Guest presenters Nancy Gallagher (director/narrator) and Janet Johnson (piano) visited our region on Sunday, May 21st for a fun, action-filled, interactive audience performance of The Battle of Prague. Hosted by longtime members Nan Williams and her husband David at the beautiful Fairway Village Club House in Washington State. There we held our Spring Tea buffet and emporium of finely curated Jane Austen books and memorabilia of the Regency era. Filmed by another longtime JASNA member, Nelson Bridwell utilizing the iphone of our Regional Coordinator, Linda Olson.
0 Comments
Spring Tea 2023
Guest Presenters: Nancy Gallagher and Janet Johnson Topic: The Battle of Prague (an interactive audience performance concert) By Vonnie Alto, Secretary On May 21st, our region finally held our first in-person meeting since the pandemic. Longtime member, Marna Tisdel coordinated our Spring Tea. Once again, we gathered at the beautiful Fairway Village Club House in Washington State hosted by residents and longtime members Nan Williams and her husband David. Regional Coordinator, Linda Olson decorated our tables with floral straw hats which we donated to the Hillsboro Art Regional Theater (HART). We lunched on cucumber and egg sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit, and a variety of culinary sweets, with tea and lemonade. Our annual fundraiser provided an emporium of Jane Austen books and merchandise with proceeds towards our general fund. Regional philanthropists who donated to our emporium include current members (Linda Olson, Margaret Christmann, Johann Graham, Frank McClanahan & Mary Margaret Benson).and late Janeites: Mary Camman and Deborah (Debbie) Eley. Amid our festivities, Tribute Grant creator and former Regional Coordinator, Kim Higgins and Secretary, Vonnie Alto announced our 2023 Tribute Grant recipient, Cynthia Eckersley. Each year we award a grant of 1,500 to a member who has never attended the AGM before for registration, classes, hotel room, and airline flight. Cynthia is a new member and a retired social worker whose winning entry reminded us of our love for Jane Austen and all things British. Her favorite novel is Pride and Prejudice. Cynthia hopes to learn more about Jane Austen while sharing in celebrating her at the AGM. We also announced our Tribute Grand honorees: Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel (in absentia) for their devotion to Jane Austen and nearly 20 years of service to our region. Congratulations! A JASNA grant made it possible for Nancy Gallagher (California Southwest Region) and Janet Johnson (Wisconsin Region) to lead us in recreating an interactive audience performance of The Battle of Prague, regularly performed for entertainment by Jane Austen and her family. It's based on the 1757 Battle of Prague in which the Kingdom of Prussia battled the Habsburg Monarchy. Nancy discussed the history of the actual battle, the connection to the Austen family, and provided biographical information about the composer, Frantisek Kotzwara (1730 - 1791) and the sonata piece (first published in 1788) which was popular in both Great Britain and America during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Janet accompanied the narration and mock battle by playing the famous piece on the piano (which is part of Jane Austen’s personal music collection) while Nancy called out performance directives for a fun action-filled audience participatory concert. Our members battled each other with 10 types of simulated equipment: We waved red flags and purple ones to signal the arrival of the Prussian and Austrian troops, dueled each other with toy swords in the two corresponding colors, popped balloons for cannons, blew toy bugles ad trumpets, shot flying rubber pellets with Nerf guns, rode blown-up horses into battle, clapped coconut shells for horse’s hooves, wore pieces of sheets stained with dye for the wounded or waived them to signal help, waved flags again for the arrival of more troops, and then rang bells to conclude the end as we all sang “God Save the King.” A jovial time was had by all as we recreated the famous battle. Nelson Bridwell filmed it for Youtube and Vonnie Alto photographed it taking over 145 photos of our event. Thank you Nancy Gallagher and Janet Johnson for leading us in this fun and stirring interactive audience performance concert of The Battle of Prague! Note: There's 146 photos uploaded from the Spring Tea so please scroll through them slowly to see them all. Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel
Regional Member Profile By Vonnie Alto, Secretary Our JASNA Oregon & SW Washington Region is thrilled that our members, Bill Boyd and Marna Tisdel are our 2023 Tribute Grant Honorees! William (Bill) Boyd is a retired construction litigation attorney for the state of Oregon Construction Contractor's Board and a former civil engineer for the City of Portland. Bill a devoted and enthusiastic Janeite. He discovered Jane Austen after viewing the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility. He has been a JASNA member of our region for nearly 20 years and faithfully attended AGM's. Bill served as Regional Coordinator from 2009-2011 and Chair of Information/Registration when our region hosted the AMG in Portland in 2010. Bill hosted and led discussion group meetings and co-presented at discussion group meetings. With other regional members, Bill co-led discussion group meetings on "Jane Austen's Letters: A Contest of Wit and Satire," "Liberal or Conservative