Historians Receive Award For Work On Native Cultures

Sun., May 30, 1999

By Dan Webster danw@spokesman.com

Washington historians John A. Brown (Wenatchee) and Robert H. Ruby (Moses Lake) have earned a number of awards over the years.

The latest honor to be bestowed upon them is the 1999 James B. Castles Heritage Award, which recognizes the “collaborative work of historical documentation of the native people of the Columbia River Basin” that the co-authors have accomplished in more than 40 years of work.

“Their record of historical documentation is unequaled,” said William Lang, director of the Center for Columbia River History, which oversees the award. “Because of this body of work, scholars and students throughout the region and the nation have access to historical information about such tribes as the Spokane, Cayuse, Wanapum and Chinook Indians.”

Brown is professor emeritus of history at Wenatchee Valley College, and Ruby is a physician. Their first book was “Half-Sun on the Columbia: A Biography of Chief Moses” (1965).

Money for art

Looking for a little money to help you finish that novel? Short story? Poetry collection?

Artist Trust, a nonprofit organization funded by the Washington State Arts Commission, has announced the availability of its 1999 Fellowship Application.

The fellowships being offered are $5,500 “unrestricted” awards open to “generative artists” (defined as “originators of art works”) residing in Washington State who create works in the disciplines of music, media (film and video), crafts and - of course - literature.

To receive an application, send an SASE to: Fellowship Application, Artist Trust, 1402 Third Avenue, Suite 404, Seattle, WA 98101-2118.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. June 18.

Watching your pennies

Investment counselor Gerald Jones will present the first in a series of seminars titled “Fundamentals of Retirement Investing” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. The subsequent seminars, all of which are free, will be held on June 17 and 26. For further information, call 838-0206.

The reader board

Fred Haefele, author of “Rebuilding the Indian: A Memoir,” will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

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