National Willa Cather Center News

The Willa Cather Foundation is excited to promote continued reading of Cather's novels by encouraging participation in the Willa Cather 2012 Reading Challenge. To take part in the challenge, simply read all twelve of Willa Cather's novels in order of their publication, one per month, from January 2012 through December 2012.

The Reading List:

At her death in 1947, Willa Cather was working on a story -- or perhaps a novel -- set in medieval Avignon titled "Hard Punishments." By all surviving accounts, the writing Cather had completed was destroyed upon her death, the only known exception being a short fragment owned by the University of Virginia.

The Red Cloud Opera House Announces its 2011 Season of Events!

“Popular Culture” is the theme of the 2011 season of events at the Red Cloud Opera House. Many iconic personas from the 20th century will be highlighted in programs of various genres such as music, photography, theatre, movies, and humanities programs.

Willa Cather, Poet: Making Herself Born

Willa Cather loved the Holiday season and all that came along with it: delicious food, quality time spent with family and friends, and the giving and receiving of gifts. She treasured it so much that a Christmas scene was an element in many of her stories. Share the joy of this special time of year with your loved ones or friends by gifting unique Cather Christmas gift items.

It is often called "Catherland"-Webster County, Nebraska, where the quintessential American novelist Willa Cather spent her childhood and found inspiration for her stories of European immigrants on the prairie. Richard Schilling, with his watercolor paintings and ink sketches, conducts us to that land, to scenes that might have influenced Cather, but as they appear today.

The recent Preserving our Past, Pioneering our Future challenge campaign, mounted to provide additional educational and archival programs of the Willa Cather Foundation, has successfully concluded, significantly surpassing its original goal.

The challenge was offered by two anonymous donors who hoped to generate an additional $60,000 in annual support from new and additional gifts in the last five months of 2010. The initiative raised $76,316 and encouraged 201 new donors and 187 previous contributors to join the Foundation.

When Willa Cather received the advice to write about the part of the world she knew best, she turned for inspiration to the Nebraska prairie that affected her youth. Each year, the Willa Cather Foundation is pleased to host a Prairie Writers' Workshop for beginning, aspiring, or experienced writers. The four-day event is held in Red Cloud, Nebraska, where Willa Cather spent her formative years.

Poetry Out Loud with Matt Mason

Saturday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. Free

Poetry Out Loud performer Matt Mason will appear at the Red Cloud Opera House on Saturday, September 24th at 7:00 p.m. The free event is sponsored by the Nebraska Arts Council.

Remembering Our Fallen . In the gallery September 19-25

A very emotional exhibit, Remembering Our Fallen is on loan from the Strategic Air & Space Museum near Ashland will be on display at the Red Cloud Opera House September 19-25. The exhibit includes photos of the 111 Nebraskans and western Iowans killed during The War on Terror.

“We can never forget those who sacrificed everything for our freedom. We must remember these American Heroes and speak their names when we see their family members,” said Bill Williams, exhibit co-creator.