38 minutes, 11.7 MB, MP3)

Early Madison County
Joy Russell, president of the Madison County Genealogical and Historical Society, discusses the pre-Civil War years in Madison County. 2008. (57:46 minutes, 16.6 MB, MP3)

"We Can Take It": The CCC at Devil's Den
Devil's Den State Park assistant superintendent Tim Scott discusses the park's construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. 2009. (53:00 minutes, 21.3 MB, MP3)

How Life Changed in Madison County in the 1860s
Joy Russell, president of the Madison County Genealogical and Historical Society, discusses the history of antebellum Madison County, Arkansas, and the changes that took place there as a result of the Civil War. 2009. (1:04:54 minutes, 22.3 MB, MP3)

"So Big, This Little Place"
The founding and early history of the Italian settlement of Tontitown, Arkansas is recounted in this talk by Susan Young, author of So Big, This Little Place: The Founding of Tontitown, Arkansas, 1898-1917. 2010. (47:21 minutes, 16.4 MB, MP3)

In and Around Rogers (video podcast)
This 1911 movie was produced by Liberty Films of Joplin, Missouri. Included are scenes of Mayor Rozelle giving a speech, the downtown business district, hauling apples, Teasdale Evaporator, Ice Plant, and Wholesale Grocery, town and country homes, Electric Springs, Monte Ne, the town school, and Ozark Theater. Courtesy of the Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers, AR

My Fayetteville
Deryl Powers, Shirley Lucas, and Kim Agee describe the Fayetteville they grew up with, and Charlie Alison, creator of FayettevilleHistory.com, shares some thoughts on preserving the city's history. 2010. (1:04:00 minutes, 22.1 MB, MP3)

Madision County Mysteries
A castle in the hills, a lone marked grave, a Civil War massacre. Joy Russell, president of the Madison County Genealogical and Historical Society, shares some historical mysteries of Madison County, solved and unsolved. 2010. (37:37, 13.1MB, MP3)

Stills in the Hills
Moonshining in the Ozarks - historically, how much is fact and how much is part of the hillbilly stereotype? Shiloh Museum outreach coordinator Susan Young discusses the lore of whiskey making in the Ozarks. 2006. (58:03 minutes, 26.9MB, MP3)

The Songs of Sacred Harp
We attend a meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Sacred Harp Singers, where the group performs some of their favorite songs. 2006. (49:00 minutes, 24.7MB, MP3)

The Singers of Sacred Harp
We attend a meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Sacred Harp Singers, who share some of the history of this old singing tradition. 2006. (36:00 minutes, 18.7MB, MP3)

Rodeo Memories
Summer in Northwest Arkansas means it's time for Springdale's Rodeo of the Ozarks! Longtime Rodeo board members Pat Parsons Hutter and Sandy Boone share their memories of past rodeos. 2007. (55:01 minutes, 21.5B, MP3)

Foodways in the Mary Celestia Parler Collection
Dr. Ethel Simpson, emeritus librarian of the Special Collections Department at the University of Arkansas Libraries, makes us all hungry as she reflects on Ozark foodways documented by University of Arkansas professor Mary Celestia Parler and her students. 2007. (55:00 minutes, 23.31MB, MP3)

The Evolution of a Baseball Franchise
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, a Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, opened their inaugural season on April 10, 2008. Naturals general manager Eric Edelstein gives us a history of how the Naturals came to call Springdale home, as well as an update on stadium construction and upcoming events. 2008. (55:30 minutes, 12 MB, MP3)

Quilts: 1850 to the Present
Terri Leins, professor of developmental mathematics at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, discusses quilt history and shares quilts from her family collection. 2008. (56:15 minutes, 9.7 MB, MP3)

46. Sheep to Shawl(video podcast)
An overview of the steps involved in producing cloth, from sheep shearing to spinning to weaving. Sheep to Shawl is an annual program for schoolchildren at the museum, supported by numerous volunteers. 1993. (8:55 minutes, 17.2 MB, MP4)

A Season at Dogpatch
Fayetteville musicians John Cook and Mic Walden relive the year they spent working at the Dogpatch theme park located in the Ozark Mountains near Harrison, Arkansas. Audience members share fond memories of trips to Dogpatch, which operated from 1968 until the early 1990s. 2009.(45:04 minutes, 15.5 MB, MP3)

1947 Rodeo of the Ozarks Parade (video podcast)
Marching bands, riding clubs, and a pint-sized wagon pulled by ponies are featured in this home movie filmed by Earl Baron during the July 1947 Rodeo of the Ozarks parade in Springdale, Arkansas. Also seen in the movie is two-year-old Orvil Patterson of Springdale, who won a $5 cash prize from the Springdale Riding Club for being the youngest rider. (3:51 minutes, 17.1MB, MP4)

