This year, our Spring Tea will be held at the Shepherd of the Valley of the Lutheran Church. Here are highlights of our upcoming Spring Tea:

• Independent scholar and published author, Collins Hemingway will speak on his new book, Jane Austen and the Creation of Modern Fiction: Six Novels in a "Style Entirely New."
• An onsite book signing with Collins Hemingway for his newly published book and his Jane Austen Trilogy. 
• An emporium tag sale of Regency era and historical related items including books (fiction and nonfiction).
• The opportunity to dress in Regency attire although not required.
  
• Buffet dining with tea and real lemonade.

By Cynthia Eckersley, Tribute Grant 2023 Recipient

Here is Part 3 of our 2023 Tribute Grant Award Recipient, Cynthia Eckersley's account of her Denver AGM experience told in 3 parts:

It was a rocky road to the Gaylord Hotel in Aurora, Colorado  for the Jane Austen Society’s AGM.  After the plane landed on the tarmac, and the passengers debarked, I immediately bumped into a Portland couple-- friendly JASNA faces that recognized me and offered to share a cab.  A light in the darkness, a path forward, a friendly human connection.  As I fumbled with my luggage, it made a difference that my new friends offered to help. We journeyed to the hotel together and arrived all in one piece. 

The Gaylord Hotel loomed up out of the scrub grass and sandy soil as if a giant spaceship had landed and sprouted wings. According to the website, it had its own solar system of at least 7 restaurants.  What would be my home for the next 7 days consisted of a universe unto itself!

At the check-in counter, my voice trembled and tears sprung to my eyes when I shared that my husband wasn’t able to travel to the conference with me as we had planned. A few hours later, to my surprise, there was a knock on the door of my hotel room. A woman handed me a note with a basket of spa supplies as well as chocolates from the front desk!  What a generous and sweet gift to console my sadness! 

Already Jane Austen was working her magic! Never in all my travels had I been given anything by a front desk concierge in a hotel to boost my morale.  While JASNA “strives to ensure that all are welcome and feel valued in its meetings, events, and community spaces,” the hotel clerk went above and beyond to start off my JASNA AGM experience with a bountiful blessing.   

To accommodate the 800 JASNA attendees, we were scattered across several floors and hallways. My room was on the 9th floor of the East wing and had a clear view overlooking the front of the hotel.  It was soundproof and extremely clean. Apparently, the housekeeping service works until late into the night and was always available for any of my needs as they worked their way through the massive number of rooms. Outside, paths meandered around the hotel.  I explored them on my first day there. I had a lot of time on my hands as I had arrived on Wednesday and the conference officially started on Friday.

There was a pool inside and a pool outside, with a chute that carries inner tubes and swimmers across the desert. By Friday morning, I had acclimated to the area by swimming in the pool, walking to a grocery store (a 5 mile walk for the day) and trying out some of the food options at the hotel which included a marketplace self-service restaurant. The outdoor Jacuzzi was luxurious and the saltwater pool was heavenly.  While I couldn’t see the night stars, I mostly had the pool to myself. I floated around while staring into the night sky imagining that I was circling the planet. 

I looked forward to the plenary session as I anticipated that the AGM conference would be stimulating. The keynote lecturer, Claudia L. Johnson, a Murray Professor of English at Princeton University is “renowned for her works on Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft.” I listened attentively to her talk on “Austen Escape.”  It was detailed, a bit meandering, and food for thought regarding the idea that reading Austen’s novels provided an escape that legitimately served a purpose.  Not familiar with Wollstonecraft's works, I got the sense that Ms. Johnson was known for her feminism in writing and that she is a highly valued scholar. 

The 2nd plenary speaker on Saturday, Janet Todd (known for her work on women’s writing and feminism) was lovely and raised many issues regarding the “enduring fascination of Darcy’s famous home,” Pemberley.  In “To Dream of Pemberley,” she discussed the great estates that were used in creating a sense of escape in films depicting Austen’s writings. Her scholarly background was impressive, to say the least. 

