Spring cleaning: Readers’ FAQs

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May 17, 2012

Spring cleaning: Readers’ FAQs

Bruce Kauffman ---- The Tribune Star Thu May 17, 2012, 05:00 AM EDT

TERRE HAUTE — Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Issue 1: My one reader issue this year is still the same.

I appreciate the volume of reader mail I get, and I pride myself on answering every single one, good or bad, agree or disagree, in awe of my range of knowledge or in disbelief at the depths of my ignorance.

But my mail volume is such that I can only answer each reader once. I cannot, as some readers wish, get into a back-and-forth debate on every column.

My suggestion is that readers looking for a dialogue, including the bloggers who are now posting my columns on their blogs, start posting their comments about my column on my Facebook page or website, www.historylessons.net.

There I would be most happy to conduct, and engage in, a dialogue.

FAQ 1: My one FAQ this year is also the same as every year. The books from the past year that I recommend are: 1493 by Charles Mann.

It is the story of the “Columbian Exchange,” in which, in the wake of Columbus’ discovery of the New World, goods and services, but also diseases and plagues and new ideas and beliefs, were spread around the globe, altering human history. It’s thoroughly researched and wonderfully written.

“Bloody Crimes” by James Swanson alternately describes Abe Lincoln’s 13-day, 11-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home in Springfield, Ill., and the hunt for the fugitive Confederate President Jefferson Davis, whom many thought (incorrectly) ordered Lincoln’s assassination. Both stories are fascinating, and Swanson is a fine writer.

“James Madison” by Richard Brookhiser. Many historians consider Madison our greatest lawgiver. Brookhiser also considers him our first great politician. Brookhiser breaks no new ground, but it is a short, well-written look at “The Father of the Constitution.” And, hey, it’s about (my hero) James Madison.

“Destiny of the Republic” by Candice Millard. Billed as “A tale of madness, medicine and the murder of a president,” it describes President James A. Garfield’s assassination, the descent into insanity of his assassin, Charles Guiteau, the incompetence and hubris of the doctors who could have saved Garfield but instead hastened his death, and the desperate attempts by inventor Alexander Graham Bell to build a machine that could detect where the bullet was lodged in Garfield’s body. It reads almost like a thriller.

“Bruce’s History Lessons: The First Five Years,” by me. I admit, a shameless plug, this collection of the first five years of my newspaper columns can also be found on my website, or by simply googling my name, Bruce G. Kauffmann.

There, the place looks cleaner! I’ll be back next spring.

Bruce G. Kauffmann’s can be reached bruce@historylessons.net.

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Schools

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This week (May 24) in 1844, Professor Samuel F.B. Morse sat in the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., surrounded by members of Congress, who had come to witness history.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
High schoolers attend automotive, welding skills competitions
Area high school students put their skills to the test at the annual Automotive Skills and Welding Skills competitions on April 18 at Ivy Tech Community College—Wabash Valley.

May 23, 2013
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The Riverton Parke Jr.-Sr. High School Music Department presented its annual Spring Concert on May 13 in the school gymnasium.

May 23, 2013
Turkey Run senior awards and honors
Turkey Run High School seniors were honored at an awards program May 13. Scholarships and departmental and activity awards were presented.

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Vincennes University Dean’s List
The Vincennes University Dean’s List for Spring 2013 includes students from the Vincennes campus, Jasper campus, Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, military bases, and other extended sites.

May 23, 2013
4 more honored as Four Star Schools
In addition to the three Vigo County schools (Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Dixie Bee Elementary and Fayette Elementary schools) that were announced earlier, four more Wabash Valley schools were recognized as Indiana Four Star Schools.

May 23, 2013
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.

May 16, 2013
Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
May 16, 2013
Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.

May 16, 2013
South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.

May 16, 2013
Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.

May 16, 2013
Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
May 16, 2013
Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.

May 16, 2013
Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.

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Parks offering summer day camp
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its summer day camp.

May 16, 2013
State recognizes counties for improving college success
Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers recognized 26 Indiana counties for working to increase the percentage of Hoosiers with education beyond high school. The counties are members of Indiana’s College Success Coalition, a statewide network focused on improving college access and success.

May 16, 2013
College Challenge program earns accreditation
Indiana State University’s College Challenge program for high school students has earned initial accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.

May 16, 2013
ISP offers youth an up close look at law enforcement
Most television viewers have seen at least part of a CSI or Law and Order episode. These shows seem to have spurred a new interest in law enforcement and forensics. For more than 40 years the Indiana State Police have been giving young people an up close look at law enforcement through its youth camps program.

May 16, 2013
Goals, Pride & Achievements: May 16, 2013
Alyssa A. Barnes of Clinton graduated from Purdue University on Sunday.
She has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, with a minor in psychology.

May 16, 2013
Woodrow Wilson students collect funds for animals
The leadership team from Woodrow Wilson Middle School sponsored a week of giving to collect funds and supplies for the Terre Haute Humane shelter.

May 16, 2013
Riverton Parke academic bowl team finishes strong
The Riverton Parke English academic bowl team finished as runner-up at the state finals competition on May 4 at Purdue University, and the social studies team swept through all of its last eight questions without a miss to finish third in the contest.

May 16, 2013
Turkey Run High School names top 2013 students
Kaleigh Basan has been named valedictorian and Jeff Woods and Kendall Davies are co-salutatorians for the Turkey Run High School Class of 2013.
Graduation ceremonies will be in the high school gymnasium at 11 a.m. May 25 with 36 students receiving their diplomas.

May 16, 2013
Bruce’s history lessons: Spring Cleaning 2013
Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”

May 9, 2013
Moats gets ISU Rankin Award
Indiana State University has honored Katelynn Moats of Terre Haute with the Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Award in recognition of her contributions to the betterment of the university.

May 9, 2013
Turkey Run to honor seniors
Turkey Run High School will hold its senior awards and recognition program at 7 p.m. Monday in the ELC room. A reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.
The program for freshmen to juniors will be held at 1:32 p.m. May 16 in the high school gymnasium.

May 9, 2013
Honey Creek math club earns gold status
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May 9, 2013
Riverton Parke students bring home art awards
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May 9, 2013
Parke Adult Tutoring Service awards mini-grant
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Vigo County School Corp. Honor Roll — Middle School, Second Grading Period
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