AUTHOR and SPEAKER SCHEDULE FOR 2012

All programs are from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, on the 4th Wednesday of the month, in the Community Room of the San Carlos Branch Library.  See in-depth articles below for program details.  

 February 22: Ted Kornweibel, professor emeritus at SDSU, will tell us the story behind the pictures in his fascinating “coffee table” book, “Railroads in the African American Experience: a Photographic Journey.”

March 28: Margaret Dilloway, Patrick Henry High graduate tells us about her life growing up with her Japanese mother and American father in San Carlos. Inspired by her mother,“How to be an American Housewife,” is a book of fiction about a Japanese bride, Shoko, and her struggles to adapt to a new culture and become an American housewife.

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 Please come and join us for an entertaining evening of history and learning presented by dynamic speaker and local author, Theodore Kornweibel, Jr., professor emeritus in African American history at San Diego State University. In his latest book, Railroads in the African American Experience: A Photographic Journey, he takes readers on an illustrated tour of the black railroad experience from slavery to Amtrak. With almost 200 images, he examines the significant contributions of African Americans to the building, maintenance, operation, and profitability of the American railway system. 

 The history of American railroads cannot be separated from African American history. For over a century, railroading provided the most important industrial occupation for blacks. As brakemen, firemen, porters, chefs, mechanics, and laborers–African American men and women have been essential to the daily operation and success of American railroads.

The connections between railroads and African Americans extend well beyond employment. Civil rights protests beginning in the late 19th century challenged railroad segregation and job discrimination; the major waves of black migration to the North depended almost entirely on railroads; and railroad themes and imagery penetrated deep into black art, literature, drama, folklore, and music. Kornweibel’s visual presentation of this rich history brings to life the hundreds of thousands of blacks who toiled for decades on America’s great rail systems.

Each chapter of text focuses on a different occupation or railroading experience, some peculiar to blacks. Together, the evocative images and the complementary essays supply a comprehensive and powerful survey of the social, cultural, political, and economic influence of African Americans on railroads and of railroads on the black community. 

Theodore Kornweibel, Jr., is also the author of,  Investigate Everything: Federal Efforts to Compel Black Loyalty during World War I;  Seeing Red: Federal Campaigns against Black Militancy, 1919-1925; and No Crystal Stair: Black Life and the Messenger, 1917-1928.

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Author, San Carlos resident and Patrick Henry High graduate, Margaret Dilloway, will be our featured speaker on Wednesday, March 28th at 7:00 pm in the Community room of the San Carlos branch Library.  Margaret will be discussing her book, How to be an American Housewife. This book is the San Carlos Librarian Book Club selection for the month of March, which will meet at the library on March 9th at 1:00 pm.

  This book of fiction was inspired by the lives of Margaret’s Japanese mother and American father of Irish-Welsh origin, who lived in the shadow of Cowles Mountain.  In the book, Shoko, the Japanese bride of an American Navy man, comes to America not knowing our language or customs.  Hers is the story of a woman struggling to become an American housewife and mother: coping in a new culture without her old support systems.

 A writer since she could wield a pencil and make coherent words, Margaret dabbled in other art forms, including a major in Studio Art at Scripps College. After college, she worked as Contributing Editor for two weekly newspapers; wrote and sold BLUETOOTH FOR DUMMIES (canceled, but used the money for LASIK so it wasn’t a total loss); and did a lot of random online writing and mystery shopping to bring in income while she watched over her three children and improved her fiction writing.

  Margaret lives in San Diego with her children and husband, a former Army Ranger (known as Cadillac on her blog).   Check out her blog: margaretdillowy.com.  Margaret has a new book which will be available in August, The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns.  It is available now for pre-order  from Amizon.com. 

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   OASIS SCHEDULE FOR 2012: All programs are on the 3rd Friday of the month, times vary.  If classes show “full” on the OASIS site, please call the library for a reservation.  Walk-ins will be seated if space is available at the start of the class. Check http://www.oasisnet.org/ for complete program details.   January 20, 2012 (1:00-2;30) Lost San Diego: The Places & Spaces We Remember,  Gabe Selak, Public Programs Manager, San Diego History Center.
This presentation highlights past landmarks, now torn down, that bring back memories for locals and history buffs alike. Includes places like Oscar’s Drive-In, Fox Egyptian Theatre, and Hotel San Diego, among others.

February 17, 2012 (1:00-2:30) History of Balboa Park
Gabe Selak, Public Programs Manager, San Diego History Center.
This talk features the development of Balboa Park from its earliest uses, the Expositions of 1915 and 1935, through today.  

March 16, 2012 (1:00-2:30) Early San Diego History - Native American through Statehood,  Gabe Selak or possibly Linda Canada, Local Historian. This talk addresses the changes on the landscape, and social interactions of the Kumeyaay Indigenous people, Spanish, Mexican and Early Americans.

April 20, 2012 (2:00-3:30) Richard Lederer, inspires us with his wit.  Topic TBA.

May 18, 2012 TBA: Topic may deal with financial planning.

        No OASIS in June, July, or August

September 21, 2012 TBA: Topic may deal with Health and Fitness.

October 19, 2012 (1:00-2:30) Haunted San Diego, Gabe Selak, San Diego History Center.
This will be a discussion of the mysterious side of San Diego and some of the places deemed “haunted”.Stories of some of San Diego’s ghosts and legends are an exciting element of this look into San Diego’s sinister past.

No OASIS programs are scheduled in November or December.  Happy Holidays from SCFOL.

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