Jane," “A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz,” (a favorite book of Bill’s written by a male Janeite), “What Happened in 1817: The Year Jane Austen Died," and "What Happened in 1803 and in Jane Austen's Life." Bill has such a wealth of Jane Austen knowledge and trivia that he could always be depended upon to provide enlightening comments and insights at our meetings. Bill also gave several PowerPoint presentations on Jane Austen to Multnomah County Library and its branches. Bill was always on the hunt for his beloved Jane Austen in his numerous travels to England, Europe and across the U.S. including his many Volkswalks. On his Volkswalks, he found Jane at Harvard and MIT campuses. Together with his wife, Marna Tisdel, they visited libraries/bookstores to see Jane Austen editions and photograph them. They visited Jane Austen sites in England at Chawton, Bath, Lyme, and Winchester. They even attended a Jane Austen Festival at Chatsworth where Netherfield was filmed for Pride and Prejudice. In his spare time, Bill is researching and writing a Jane Austen time travel novel. Marna Tisdel is a retired middle school teacher for the Community Transitional School (for at risk children of homeless families) where she worked for 20 years. She is also a former catalog librarian at Fort Vancouver Library. Marna is an avid Janeite and a patron of Jane Austen in the arts. She has always known about Jane Austen from reading her in high school and college, then becoming more interested in her through her husband, Bill Boyd. Marna has been a JASNA member of our region for nearly 20 years and attended AGM's as a companion with her husband, Bill. Marna supports our region in a myriad of ways. She unofficially assisted Bill when he served as Regional Coordinator from 2009-2011 and Chair of Information/Registration when our region hosted the AGM in Portland in 2010. Marna is exceedingly helpful and gracious and faithfully attends our regional meetings and actively participates in discussions providing insightful comments. Marna can always be counted on to help our region flourish. Together with Bill, she hosted numerous discussion group meetings at their home. As patrons of Jane, Marna and Bill donated paid tickets to our region for attendance to Jane Austen plays and provides carpooling to regional meetings and events. Marna also provided scheduling information for group attendance at events such as Sense and Sensibility at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. In 2023, Marna, researched possible venues for our Battle of Prague performance and coordinated the event. A Jane Austen fan, Marna traveled with Bill to England and Europe and across the U.S. including their many Volkswalks looking for Jane. They visited libraries/bookstores to see Jane Austen editions and photographed them. They visited Jane Austen sites in England at Chawton, Bath, Lyme, and Winchester. They even attended a Jane Austen Festival at Chatsworth where Netherfield was filmed for Pride and Prejudice. For more Jane, they rented a car and did their own tour of the Southampton sites that author, Stephanie Barron wrote about in her Jane Austen Mystery Series. On Marna's continued travels in the U.S. and abroad, she looks for Jane Austen wherever she goes. To honor Bill and Marna, we photographed them at their new home in the library at Russellville Park. Congratulations Bill and Marna! We appreciate your many years of devotion to our Oregon/SW Washington Region! Spring Tea 2022
Speaker: Elizabeth Raisanen Topic:Mary Russell Mitford and Jane Austen: “Nearly Neighbors: Mary Russell Mitford and Jane Austen Through The Lens of the Digital Humanities Project.” Hosted via Zoom by Marcia Hamley (Former Co-Region Coordinator) By Vonnie Alto, Secretary We held our annual Spring Tea on May 1st, 2020 via zoom. Marcia Hamley introduced our speaker and moderated the event. Our guest of honor was Elizabeth Raisanen, Ph.D, who is an Assistant Dean and instructor of literature and undergraduate research in the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon where she is a specialist in women writers of the British Romantic era with research interests in eighteenth and nineteenth-century British literature, Romantic drama, and Digital Humanities. Digital Humanities applies computational methods and practices to the study of literature and the arts. It allows us to see connections and to ask questions about those materials that we might not know to ask without digitalization. Raisanen is a founding editor of The Digital Mitford <https://digitalmitford.org/> which originated in April 2013 at the British Women’s Writer’s Conference. Digital Mitford is a free comprehensive online scholarly archive of the works of Mary Russell Mitford who was a contemporary of Jane Austen. The Digital Mitford is a master site index of people, places, and things that populated Mitford’s world. . Raisanen edits Mitford’s writings and codes her texts. She teaches how to transcribe, code, and conduct research on Mitford’s writings. Raisanen is also the drama section editor for the project. Raisanen presented on “Nearly Neighbors: Mary Russell Mitford and Jane Austen Through The Lens of the Digital Humanities Project.” Like Jane Austen, Mitford shared the same birthday but was 12 years her junior. Although they were nearly neighbors as they shared a geographical proximity to each other, they never met or corresponded despite Mitford’s admiration of Jane. Mitford defies categorization as she was a prolific