Arkansas/Arkansaw
Dr. Brooks Blevins, author of Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies and Good Ol’ Boys Defined a State (University of Arkansas Press, 2009), explores Arkansas’ image and stereotypes through the years. Dr. Blevins is Endowed Associate Professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University. 2009. (57:20 minutes, 19.9 MB, MP3)

Sacred Harp Singing in Northwest Arkansas (video podcast)
The Shiloh Museum and the Northwest Arkansas Sacred Harp Singers, with funding from the Arkansas Humanities Council, teamed up to produce this documentary short as an introduction to the history and tradition of Sacred Harp singing in our region. 2010. (9:54 minutes, 25.9MB, MOV)

Tellers of Tales
Members of the Teller of Tales, a storytellers group that meets here at the Shiloh Museum, talk about what storytelling means to them and also spin a few of their favorite yarns. 2010. (34:24 minutes, 12.1MB, MP3)

Stories by the Tellers of Tales
Tellers of Tales (a storytellers group that meets here at the Shiloh Museum) members Bob Mello, Sara Miller, Marjorie Shafer, and Oda Mulloy spin a few yarns. 2010. (40:27 minutes, 14.2MB, MP3)

Gone to the Grave: Ozark Funeral Customs, 1850-1950
Independent researcher Abby Burnett discusses ways in which Ozark folks helped one another when there was a death, including nursing the sick, laying out the body, building the casket, sitting up with the body, digging the grave, and holding the burial. 2010. (1:07:00 minutes, 19.1 MB, MP3)

The Gilbert Family's Musical Legacy
In the Ozarks musical families are common, with each generation leaving its own influence on the music. The Gilbert family exemplifies this tradition. Their music was so loved by their home community of Zion (Washington County) that the family was thought of as a prized treasure. Gilbert descendant Martha Hogan Estes shares memories of her family’s musical traditions. 2010. (38:30 minutes, 17.8MB, MP3)

Folk Song Collecting: An Art and A Science?
Professor Chalon Ragsdale of the University of Arkansas Department of Music examines the art and science of folk song collecting, using on the work of two collectors—Percy Grainger, who collected in England in the early 1900s, and Mary Celestia Parler, who collected in Arkansas in the mid-1900s. 2010. (1:11:33 minutes, 41.1MB, MP3)

Bee Gums and Flax Skeins
Dr. Brooks Blevins, professor of Ozark studies at Missouri State University, discusses farming methods used by Ozark pioneers in the 1800s. 2011. (1:04:18 minutes, 73.8MB, MP3)

From Sumac Trees to Superhighway
John McLarty, assistant director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, and Susan Young, Shiloh Museum outreach coordinator, team up to discuss the history of the Butterfield Stagecoach and the modern-day Northwest Arkansas roadways the stagecoach route follows. 2008. (1:08:00 minutes, 23.5 MB, MP3)

Northwest Arkansas Railroads
Travel the historic railways of Northwest Arkansas with Mike Sypult, member of the Boston Mountain Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. 2008.(1:00:07 minutes, 24.2 MB, MP3)

Land of a Million Smiles (video podcast)
A brief overview of the history of tourism in Northwest Arkansas, produced by the Shiloh Museum. The title comes from a slogan used by the Ozarks Playgrounds Association, which was founded in 1919. 1992. (15:09 minutes, 25 MB, MP4)

Bridges of Northwest Arkansas
Independent researcher and bridge enthusiast Randall Houp of Booneville, Arkansas, discusses 36 historic bridges in Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Washington counties in the Arkansas Ozarks. 2009. (48:28 minutes, 16.8 MB, MP3)

Derailed! Getting Off Track in Northwest Arkansas
Mike Sypult of the Boston Mountain Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society discusses regional train wrecks and rail accidents through the years. (48:51 minutes, 16.9MB, MP3)

The Heritage Trail in Northwest Arkansas: The Butterfield Overland Stage Route
Kirby Sanders, author of Driver's Guide to the Butterfield Overland Mail Route in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, takes us on a virtual tour of this historic roadway. 2010. (30:55 minutes, 10.8MB, MP3)

Put Your Relatives in Their Place
Shiloh Museum archivist Marie Demeroukas shares tips on caring for your family photos. 2007. (59:17 minutes, 34.3MB, MP3)

The Vaughn Brewer Collection
Rachel Reynolds, an independent historian and co-founder of the Center for Ozark Living Traditions talks about the Vaughn Brewer collection of Ozark photographs. 2007. (28:40 minutes, 14.27MB, MP3)