There were many breakout sessions. Of course, I could not attend them all. However two of the breakout sessions I attended were on music.  The first (“Mary Bennet and the Rocky Road to Accomplishment”) was historical, and well thought out, but the acoustics were not working for part of her presentation which was a disappointment.  The second presentation titled “Pride and Prejudice and the Piano” had a different slant on Jane Austen’s music. The speaker never mentioned that most all of Austen’s music is available online through South Hampton University archives.  This was a little disturbing as the speaker is rewriting some of the music. However, it provided fodder for a lengthy conversation with another professor over brunch.   

Another breakout session I was “A Heart Full of Wonder: Pride and Prejudice” by Collins Hemingway since he lives in Oregon, and I was curious about him. It was stimulating, thoughtful, and well researched. Collins “examined the way Austen delves deeply, for the first time, into the heart and mind of a heroine.” Afterward, he explained his love for Austen and literature.

A highlight was the first timer's session where I met a young woman from Manhattan.  We were both alone and finding our way.  She, an old soul, had just graduated from college after writing a thesis on Jane Austen.  I, a young soul, had retired from social work and was able to reach out.  We met somewhere in the middle.  The bouncing ball seemed to evade us, so we were able to dodge the questions while laughing at whoever caught the ball as they stumbled to search for an answer.  Whew! I was so glad that I didn’t have to be put on the spot regarding my knowledge of Austen, as I was still forging a path through her novels. 

By the way, if I had to pick the best of Austen’s beaus, fictional or otherwise, I would have said Mr. Darcy like most of the ladies present at the AGM. Tom Lefroy might have been familiar with the laws of Gretna Green, but he wasn’t able to marry Jane and might not have been such a great catch anyway.  Most of the lawyers I had dated worked long hours, were self-obsessed, and ended up divorced.  By contrast, my Mr. Darcy was home recuperating.

My new friend accompanied me to the banquet and the ball. We had a lovely evening, as she joined our Portland group at the banquet table. It was the highlight of my evening, as I traipsed and curtsied across the stage in my red Regency gown during the promenade on a full stomach of roast beef, potatoes and vegetables topped off with a chocolate cake brownie dessert.   

Afterwards, we skipped most of the ball to attend the play, Being Mr. Wickham which was phenomenal! 

Another ticketed performance was  the premiere of “The Jane Austen Playlist: Pride and Prejudice” by Syrie James. JASNA scholars, Devoney Looser, James Nagle, and Janet Todd were just three of the brave souls who blitzed through “Jane Austen in 48 Minutes: 6 Rocky Romances”.  The stage lit up with their laughter and literacy. The play presented Jane’s novels in 8 minutes each, funny and brilliantly acted out by them. We all applauded and were charmed by the wit and satirical comments of these scholarly actors.

I attended the Sunday morning book signing and had an inspiring conversation with Devoney Looser about her book, Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters, Who Paved the Way For Austen and the Brontes. I had read her book for my region’s bi-monthly meeting and was delighted to talk to her.
 
The Sunday Plenary session and brunch ended my JASNA AGM adventure. “Solving the Male Mystery:  The Bennet Sisters as Detective Heroines” by Francine Mathews was enthralling!  While I had not read her mystery series, I now had a new goal of reading them all when I returned to Oregon. 

I also have another possible venue to pursue: Chawton House and the Residency grant given my interest in music and the newly discovered music notebook containing Jane Austen’s music with her signature titled, Select Collection of Choice Music for the Harpsichord or Piano Forte by Domenico Corri (1790).

Oh, so many things to explore! So little time! I said good-bye to my newfound friends, with promises to text, a head full of Austen and a heart full of love.

What a very special experience attending the AGM as a Tribute Grant Award Recipient! Thank you so much to the Oregon-SW Washington Region! I had a wonderful time at the 2023 JASNA Denver AGM! Everyone was welcoming! When I returned home, I expressed my appreciation in my thank you notes to the honorees, Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel. I also co-presented at our March regional meeting on Jane Austen at Home: A Biography by Lucy Worsley.

