Plains Scholar Clay Jenkinson to Speak ‘The Language of Cottonwoods’ at WT Lecture

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — A prominent advocate of life on the Great Plains will discuss regional pride at an upcoming event at West Texas A&M University.

Clay Jenkinson, host of NPR’s “Listening to America” (previously “The Thomas Jefferson Hour”), will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 in Legacy Hall in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on WT’s Canyon campus.  

 “The Language of Cottonwoods: A Dialogue on the Plains and Sense of Place with Clay Jenkinson” is presented by WT’s Center for the Study of the American West as this year’s Garry L. Nall Lecture in Western Studies. The event is co-presented by WT’s Distinguished Lecture Series and The Arts at WT: A Subscription Series, as well as High Plains Public Radio.

The event is free and open to the public. A light reception will precede the lecture, and Jenkinson will sign books following his remarks.

“Clay Jenkinson hails from North Dakota and takes a lot of pride in that,” said Dr. Alex Hunt, CSAW director, Regents Professor of English and Vincent-Haley Professor of Western Studies. “His recent book, ‘The Language of Cottonwoods,’ has much to teach us about sense of place on the Great Plains, which is why we thought he was a perfect speaker for CSAW.

“CSAW is committed to developing place-knowledge in our students and in our community,” Hunt continued. “Jenkinson is a champion of the humanities and history, and he is a wonderfully engaging speaker. It’s going to be a great event.”

Jenkinson is a humanities scholar, author, and social commentator, devoting most of his career to public humanities programs. As one of the nation’s leading interpreters of Thomas Jefferson and other historical figures, Jenkinson has performed before Supreme Court justices, presidents, 18 state legislatures, and countless public, corporate and student audiences, as well as appearing on “The Today Show,” “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher,” “The Colbert Report” and CNN.

He has dedicated the better part of his life to researching the historical characters that he portrays and to bringing back and defining the “living theatre” of Chautauqua, which also emphasizes education with audience participation to enhance the learning and entertainment experience.

Jenkinson is the recipient of one of the first five Charles Frankel Prizes, the National Endowment for the Humanities’ highest award (now called the National Humanities Medal), from President George H.W. Bush.

In addition to his radio show and podcast, he leads humanities-based group tours to historic locales such as the Lewis & Clark trail in Montana and Idaho, John Steinbeck’s California, and Jefferson’s France. He lives and writes in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The Nall Lecture, held each semester by CSAW, honors Dr. Garry L. Nall’s service to WT and scholastic achievements. This endowed lecture series supports CSAW’s mission to promote the study of the American West by bringing a noted scholar to campus each semester.

Offering intellectually challenging, critically reflective and regionally responsive academic programs is part of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About WT’s Distinguished Lecture Series

The Distinguished Lecture Series was created to enhance education in the classroom by inviting people of national prominence to speak to WT students and the community about important issues. For information, visit wtamu.edu/academics/distinguished-lecture-series.

About the Center for the Study of the American West

CSAW was formed in fall 2016 with a mission of fostering the study of the American West at West Texas A&M University and building bridges between the university, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and the regional populace. CSAW seeks to promote the American West both as a culturally unique region and as a product of broad historical forces. For more information about CSAW and upcoming events, visit wtamu.edu/csaw.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—