A press release and some programming information have come in:
"On the Road : Jack Kerouac and the Writer’s Life
"The manuscript of
On the Road, Jack Kerouac’s defining novel of the Beat generation, is coming to Santa Fe. This is no ordinary document—it is a 120-foot scroll that travels with a bodyguard. The scroll's nation-wide tour will make a stop at the Palace of the Governors on Friday, April 13, 2007, and will engage audiences for six weeks, to continue on its way after Monday, May 28.
"
On the Road is Kerouac’s attempt to create a stream-of-consciousness novel. In the spring of 1951, he sat down at his typewriter and wrote nonstop for three weeks. The product was a 120-foot, single-spaced document with no paragraph delineations or page breaks. "It may come as a surprise to learn that Kerouac had a deep appreciation for such great authors as Thoreau, Whitman, and Hemingway, and that he saw himself as part of an American literary tradition," said Tom Leech, curator of the exhibit and director of the Palace Press.
"Kerouac sent the scroll out for six years attempting to find a publisher. Then, in 1957, Viking agreed to publish
On the Road—but only after much squawking about the scroll's editorially-challenging format. After publication, the manuscript was tucked away for over forty years. It came to light in 1999 and went to Christie’s auction house. There it was put on the auction block in 2001 and it was sold to Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts.
"The story of the scroll might have ended there. Irsay, a collector of Pop memorabilia could have put it on a shelf for another forty years. Instead, he decided to share it with the world. In 2004 it began touring the United States and has been exhibited from coast to coast. When the scroll travels, it is accompanied by Jim Canary, the head of Special Collections Conservation for the Lilly Library at Indiana University. Canary is responsible for the care of the scroll along with the installation of the custom case that houses the scroll while it is on view. Thirty-six feet of the scroll will be displayed during the exhibition at the Palace of the Governors.
"2007 is the fiftieth anniversary of the book's release, so it’s fitting that the original manuscript will be criss-crossing the country, influencing an entirely new generation. “Personal history always intersects with public history. This exhibit invites people to examine history in a personal way, to take what they know from their own experiences and see how it fits into an historical context,” said Leech.
“The public response to the scroll has been tremendous,” said Jim Canary, the scroll’s caretaker. “Each venue has done a great job of presenting evocative exhibits and events that feature the Kerouac story in a different light. There really seems to be a sense of gratitude that the scroll has been made available for people to see. Most surprising to me is the interest children have taken in the scroll. They may not know anything about Kerouac but they are very impressed by the work itself.”
"Leech believes that
On the Road’s impact can still be felt in New Mexico. 'The Palace of the Governors continues its theme of looking at books and literacy as an influence on culture. Our two previous exhibits, Making History and Lasting Impressions, featured books about, or created in, New Mexico,' Leech said. '
On the Road is a book that, while it only mentions New Mexico in passing, nevertheless had real impact on the state's cultural landscape. Much of what we think of as counterculture, what many people associate with New Mexico, came in on the same bus as
On the Road.'
"This manuscript is on loan from the collection of James S. Irsay. © Estate of Anthony G. Sampatacacus and the Estate of Jan Kerouac."
Stay tuned, more events are being planned. So far there will be:
Friday, April 13, 5:30 PMExhibition OpeningJack Kerouac and the Writer’s Life
The manuscript of On the Road, Jack Kerouac’s defining novel of the Beat generation, is coming to Santa Fe. This is no ordinary document—it is a 120-foot scroll that’s traveling the country on its 50th anniversary. The scroll’s nation-wide tour will make a stop at the Palace of the Governors and will engage audiences for six weeks.
Saturday, April 28, 10:30 AM–4:00 PMDia de Los Ninos/Dia de Los Libros
Held in the Palace of the Governors Courtyard; free.
10:30–11:30 am – “Poetry Shenanigans” by Danny Solis
11:30 am–12:15 pm – Velvet Rope Readings
12:15–2:45 pm – Poetry Slam
2:45–4:00 pm – Velvet Rope Readings
Thursday, May 10, 7:00 PM"Kerouac is Back, Jack" writer’s seriesFeaturing renowned beat poets and writers Joanne Kyger and Michael McClure; with introductions by John Brandi, a New Mexican poet. Kyger and McClure will give informal talks and poetry readings. At the Saint Francis Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts, 107 W. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe. $6 per person; tickets at the door.
Wednesday, May 23, 7:00 PM“Kerouac is Back, Jack” writer’s seriesFeaturing renowned beat poet and writer Gary Snyder; with introduction by Jack Loeffler. Snyder will give an informal talk and poetry reading. At the Lensic Theater, 225 W. San Francisco St., Santa Fe. $10 per person; Lensic box office.
One of my colleagues thinks that interest in the Kerouac scroll must be a generational thing, since he doesn't care at all. Me, I have history of a sort with manuscripts typed on rolls of teletype paper, and the museum is open on Friday evenings, so I hurried over after work. 
final session of Story Time. All ages and their adults are welcome. (Story Time will start up again on June 15.)
none of your lots of holds are going to come in soon. You can actually control the flow, similar to how you can manipulate your Netflix flow. 
Friends of the Library Book Sale : The Spring Booksale will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15, Main Library, 145 Washington Ave. All books and materials were donated to the Library.
The cover art for 
a 
Do you want the words to Big Blue Frog or need to buy a frog lamp? Just visit 
