Elmira College Center for Mark Twain Studies

Linda A. Morris (UC Davis English) provides a detailed account of the life of Sam and Livy’s oldest daughter, Susy.

Olivia Susan “Susy” Clemens (Mark Twain Studies Resource Page) Linda A. Morris (UC, Davis) provides a detailed account of the life of Sam and Livy’s oldest daughter, Susy.

Quarry Farm Fellow Edward Guimont (Bristol Community College) talks about the pleasures of two weeks at Quarry Farm, new inspirations, and Star Trek.

“Time’s Arrow” (A Quarry Farm Testimonial) Edward Guimont talks about the pleasures of two weeks at Quarry Farm, new inspirations, and Star Trek

Mary Lemak details the life of Annis Ford Eastman, one of the first woman to be ordained in the United States. She was the mother of Crystal and Max Eastman, and the author of Twain's eulogy.

Annis Ford Eastman (Mark Twain Studies Resource Page) Mary Lemak details the life of the author of Twain’s eulogy and the mother of Crystal and Max Eastman

Yesterday, in partnership with Greater Southern Tier BOCES, the Center of Mark Twain Studies held a watercolor landscape workshop at Quarry Farm for local art teachers.

Make sure to check out our Fine Arts Quarry Farm Fellowship opportunities at MarkTwainStudies.org.

Photos courtesy of Jan Kather.

Today marks the 144th anniversary of Emancipation Day, a celebration which attracted 15,000 Black New Yorkers to Elmira for parades, banquets, dances, and a speech by Frederick Douglass, reconstructed here.

The Lessons of Emancipation To The New Generation On August 3, 1880, Frederick Douglass provided the keynote of a large, day-long celebration of Emancipation in Elmira. His speech is reconstructed here for the first time.

Barbara Snedecor examines the letters of Livy Clemens to her sister, Susan Crane

Snedecor’s Park Church Lecture Now Available Snedecor examines the letters between Livy Clemens and her sister, Susan Crane

Quarry Farm Fellow Charline Jao (Cornell University) writes about memorable moments during her time on the East Hill.

Finding Langdon at Quarry Farm (A Quarry Farm Testimonial) Quarry Farm Fellow Charline Jao relates memorable moments during her time on the East Hill

Lecture takes place on Wednesday, July 31 (7:00pm) at The Park Church Elmira.

(Image of Susan Crane on the Quarry Farm Porch)

Park Church Lectures Conclude with an Examination of Two Sisters: Olivia Clemens and Susan Crane Lecture takes place on Wednesday, July 31 (7:00pm) at The Park Church

Edward Guimont (Bristol Community College) explores the interest of comets and other celestial bodies by many 19th century sci-fi writers, including Twain.

Guimont’s Park Church Lecture Now Available Guimont explores the interest of comets by many 19th century sci-fi writers, including Twain

Sometimes we get an early look at cool stuff like Faye Dant's Black history of Hannibal, Missouri.

HANNIBAL'S INVISIBLES would make an amazing supplement for teaching HUCK FINN and/or Percival Everett's JAMES.

CMTS is proud to re-publish Shelley Fishkin's intro to the book.

The Blacks Who Built America’s Hometown: An Introduction to “Hannibal’s Invisibles” Shelley Fisher Fiskin’s introduction to G. Faye Dant’s “Hannibal’s Invisibles” captures why the book is so important.

Cindy Hunter Morgan, the first person to formally receive a fine arts fellowship in the Quarry Farm program, talks about her Twain-inspired creative project and her time on the East Hill.

Alive Together (A Quarry Farm Testimonial) Cindy Hunter Morgan, the first person to formally receive a fine arts fellowship in the Quarry Farm program, talks about her Twain-inspired creative project

The lecture will take place on Wednesday, July 24 at 7:00PM in the Park Church. All CMTS lectures are open to the public at no charge.

The Next 2024 Park Church Summer Lecture Gets Cosmic Lecture will take place on Wednesday, July 24 at 7:00PM in the Park Church. All CMTS lectures are open to the public at no charge

Lemak focuses on the minister who followed Thomas K. Beecher in the Park Church pulpit and wrote Twain's eulogy.

Lemak’s Park Church Lecture Now Available Lemak focuses on the minister who followed Thomas K. Beecher in the Park Church pulpit and wrote Twain’s eulogy

Charline Jao (Cornell University) discusses how Twain ventriloquized the voice of his son in a number of letters.

Jao’s Park Church Lecture Now Available Jao discusses the act of Twain ventriloquizing the voice of his son in a number of letters

Lecture takes place this Wednesday, July 10 at 7pm in The Park Church Elmira. All CMTS lectures are open to the public at no charge.