Being Dreadful, Being Seen as Dreadful in the Ozarks
John Hensley, curator/archivist at Winston Churchill Memorial and Library at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, reflects on Ozark stereotypes. 2007. (54:20 minutes, 13.75MB, MP3)

Stitches in Time: Remembering the Sesquicentennial Quilt Project
Dr. Mike Luster, director of the Arkansas Folklife Program at Arkansas State University and co-founder of the Center for Ozark Living Traditions, remembers his work with the Arkansas Sesquicentennial Quilt Project in 1986. 2007. (59:55 minutes, 14.71MB, MP3)

The Golden Age of Radio (video podcast)
Bruce Vaughan of Springdale, an 87-year old builder of radios, ham radio operator, and antique radio enthusiast, shares his memories of the “Golden Age of Radio.” 2009. (49:50 minutes, 32.5 MB, MP4)

Not A Good Sign
Photographer Don House discuss images from his book, Not A Good Sign, a collection of unique, odd and humorous signs from the back roads of the Ozark region and beyond. 2009. (50:45 minutes, 17.6 MB, MP3)

Care of Heirloom Textiles
Shiloh Museum collections manager Carolyn Reno shares tips and handouts on caring for treasured family garments-everything from wedding gowns to football letter jackets. 2010. (54:39 minutes, 18.9MB, MP3)

Amateur Archeology
Arkansas State Archeologist emerita Hester Davis discusses the Arkansas Archeological Society’s training program for amateur archeologists. In 1967, Davis became Arkansas’s first state archeologist, a position she held for 32 years until her retirement in 1999. She also taught in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Arkansas, creating and teaching a course in Public Archeology. 2010. (57:20 minutes, 19.9MB, MP3)

Public Access Television: The Quilt of Community Diversity
Independent writer Richard Drake of Fayetteville recounts the history of community access television in Northwest Arkansas. Drake hosted a talk show on Fayetteville’s public access television station for more than a decade, and served as the director of the City’s Telecommunication Board for several years. 2010. (40:20 minutes, 14 MB, MP3)

The Making of Winter's Bone
In May 2010 the producers of the Sundance Film Festival's award-winning film Winter's Bone collaborated with the Shiloh Museum to premiere the film in Arkansas, more than a month before its national release. The producers were familiar with the museum's podcast series, and some of the film's non-Ozark actors used the podcasts to learn a regional dialect. This podcast was recorded immediately following the premiere at AMC Theater in Fayetteville, when director Debra Granik, producer Jonathan Scheuer, music advisor Marideth Sisco, and cast member (and Fayetteville native) Lauren Sweetser fielded questions from the audience. 2010. (31:50 minutes, 11.1 MB, MP3)

The Music of Winter's Bone
In May 2010 the producers of the Sundance Film Festival's award-winning film Winter's Bone collaborated with the Shiloh Museum to premiere the film in Arkansas, more than a month before its national release. The producers were familiar with the museum's podcast series, and some of the film's non-Ozark actors used the podcasts to learn a regional dialect. This podcast features cuts from the movie soundtrack. 2010. (24:20 minutes, 7.1 MB, MP3)

What Brought You Here?
June Jefferson, facilitator of the LifeWriters memoir writing group, shares ideas about how to answer the question, ”What brought you to Northwest Arkansas?” Also, two members of LifeWriters share their original writings about coming to the Arkansas Ozarks. 2010. 1:04:25 minutes, 22.3MB, MP3)

Me and Don in the Dark
Museum photographer and darkroom genius Don House takes us on a behind-the-scenes look inside the Shiloh Museum's darkroom, where traditional darkroom chemistry is still used to process photographic film and prints. 2010. (27:45, 19.1MB, MP3)

Ozark Ghost Stories, Retold
The Shiloh Museum teamed up with KUAF radio and Northwest Arkansas Newspapers for “Ozark Ghost Stories Retold,” a chance for area folks to share their ghostly experiences. We weren’t interested in whether the story could somehow be documented, just that the tellers believed their tales to be true. The result? Some tellers delved into area history, some told very personal stories, but all stories were eerie, interesting, and thought-provoking. Thanks to KUAF for permission to post their recording as part of our podcast series. 2010. (53:17, 24.6MB, MP3)

Sustainability: Voices from the Past, Promise for the Future
Michele Halsell, managing director at the University of Arkansas Applied Sustainability Center, discusses the historical roots of sustainability, and how we can put the old ways into practice today. 2011. (38:50, 13.5 MB, MP3)