By Cynthia Eckersley, Tribute Grant 2023 Recipient

Here is Part 2 of our 2023 Tribute Grant Award Recipient, Cynthia Eckersley's account of her  Denver AGM experience told in 3 parts:

My rocky road to the Denver JASNA AGM was paved with good intentions.  My husband offered to go with me to the JASNA 2023 AGM to support me in my adventure.  We looked at the conference website, navigated through registration, and in June registered for a member and companion attendance.

The many options for extra activities along with multiple workshops were dazzling.  The possibilities included side trips to the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak, and the Denver Art Museum. Workshops included Dancing English Country style or more sedate activities such as embroidery and bonnet making.  While the numerous  side trips seemed exciting, they all came with a price tag.  Given that my husband and I had just spent almost $4,000.00 to travel in Quebec Provence for two weeks while practicing our French, I was reluctant to pay for extra events.  We planned to rent a car instead of paying $350.00 to ride in a van with others. My husband also had a friend in Rocky Ford whom he wanted to see. Since there was no shuttle to the hotel, renting a car made sense. 

We knew the weather could be dicey at that time of year (November) but given the El Nino predictions for winter, we thought we would take the chance. To economize, we would look on U-Tube for dancing lessons, or perhaps take advantage of a local dance troupe to learn ballroom steps. We had plenty of time to prepare as November seemed like a long way off from June.

On to the dress for the ball.  What did those Regency gals wear?  After studying 18th century clothing [https://fashion-era.com/fashion-history/regency/regency-fashion] and watching several versions of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma I felt certain of what a Regency era dress looked like, but a ball gown?  Could I make one?  This was a little ambitious and perhaps out of my league as a sewer.  I ordered a Regency era dress pattern from a historical sewing website I had used in the past [https://historicalsewing.com]. A Laughing Moon pattern for a Regency gown seemed doable with several versions. I cut out my first attempt from a sheet of Egyptian cotton that was off white, with a small pattern of lines running through it.  It looked authentic. If I messed up, there would not be a huge cost involved. I used a king sized sheet to cut out the pattern. The advantage of using a king size sheet to cut out a pattern is that it is wide enough for multiple pieces to easily fit.  My husband, trying to be helpful, bought me a Serger sewing machine with air threading for easier sewing. 

Summer lumbered on.  The sewing project seemed daunting, but I had plenty of time. I procrastinated sewing my gown and instead distracted myself by gardening and all the activities that summer gardening entailed (canning making applesauce, pruning flowers and picking tomatoes) as well as trying to stay in shape by walking, swimming and exercising.

Meanwhile, I looked at the many breakout and special sessions for the AGM. The many scholarly talks that were available ranged from a myriad of topics including marriage in Gretna Green, Music of the Mary Bennet variety, Divorce in the age of Austen, and so forth.  How could one possibly choose?  They all sounded fascinating.  Recognizing a few names from the books I had read, I tried to narrow down my choices.  Although the 2023 JASNA offered many workshops, sewing a Regency gown was not one of them.  Also, I was disappointed that my husband was not eligible to attend any of the plenary sessions or workshops until the final morning.  It confused both of us and was hard to believe since the companion fare was almost as much as the member fee. I emailed the director for clarification. As we processed the information together, my husband's frustration mounted.  Mr. Darcy wasn’t too excited about dancing, as his hip pain made it difficult to navigate.  His commitment to supporting me wavered with the realization that he was not going to be able to attend anything the entire weekend until Sunday!  This truth was acknowledged, but it didn’t set well. 

Also, my dress project was lagging. By October (a month before the AGM), I realized that I would need to either go to the ball in my nightgown or find something else to wear.  I looked on Ebay and Amazon for a dress, but the cheesy polyester fabric of most of the gowns did not excite me as they were not historically accurate.  Polyester and zippers did not exist during the Regency era.  However, I took a chance on a Regency era red gown with gold trim that looked authentic and bid $60.00 on a handmade gown on Ebay. It matched a pair of velvet gloves with gold embellishment that a friend had given me for Christmas, and a shawl I had made from cutting up a velvet dress I no longer wore.  My gold boots would work for shoes, as they were quite flexible and perfect for dancing. The dress came in the mail within a few days. After trying it on it needed to be altered.  A typical Regency gown has ribbon trim on the bodice, which I could easily add.  A trip to Josephine’s Dry Goods a few blocks from my house produced a beautiful antique trim to add to the bodice. The alterations required taking apart the inner seems to remove a dart, as well as hemming the entire dress by hand so that I wouldn’t trip when promenading, but all of this could be done easily.  My ensemble was complete.  

