EVENT: The Harry Ransom Center hosts public programs.
WHEN: Various dates throughout October.
WHERE: Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin, 21st and Guadalupe streets, and the Paramount Theatre at 713 Congress Ave.
BACKGROUND: Events are free and open to the public. Please be aware that the Ransom Center’s Charles Nelson Prothro Theater has limited seating. Line forms upon arrival of the first person, and doors open 30 minutes in advance.
Poetry on the Plaza: The Language of Photography
Wednesday, Oct. 6, noon
The Ransom Center presents the Poetry on the Plaza event “The Language of Photography.” Held in conjunction with the current exhibition “Discovering the Language of Photography: The Gernsheim Collection,” the event features photographers reading poetry about photography. Readers include Roy Flukinger, Ransom Center senior research curator; Geoff Winningham, photographer, filmmaker and journalist; and Matt Valentine, photographer and program coordinator of the Joynes Reading Room at The University of Texas at Austin. Refreshments will be served at this event.
A Conversation with Charles R. Larson
Thursday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.
Charles R. Larson of American University speaks about his collection of African, African American and Native American literature, which was acquired by the Ransom Center in 2009. Bernth Lindfors, University of Texas at Austin Emeritus Professor of English, hosts the conversation. Throughout his career, Larson befriended many of the writers featured in his collection, corresponded with them and anthologized many of their works. His collection includes signed and inscribed books, rare publications, unique manuscripts and letters. There are more than 1,100 books by African writers, 250 books by African American and Caribbean writers and 60 books by Native American writers.
Texas Book Festival: “David Foster Wallace: A Writer’s Life”
Saturday, Oct. 16, 3:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave.
The Ransom Center and the Texas Book Festival present a panel on the life and work of David Foster Wallace (1962-2008). The panel includes David Lipsky, who spent five days with Wallace in 1996 on assignment from Rolling Stone-an assignment that came to fruition just this year, as his highly praised “Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace” was published. Wallace’s friends and fellow writers David Means and Antonya Nelson join the conversation about Wallace’s books and life. Wallace’s archive resides at the Ransom Center and is now open for research. Learn more at www.hrc.utexas.edu/dfw.
“The Lives and Work of Helmut and Alison Gernsheim”
Tuesday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
J. B. Colson, professor emeritus of journalism and fellow of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, and Roy Flukinger, Ransom Center senior research curator, discuss the lives and work of Helmut and Alison Gernsheim. This event is held in conjunction with the current exhibition “Discovering the Language of Photography: The Gernsheim Collection” and the release of the book “The Gernsheim Collection.” The book includes more than 125 full-page photographs from the collection, accompanied by descriptions of each image’s place in the evolution of photography and within the collection. The catalog also traces the Gernsheims’ passion for collecting and their careers as pioneering historians of photography, showing how their efforts significantly contributed to the acceptance of photography as a fine art and as a field worthy of intellectual study. A book signing of “The Gernsheim Collection” follows. This program will be webcast live at www.hrc.utexas.edu/webcast.
“Civility in a Fractured Society”
Thursday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.
The University Co-op presents a Harry Ransom Lectures event with National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Jim Leach. Leach, who is visiting all 50 states and speaking on the importance of civility in public discourse, will present “Civility in a Fractured Society.” Members of the Ransom Center receive complimentary parking and priority entry at this program. Doors open at 6:20 p.m. for members and at 6:30 p.m. for the general public. Members must present their membership cards for priority entrance; one seat per membership card. Members arriving after 6:30 p.m. will join the general queue. Complimentary parking for members is available at the University Co-op garage at 23rd and San Antonio streets. This program will be webcast live at www.hrc.utexas.edu/webcast.
The Harry Ransom Lectures honor former University of Texas Chancellor Harry Huntt Ransom and highlight the Ransom Center’s vital role in the university’s intellectual and cultural life. The program brings internationally renowned writers, artists and scholars to Austin for public events and conversations with university students. The lectures are made possible by the generous support of the University Co-op.
High-resolution images are available for all events.