The 2024 Park Church Lectures Begin With A Talk Focusing on Mark Twain’s Son Lecture takes place this Wednesday, July 10 at 7pm in The Park Church. All CMTS lectures are open to the public at no charge

Feel like a good cry?

“Work An’ Buy Yo’ Freedom”: The Story of Henry Washington’s Promise To His Mother It has been 150 years since Mary Ann Cord recounted the story of her separation from and reunion with her exceptional son.

On this day, 150 years ago, Mary Ann Cord told the story of her early life, conditions of enslavement, separation from her children at a human auction in 1852, & miraculous reunion with her youngest son, Henry, to a rapt audience on the porch at Quarry Farm in Elmira.

Among them was Mark Twain, who thereafter attempted to translate Cord's performance to print. His "True Story" was published in November 1874. It was Twain's first entry in The Atlantic, his first publication with "no humor," & the most the magazine had ever paid an author.

To Twain, to his editor, W.D. Howells, & to literary historians, "A True Story" is about Cord's voice, about rendering her dialect precisely so that it produces pathos. But Twain's wife, Livy, recognizes the story is, to Cord, actually about her son, Henry Washington.

Henry, who, at 6, while being ripped from Cord's arms, promised to escape enslavement & to find his mother again. And who, by age 19, had accomplished exactly that.

Henry emancipated himself in 1858 & fled to Elmira, where he became an apprentice barber. When the Emancipation Proclamation made them eligible for military service, a group of Black Elmirans walked 400 miles to Boston to join the first Black regiment. This was Henry's chance.

Henry "ransacked the whole South hunting for" his mother. He found her cooking for Gen. Burnside at his headquarters in New Bern, NC. They returned to Elmira together. Henry became Twain's barber, eventually opening his own shop. Mary Ann became cook at Quarry Farm.

Their story shaped Mark Twain & thereafter US literature.

I'm proud to have a chance to retell it on this anniversary.

Check out the winners of the 2024 CMTS writing contest based on the fireplace tiles in the Quarry Farm parlor.

CMTS Announces the 2024 Quarry Farm Fireplace Winners Check out the winners of the 2024 CMTS writing contest based on the fireplace tiles in the Quarry Farm parlor

Snedecor discusses the letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens and her relationship to Elmira College at an EC alumni event.

Trouble Begins Bonus Material: Barbara Snedecor Discusses the Letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens Snedecor discusses the letters of Olivia Langdon Clemens and her relationship to Elmira College at an EC alumni event

All lectures take place at 7pm on a Wednesday in July at The Park Church Elmira. Click here to learn more!

CMTS Announces the 2024 Park Church Summer Lectures Line-Up All lectures take place at 7:00pm on a Wednesday in July

Our resident scholar discusses Percival Everett's bestseller, sponsored by our friends in Hartford.

The Trouble Begins with Matt Seybold on Percival Everett's "James" (Virtual) - Mark Twain House The Mark Twain House & Museum welcomes back Matt Seybold to the Trouble Begins virtual stage for a lecture and discuss about Percival Everett’s new book James. The VIRTUAL lecture […]

Susan Gillman (UUC Santa Cruz explores the intersection of caste, orientalism, and occultism in FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR.

Gillman’s Trouble Begins Lecture Now Available Susan Gillman explores the intersection of caste, orientalism, and occultism in FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR

Images from last nights lecture by Susan Gillman (UC Santa Cruz). Gillman used FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR to discuss and tie together caste, the occult, and orientalism.

It's field trip season here at CMTS and Quarry Farm!

If you are a teacher who is interested in a field trip to Elmira College, the Study, and Quarry Farm, check out the "Resources for Teachers and Students" page at MarkTwainStudies.org.

Images from last Wednesday's Trouble Begins lecture, delivered by Tess Chakkalakal. The topic was Twain's 70th Birthday! Champagne, cucumbers, mushrooms on toast and other items on the 1905 menu were served!

In this free-ranging talk, Chakkalakal explores Twain's 70th birthday celebration.

Chakkalakal’s Trouble Begins Lecture Now Available In this free-ranging talk, Chakkalakal explores Twain’s 70th birthday celebration

Susan Gillman (UC, Santa Cruz) will present on Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00pm in the Quarry Farm Barn

Final Spring Trouble Begins Lecture Explores Caste in FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR Susan Gillman (UC, Santa Cruz) will present on Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00pm in the Quarry Farm Barn

Tess Chakkalakal (Bowdoin College) will present on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00pm in the Quarry Farm Barn

Next Trouble Begins Lecture Focuses on Twain’s 70th Birthday Party Tess Chakkalakal (Bowdoin College) will present on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00pm in the Quarry Farm Barn