Alma's Armenian Legionnaire Traveling Exhibit Visits the Racine Public Library

"Légion Arménienne: The Armenian Legion and Its Heroism in the Middle East," a traveling exhibit developed and prepared by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA), will be on display at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St, April 19-May 31. The exhibit explores the formation, training, military action, and postwar activities of this all‐volunteer force from World War I through photographs and narratives. Visitors can see the exhibit, free of charge, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from 11am-4pm in the Library's 2nd floor reading area.

The Racine Public Library in partnership with St. Hagop Church will host a Grand Opening event on Wednesday, April 21 from 5-8pm. The exhibit will be open for viewing at 5pm with presentations beginning at 6pm. The event will feature presentations by ALMA board member Arakel Almasian and Dr. Levon Saryan, traditional Armenian Oud music by Stephan Fronjian, and homemade refreshments generously provided by the women of St. Hagop Church.

ALMA commissioned this traveling exhibit in response to tremendous interest from the Armenian and Veteran communities. The exhibit tells the story of the brave and selfless young men who fought with the Allies to victory and later risked all in defense of Armenian human rights.

"Légion Arménienne" was curated by Ardemis Matteosian in close collaboration with ALMA Board Members Arakel Almasian and Dr. Barbara Merguerian. It premiered at Northbridge Town Hall in Whitinsville, MA in September and has also been exhibited at the California State University in Fresno and the Pasadena Central Library in California.

The traveling exhibit was made possible by a grant from K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, M.D. Foundation with additional support provided by The Armenian‐American Veterans of Milford, Mass., Inc.

Founded in 1971, ALMA's mission is to present and preserve the culture, history, art and contributions of the Armenian people to Americans and Armenians alike. Since its inception, ALMA's collection has grown to over 27,000 books and 20,000 artifacts, making it perhaps the largest and most diverse holding of Armenian cultural artifacts outside of Armenia. As a repository for heirlooms, the collection now represents a major resource not only for Armenian studies research, but for preservation and illustration of the Armenian heritage. In 1988, ALMA acquired a 30,000 square foot facility in Watertown, MA – one of North America's oldest and most active Armenian communities. The facility includes exhibit galleries, library, administrative offices, function hall, climate‐controlled vaults and conservation lab. Armenian Museum of America (subdivision of ALMA) is the only independent Armenian Museum in the Diaspora funded solely through contributions of individual supporters. An active Board of Trustees and volunteer base augments the museum's staff. The Museum and Gallery maintains an active schedule of changing exhibits. In addition, the Museum sponsors lecture and presentation programs on Armenian‐related topics. The Mesrop Boyajian Library (subdivision of ALMA) is used primarily by researchers and interested general public seeking research materials on Armenians.

Hamilton Exhibit Opens with a Post-Revolutionary Rivalry & Reenactment

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St, is hosting a public grand opening of the traveling exhibit "Alexander Hamilton the Man Who Made Modern America" on Wednesday, July 9 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Adult Services Dept. The featured presentation of the evening, "A Post-Revolutionary Rivalry: Hamilton vs. Jefferson" by Professor John D. Buenker, will begin promptly at 7 p.m. followed by a reception and viewing of the exhibit. Entertainment will be provided by Colonel Webb's 3rd Connecticut Band of Musick and the Heritage Dauncers, performers in full dress from the Revolutionary War era. As two of our founding fathers, Hamilton and Jefferson were profoundly influential in our early American government, but were avidly opposed to each other's ideas. The "Post-Revolutionary Rivalry" presentation by Professor John D. Buenker will explore their conflicting views on many of the most important issues of that time. Whose ideas were the more sound; to what extent were they right or wrong; and who had the greatest impact? This provocative presentation will debate these questions and will perhaps challenge your views of this historical time period. Professor Buenker will be referring to a comparative document of Hamilton and Jefferson's quoted opinions. The document is available for advance consideration on the library's website at www.racinelibrary.info.

