2009 Mari Sandoz Symposium, March 26-28, 2009

“Mari Sandoz and Her Literary Contemporaries”

The Nebraska authors and others who inspired Mari Sandoz was the subject of the 2009 Mari Sandoz Heritage Society annual conference, “Mari Sandoz and Her Literary Contemporaries” held on the campus of Chadron State College, March 26-28.

A photographic display of Nebraska author and photographer Wright Morris’ works was featured at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center with a Gallery Walk presented by Morris’ cousin.

 Sandoz was friends with many Nebraska writers. She found John Neihardt of special inspiration, she communicated with Willa Cather and attended celebratory evenings with Bess Streeter Aldrich, Weldon Kees, and Loren Eiseley.  To understand Sandoz is to understand her writing context and the exclusive group of people with whom she had a unifying purpose.

 Speakers discussed Neihardt and Aldrich and panelists exchanged views on other writers, artists and people who influenced Sandoz.