Meanwhile, My Mr. Darcy, was having more hip pain and his cough was worse, no matter how much cough syrup he drank. Thus, he was not feeling well, requiring a trip to the doctor where my husband made known that his pain was unbearable two days before we were supposed to leave!  He informed me that he couldn’t possibly board an airplane or stay in a hotel for a week. Therefore, he would not be making the trip which shattered my self-confidence.

We had purchased trip insurance, but try as he might he could not get the rental car transferred to me, and the conference fee was non-refundable at such a late date.  Our airfare had also been purchased months in advance with no flex option.  It was too late to get a roommate, and purchasing tickets to any of the extra events was now out of the question.  My Mr. Darcy wasn’t coming to the ball, and a meltdown ensued with tears, words of anguish, and lots and lots of Kleenex.  Nothing I said could change his mind.  It was either go alone, or stay home and be miserable. But I had committed to going to Denver and my region expected me to show up. They had faith in me.  I had won the Tribute Grant and they elected me as Secretary. Although I was crushed and heartbroken that my husband couldn’t travel with me, I asked myself, what would Jane Austen have done? 

The Austen family were frugal.  It seems that they had little extra money.  They sewed and planted and entertained themselves with music, literature, art and family games.  Jane rarely went on dates and spent her entire life as a single woman.  She had few opportunities to travel outside of her small social circle, and rarely alone.  Perhaps she hired a carriage to go to London once she was a published author, but for most of her life she depended on family escorts to take her places. 

I resolved to be like Jane. I had an incredible opportunity that I could not refuse. My husband drove me to the airport in silence. We parted with a hug and a kiss on the cheek with unspoken words laying like boulders between us.  No words could express what I felt in my heart, that giant disappointment of feeling let down when I needed him most.  The celebratory atmosphere of winning the Tribute Grant had been extinguished and while I understood that his pain made it physically difficult for him to travel, my own emotional pain and stress was off the charts. 

I checked my luggage at the curb and walked into PDX airport with its iconic carpet, alone but determined to enjoy the JASNA Denver AGM. 

By Cynthia Eckersley, Tribute Grant 2023 Recipient

Here is Part 1 of our 2023 Tribute Grant Award Recipient, Cynthia Eckersley's account of her JASNA Denver AGM experience told in 3 parts:

While a truth may be universally acknowledged, it is always better understood when in the company of clever, well-informed friends who have a great deal of conversation to be shared.   

The truth is that Jane Austen has captivated many readers of all ages with her wit, charm, and determination in describing and dismantling the social mores of the 18th Century.   

My journey to the Jane Austen Society and the culmination of a trip to its AGM (Association General Meeting) in Denver, Colorado, began during Covid-19 in 2021. 

Living in isolation, withdrawn from society and wondering what to do for social and intellectual stimulation, I picked up an annotated version of Mansfield Park to read. In addition, looking for some fun music to entertain myself, I ordered a book of music to play at the piano--the music of Pride and Prejudice along with several pieces from Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. 

Suddenly it occurred to me that I was living a life very similar to the author, Jane Austen though in the 21st century.  My research on the World Wide Web took me to the U.K. website for Chawton House, the museum and foundation for Jane Austen fans from around the world.  I discovered that there was an American organization that had local regions which one could join for only $40.00 per year (or less if one chose the digital only option).  The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) published an annual publication, held meetings and could be my answer to social isolation during Covid.  It seemed like a bargain to me, and worth trying.  I signed up and looked forward to my first JASNA meeting virtually on Zoom with my new local region. 