writer of both the Romantic and Victorian eras--a novelist, poet, dramatist, a prose stylist of pastoral idylls, writer of short domestic fiction, a diarist, and an epistoler of over 2,000 letters (much of it which hasn’t yet been edited). Although forgotten due to her fragmented literary identity, Mitford was a literary celebrity known in her time for Our Village based upon her life in Three Mile Cross in Berkshire where readers from all over the world visited to find its many locations. We also received a crash course on XML coding with examples of XML tags as it relates to Mitford’s life to see how text becomes searchable. We learned that the British Romantic period is the start of computer coding and that it takes a digital village to bring women writers out of obscurity. Thank you, Elizabeth Raisanen for showing us Mary Russell Mitford's life and introducing us to the Digital Mitford! Music In Jane Austen’s World Discussion Leader: Elaine Blatt Moderator: Stephanie Fleming By Vonnie Alto, Secretary ![]()
![]()
Our Maestro for the afternoon was Elaine Blatt who led our meeting. Elaine is a longtime member of our region, and of JASNA, and a lifelong Jane Austen fan and enthusiast since the age of 12. Elaine studied violin since age 8 and currently plays in two community orchestras in the Portland area. She also studied piano as a child. Elaine discoursed on the context of music created in Jane Austen’s time accompanied by informative and sumptuous slides of the period. Co-presenter, Stephanie Fleming moderated the event as the Master of Ceremonies. She provided the accompanying music with links to ten music samples that illustrate the music that Jane Austen would have played and heard during her life—with a focus on the piano as that was Jane’s instrument plus a history of Jane as a concert goer and her family’s involvement in music. Below are the musical links to follow along with the presentation. Introduction:
Music in Jane Austen’s Books/Movie Adaptations.
Musical Overview:
Music in Jane Austen’s Books.
The Rise of the Piano.
Jane Austen’s Musical Background.
The Austen Family Music Collection.
Performance in Regency England.
Thank you, Elaine Blatt for volunteering your musical expertise to give us a thorough and captivating look at music during Jane Austen’s time and in her writings! And thank you, Stephanie Fleming for serving as Master of Ceremonies and moderating and playing the music for us! Your collaboration is most appreciated! Seemingly, this was one of the most unique and technologically innovative reading group discussions we’ve had in the history of our region! Spring Tea 2021
Speaker: Audrey Bilger Topic:Jane Austen and Feminist Humor Hosted via Zoom by Marcia Hamley (Co-Region Coordinator) By Vonnie Alto, Secretary Our region held its annual Spring Tea via a virtual zoom meeting on Sunday, May 25th, 2021. Fifty three of us attended. We opened our virtual tea with an online chat of where members live which included visitors from California; the East Coast of Boston and Portland, Maine; and as far away as Dublin, Ireland; Geneva Switzerland, and Germany. We played “Jane Austen Categories,” a lively version that our own Marcia Hamley invented based on the online game “Scattagories.” Our group separated into 5 teams of two rounds. In Round 1, we named characters from Jane Austen’s novels starting with the letters of JASNA or rather JASNE (2nd letter “a” replaced with an “e.). No titles, only characters in Jane Austen’s works, and preferably full names that we used only once. If we couldn’t confirm the name in a Jane Austen book, we relied on the group wisdom. Some of the character names we discussed were: Jane Fairfax, Anne Elliot, and Susan Price. In Round 2, we named locations in Jane Austen’s novels and life. After we returned to our main group, the game prompted attenders to recommend Jane Austen books about place names:
Our Region Co-Coordinator, Marcia Hamley then introduced our presenter, Audrey Bilger. Audrey has a PhD. in English with a focus on Feminist theory, LGBTQ, gender theory, and popular culture. Since 2019, she served as the Reed College President and interestingly the first woman President of Reed College. Audrey spoke about “Jane Austen and Feminist Humor,” the subject of her book, Laughing Feminism: Subversive Comedy in Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, and Jane Austen. Audrey used many colorful and descriptive slides with quotes from Jane Austen’s books to illustrate Enlightenment, rationalism, feminist humor, and what life was like for Jane Austen and women in her time. She places Austen as falling within (and perfecting) the tradition of Enlightenment feminist humor, which began in England as writers responded in print to the misogyny and sexism in numerous satires against women from the last half of the 17th and the first half of the 18th centuries. Audrey noted that satire ridicules in order to reform the shortcomings of society. Feminist humor took a satirical aim at notions of men’s supposed superiority to women and portrayals of women as infantile and frivolous creatures, and promoted instead the Enlightenment feminist ideal of women and men as equals. Bilger pointed out that Austen’s sharpest social criticism (and satire) was frequently aimed a limitations placed on women such as idealized views of women, women who behave irrationally due to poor education, men who think they’re superior to women, and sentimentality.. Important Take-aways From Audrey Bilger’s Presentation:
5. Question/Answer (What Our Group Said).
Thank you, Audrey Bilger for an enlightening examination of Jane Austen’s life, her books, Enlightenment feminist humor, and what life was like for women who lived during the 17th and 18th centuries! The Clergy in Jane Austen’s Novels
Reading Group Discussion Discussion Leader: Margaret Christmann By Vonnie Alto, Secretary In January, our Region Co-Coordinator, Margaret Christmann virtually led our reading group discussion via zoom on “The Clergy in Jane Austen’s Novels.” Margaret’s fascinating presentation discussed Jane Austen’s family background with the church, the education that the clergy received, and the types of livings available. We also discussed the various clerical characters in the novels from the ridiculous Mr. Collins to the thoughtful Henry Tilney. The Anglican Clergy. Jane Austen’s Relationship to The Anglican Clergy.
The Anglican Clergy.
History of the Church.
Requirements for clergy in Jane Austen’s time.
Three Classes of Clergy:
More About The Clergy:
What Did Clergymen Do?
The Clergyman’s Wife.
The Austen Family. George Austen.
Is there a limit to a number or living rectors that a clergy man could hold? No, although excessive numbers were looked down upon. The Clergy in Jane Austen’s Novels. (How involved the clergymen are in the novels): Sense And Sensibility: Edward Ferrars
Note:
Pride And Prejudice:
Persuasion:
Note:
Northanger Abbey: 1st book written when Jane Austen was very young at the age of 18.
How was Henry Tilney as a clergyman? Did he do his job?
Note:
Henry Tilney:
Catherine:
Member comments:
What was Mr. Collins like in college?
The Anti-Clergymen of Jane Austen’s Novels (Examples of people who should never be clergymen):
Mr. Elton in Emma:
Note:
Mansfield Park: Three Clergymen in Mansfield Park:
The Clergy Wives.
More on the Clergy in Mansfield Park:
Happy the lab’rer in his Sunday clothes! In light-drab coat, smart waistcoat, well-darn'd hose, And hat upon his head, to church he goes; As oft with conscious pride, he downward throws A glance upon the ample cabbage rose Which, stuck in button-hole, regales his nose, He envies not the gaiest London beaux. In church he takes his seat among the rows, Pays to the place the reverence he owes, LIKES BEST THE PRAYERS WHOSE MEANING LEAST HE KNOWS. Lists to the sermon in a softening doze.
Slavery:
William Wilberforce (1757-1833) was a Member of Parliament who advocated for abolition of slavery. He lived during Jane Austen’s lifetime. Recommendations for Further Reading:
For more information on the subject:
Thank you, Margaret Christmann, for presenting a detailed and thorough study on the clergymen in Jane Austen’s time, her family, and novels. So very insightful! Due to the generous support of donors across the globe, the Jane Austen House has survived the COVID-19 pandemic and REOPENED on August 8th, 2020!
According to the website, visiting there will be "a different experience" and "a far more intimate one." The number of visitors are now limited each day and to timed hourly visits with face coverings required. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane Austen with a new multi-sensory experience. Those visiting the Jane Austen House will step back in time to 1816 and experience the Austen family's daily life--including a leisurely family breakfast and Jane's early morning piano practice. New exhibits are also displayed, including a newly dressed Historic Kitchen. There's now audio throughout the house in which visitors listen to recordings from Jane's novels, her letters, and the recipes from Martha Lloyd's Household Book. All tickets for general admission must be booked in advance. Now, for the very first time, exclusive access is also offered with a special group ticket for up to 15 people for one hour of private viewing which must also be pre-booked. For more information, please visit the Jane Austen House website: janeaustens.house/reopening/ Cash prizes and adulation await the top three original shorts of five minutes or less centered around Jane Austen. The contest is open to all amateur filmmakers in North America under the age of 30. Submissions from Jane Austen enthusiasts in high school, college, and graduate school are especially welcome. The deadline for entries is October 30, 2020. https://jasnasw.com/young-filmmakers-contest/ This year’s panel of judges for the JASNA Southwest Region's Young Filmmakers Contest is stupendous! Entrants will receive comments and commendations from the likes of:
The Jane Austen Centre is a for-profit business (not a charity), but it does provide a wonderful Jane Austen experience to visitors in Bath, England. While JASNA doesn't sponsor the Jane Austen Centre, we share this information for anyone who may be interested:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/jane-austen-centre-fundraiser |
JASNA ORSWWAWelcome to the web site of the Oregon & SW Washington Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). We are a friendly and active group dedicated to the appreciation of Jane Austen's life and works. Categories
All
Archives
May 2023
|