John D. Buenker is professor emeritus of history and ethnic studies at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, where he has regularly taught courses on urban and ethnic history, the United States from 1877-1929, and American foreign relations. He holds a BA from Loras College, and a MA and PhD from Georgetown University. He is the author of many essays, articles and books on local and national history and is the recipient of many historical society awards and fellowships.

HISTORICAL REENACTMENT AT THE LIBRARY
The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host "Young Hamilton and his Company of Artillery" on Saturday, July 12 from 1-4 p.m. on the library grounds. This historical reenactment group tells the story of the New York Provincial Artillery company led by a young and ambitious Alexander Hamilton in New York during the summer of 1776. Through reenactments, demonstrations and educational presentations visitors will learn about Revolutionary War battles and historic figures, the Declaration of Independence, colonial era weaponry and clothing, and much more from the period in which our nation was born.

Hamilton's Artillery is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating citizens and non-citizens about the struggles for our nation's independence. They are a member of the Northwest Territory Alliance, www.NWTA.com.

Library Hosts "Alexander Hamilton: the Man Who Made Modern America"

His face is on the ten-dollar bill, but most Americans know more about his death in a duel than his remarkable life as one of the most brilliant and influential figures in U.S. history. Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury at age 32, is the focus of a groundbreaking new traveling exhibition opening at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., on July 9, 2008.

"Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America" tells the story of Hamilton's astonishing rise in five short years from an orphaned, 15-year-old West Indies immigrant to George Washington's war time aide, and later, at age 32, Washington's Secretary of the Treasury.

The exhibit was organized by the New-York Historical Society, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and the American Library Association, and has been made possible in part through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is based on the New-York Historical Society's exhibition commemorating the 200th anniversary of Hamilton's death as well as the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Society in 1804.

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host a grand opening public event on Wednesday, July 9 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Adult Services Dept. The featured presentation of the evening, "A Revolutionary Rivalry: Hamilton vs. Jefferson" by Professor John D. Buenker, will begin promptly at 7 p.m. followed by a reception and viewing of the exhibit. Entertainment will be provided by Colonel Webb's 3rd Connecticut Band of Musick and the Heritage Dauncers, performers in full dress from the Revolutionary War era.

As two of our founding fathers, Hamilton and Jefferson were profoundly influential in our early American government, but were avidly opposed to each other's ideas. The "Revolutionary Rivalry" presentation by Professor John D. Buenker will explore their conflicting views on many of the most important issues of that time. Whose ideas were the more sound; to what extent were they right or wrong; and who had the greatest impact? This provocative presentation will debate these questions and will perhaps challenge your views of this historical time period.

John D. Buenker is professor emeritus of history and ethnic studies at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, where he has regularly taught courses on urban and ethnic history, the United States from 1877-1929, and American foreign relations. He holds a BA from Loras College, and a MA and PhD from Georgetown University He is the author of many essays, articles and books on local and national history and is the recipient of many historical society awards and fellowships.

The Alexander Hamilton Exhibit will be on display at the Racine Public Library from July 9- August 8, 2008. Throughout this time the library will host a number of exciting events for all ages:

• July 9; 7-8:30 p.m. Exhibit opening reception, presentation of "A Revolutionary Rivalry: Hamilton vs. Jefferson," and entertainment by Colonel Webb's 3rd Connecticut Band of Musick and Heritage Dauncers. July 12; 1-4 p.m. Young Hamilton and his Company of Artillery: A Revolutionary Reenactment Performance.
  
  
• July 26; 1:30-4:30 p.m. Historical (1790-1800's) Costume Display and Revolutionary War Medical display.
  
  
• August 1; 1-4:30 p.m. A Soldiers Life: A Revolutionary War Presentation; Performance by Colonel Webb's 3rd Connecticut Band of Musick and Heritage Dauncers.
  

The exhibit and all associated programs are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. For more information contact Anne Callaghan by email at anne.callaghan@ racinelibrary.info or by phone at 262.636.9245.