I was soon cavorting with other people from the Northwest region (Northern Oregon and SW Washington) over zoom. Eventually, I met many of them face to face while re-enacting the historical Battle of Prague performance at our region’s Spring Tea in Vancouver, Washington. 

Meeting topics ranged from “Dueling During the Regency Period” to “Theatricals in Jane Austen’s family,” as well as the book, Sister Novelists by Devoney Looser in which we discussed such topics as women in poverty and men in debtors prison which affected women’s lives.  Jane Austen’s writings apparently only earned 600 pounds in her lifetime, an astonishing fact given how widely known she is today.   

The JASNA Oregon-SW Washington Region announced a Tribute Grant for $1500.00 to attend the AGM (Annual General Meeting) in Denver, Colorado for fall 2023. Being the procrastinator that I am and having social anxiety from three years of Covid isolation, I did not give attending the conference much thought.  There were many reasons why it did not excite me, foremost being that I am an introvert.  Attending the AGM would require flying on an airplane and I would need a ball gown for a banquet and a Regency themed ball afterward.  I wouldn’t know anyone, and there would be no way to return home early if I didn’t like it. I prefer an exit strategy for social events, just in case there are problems. Here, I wouldn't have an exit strategy.   

Also, hotels are often lonely and expensive, as everything seems to be these days.  Even with the Tribute Grant, if I should win, my estimate of the cost of the trip exceeded my travel budget, as my spouse and I had already gone to Quebec in the Spring for a two week stay. All said, there were many reasons why staying home seemed like a good idea. 

Two days before the deadline, the application appeared to be a long shot.  I would need to answer 5 questions in essay form. I looked over the email and determined it wouldn’t hurt to try. 

However, my desktop computer had aged out long ago (2005) and wouldn’t turn on when I tried to power it up!  
My laptop was in the shop, due to functional issues that we couldn’t resolve. This meant going to the library to use a computer, but what the heck?  I drove to the library, signed up for a computer, and proceeded to answer the questions.  Two hours later, the computer started blinking... “You have 3 minutes. You have 3 minutes...please download your materials onto an external device, you have 2 minutes”.  I panicked because I didn’t have a USB file, my cell phone was dead, and getting into my Gmail account to mail off the application required a 2-part authentication. 

Technology was requiring more from me than I had anticipated.  Remembering that I had a 2nd email account through Portland Community College (which I seemed to be able to access without requiring the blood of my first-born child), I quickly attached my application and sent off an email to the committee address. 

Whew!! 

Then came the waiting.  Sitting on our davenport, reading Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, I checked my email daily for a response, expecting to get a denial any day.  It was nerve wracking, but the anticipation of a response was a mixed bag.  If I won, I would be committed to going to Denver.  If I didn’t win, then I was sure someone more deserving would be able to travel to the AGM and I could stay home in the comfort of my living room and the companionship of my spouse. 

Finally, the dreaded email arrived.  I had won the grant, after all! 

My husband had previously read my application and had no doubt that I would win, but my self-confidence in my writing was shaky.  The Oregon-SW Washington JASNA committee were very supportive and reassured me that I was the winner. 

My journey to Denver began with a successful application for the Tribute grant.  This grant was dedicated to a couple, Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel, who had selflessly contributed to the local region and were well known within JASNA circles. 

Truly grateful, I was introduced as the winner at the 2023 Spring Tea, affirming that my efforts were appreciated and acknowledged.  The AGM theme of Pride and Prejudice: A Rocky Romance seemed appropriate given the Denver setting next to the Rocky Mountains. 

 I was going to need to start sewing or looking for a dress.  What did those Regency gals wear anyway?

A Book Presentation of
Jane Austen and the State of the Nation by Sheryl Craig
Presentation Leader: Ellen Gentry
by Vonnie Alto, Regional Coordinator & Karen Kinzey, Secretary

Our region gathered at the beautiful Camus home of Ellen Gentry who served as both hostess and program leader for an insightful presentation of Sheryl Craig's Jane Austen and the State of the Nation.

Ellen noted that Austen's novels are not "mere escapist love stories" but rather address the pressing political and economic issues and conditions of Austen's lifetime, including widespread poverty and unprecedented national debt.

