Since 2001 the Humanities Council has presented the annual Little Lecture Series at their historic MacFarland-Hubbard House headquarters in Charleston. Over the years more than 60 Little Lectures by outstanding scholars and speakers on a variety of topics have been presented to interested audiences. The series has continued that long tradition in 2016 with talks by West Virginia author Glenn Taylor, Charleston Gazette-Mail reporter Ken Ward Jr., and Jill Malusky from Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in Kentucky. The final 2016 Little Lecture is “Folklore and Folklorists” presented by Dr. Judy Byers, founding director of the West Virginia Folklife Center and Professor of English and Folklore Studies, Emerita, at Fairmont State University. The program begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, in the MacFarland-Hubbard House, located at 1310 Kanawha Boulevard, East, in Charleston. Byers is an educator, folklorist, and storyteller affiliated with the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Teaching Project, the Appalachian Studies Association, and the Assembly on the Literature and Culture of Appalachia for the National Council of Teachers of English. A Fairmont native, she received her B.A. in English and social studies education from Fairmont State College (now University) and her M.A. and Ed.D in English and pedagogy with emphases on folklore and creative dramatics from West Virginia University. Byers was named West Virginia Professor of the Year for 2002-2003 and West Virginia Teacher of the Year in 1977. Admission to the June 12 Little Lecture is $10 and includes a reception after the program. Seating is limited, and those interested in attending should confirm that seats are available by calling the Humanities Council at 304-346-8500 no later than noon on Friday, June 10. For more information visit www.wvhumanities.org, or contact program officer Mark Payne at payne@wvhumanities.org.
