Professor to Speak to NM Historical Society

timbercrest

By The Paper staff

NORTH MANCHESTER – Dr. Marlin L. Heckman a professor and university libraryian at the University of LaVerne in California, will be the guest speakder at the North Manchester Historical Society’s July program.

Heckman will tell the story of pioneer travel through the contemporary diaries of the actual travelers.  His presentation will be held in the Assembly Room at Timbercrest Retirement Center, 2201 East Street, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 10.

Heckman’s book, “Overland on the California Trail, 1846-1859: A Bibliography of Manuscript & Printed Travel Narrative,” included the diaries of 403 travelers.  His talk will focus on about 30 Indiana residents whose diaries were included in that book.

Heckman was born in Chicago, graduated from La Verne College in California, and then from Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago.  He received his doctorate from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago.  After serving as Librarian at Bethany, he became Professor and University Librarian at the University of La Verne.  His publications include as series on vintage postcards from Southern California communities.

The program is open to the public at no cost and will be enjoyable for audiences of all ages.  Hear what cross-country travelers had to say back when it took months, not days, to travel overland to the West Coast.

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