Austen used her novels to encourage people not to panic. As an example, this was shown in Emma with Miss Bates as the beneficiary of others' generosity.

Austen was very intentional about her settings and characters. We discussed the critical importance of locales in each of the novels which reflect the diversity of responses to the needs of the poor including the political messages that are reflected in many of Austen's characters, such as Fanny Dashwood, Lady Russell, Lady Catherine, Phillip Elton, Catherine Morland and Sir Thomas. 

The book noted 4 categories;  Moderate Whigs, Radical Whigs, Tories and Radical Tories.

Moderate Whigs were people like Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingham, who were not opposed to paying their taxes as land owners, much of which went to the support of poor houses and other benefits. 

Radical Whigs were represented in Austen's novels by John and Fanny Dashwood, Willoughby, Lady Catherine, Henry and Maria Crawford, Mr. Elton, Mr. Rushworth, and Mrs. Norris. These stand-ins for the Radical Whigs do not concern themselves with needs of the general population. 

The Tories resemble the Liberal people in today's politics. Lady Russell in Persuasion is a Moderate Tory.

Radical Tories were represented in Parliament by Prime Minister William Pitt the younger, and Jane's sentiments seem to be in that group. Radical Tories advocated help for the poor, including welfare benefits, support for the poor houses and no enclosures of common land. Radical Tories would be represented by Mr, Knightly in Emma and Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility who helped women who were not of moral rectitude. It could be also argued that Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice was also a Radical Tory.

Austen, herself, was a Radical Tory also termed a Liberal Tory.

Ellen distributed handouts of her synopsis and an outline of the book for us to follow along as she talked. Midway through her presentation, Ellen turned on her luxurious surround sound system when she showed a video clip from the 1995 version of  Sense and Sensibility which illustrates the ideology of the rich and the disparity between the rich and the poor in Austen's time. Here, Austen compared John and Fanny Dashwood's conversation to the Whigs in the House of Commons arguing against doing anything to help the poor.

We discussed each of Austen's novels as Ellen presented them, reflecting on memorable passages in the book which include the Poor Laws, enclosures, the life and times of the deserving poor, the indigent who resorted to theft, and the turncoats who switched back and forth between party allegiance.

Thank you, Ellen for an insightful presentation on Jane Austen and the State of the Nation! 

Closing matinee for Pride and Prejudice with the cast and crew at the Mask and Mirror Theater!

At the evening performance of Kate Hamill's Pride and Prejudice, directed by our JASNA member, Kathleen Bean Jones with Hair/Makeup by Ania brown. JASNA cast member pictured is Jeremy January as Mr. Darcy (blue vest). Thank you to our other JASNA member, Ivan Brink for the photos!

Here's our JASNA members (production staff/cast) of Kate Hamill's Pride and Prejudice play at the Mask and Mirror Theater in Tigard, Oregon (left to right: Jeremy January as  Darcy, David Jones as Stage Manager, Kathleen Jones as Stage Director, Ania Brown for Hair/Make up, and Annie Jones as Assistant Stage Manager).  

Matinee showing with our JASNA Member/Stage Director, Kathleen Bean Jones and three ensemble cast mates who also served as charming door greeters. 

The play runs from ​Feb 28 – Mar 16 2025, Fri/Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm.

Location: Mask & Mirror Community Theatre, at Rise Church 10445 SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard, OR 97224 (formerly Calvin Presbyterian Church).

Here's our JASNA Members attending the matinee showing of Kate Hamill's adaptation of Pride And Prejudice, directed by our JASNA member, Kathleen Bean Jones at the Mask & Mirror Theatre.

Picture left to right: Elaine Johnson, Vonnie Alto (Regional Coordinator), Cynthia Eckersley, and Kathleen Bean Jones.      

The play runs from ​Feb 28 – Mar 16 2025, Fri/Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm.

Location: Mask & Mirror Community Theatre, at Rise Church 10445 SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard, OR 97224 (formerly Calvin Presbyterian Church).