The Melting Pot will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at MPGS Library, 649-B Ouachita Ave. The featured speaker will be Beverly Newsom Salisbury, an English professor at Southwest Tennessee in Memphis prior to retiring and moving to Hot Springs Village. Her presentation will be on John James Audubon.
Salisbury received her bachelor's degree in English from Auburn University and holds two graduate degrees in English from the University of Memphis. Salisbury is an author with one textbook to her credit and has produced presentations for professional conferences. She holds a commitment to community service and serves on volunteer boards and commissions, in addition to memberships in historical and genealogical groups.
Most are aware of Audubon's reputation as a world renowned artist/naturalist, but Salisbury's presentation brings the story of the man, from his birth in Haiti and his early upbringing in France, to his subsequent struggles, failures and successes in America. Although he was not a particularly accomplished artist, his devotion to birds and his determination to capture their beauty on paper led to his painting 435 realistic bird prints.
The Melting Pot Genealogical Society is collecting annual dues of $25, which includes monthly newsletters and its annual publication, The Kettle. The library and meetings are open to the public. The library has more than 8,200 publications/CDs/microfilm and fiche and a public-use computer. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Friday or by appointment, 624-0229. Its staff is an all-volunteer group of people interested in preserving and making available to the public the histories of families of Garland County and other areas.
Society on 06/21/2015