Snowden Library to honor woman behind ‘Little Women’

By Hillary Hubbard
Staff Writer/ Lycourier

Starting today, Snowden Library is organizing many activities regarding author Louisa May Alcott. The events will continue on throughout the fall semester, and will be held throughout the Williamsport community.

Alcott is probably most well known for her children’s books, such as “Little Women.” However, these events will delve much deeper into her diverse life. These activities are part of a grant given to only a select fewlibraries in the country and focus on the book The Woman Behind Little Women, written by Harriet Reisen.

The grant has given the library the chance to interact with the community in several ways, as well as placing the staff of the college into a different setting.

Though the focus of this event and Reisen’s book is to experience Alcott beyond “Little Women,” Janet McNeil Hurlbert, the library director, believe this is a fitting topic for the library to sponsor events on because the school is celebrating its bicentennial.

She believes it will be interesting for the students to get to know more about the time when the college was established. This is one of the reasons she decided that the Williamsport community, and especially Lycoming College, should be a part of this grant and the activities. The events that are planned provide many more learning experiences than just reading about Louisa May Alcott. There is an entire rich history to be learned about in a variety of different ways, and an array of different subjects that took place during the 19th century, Hurlbert said.

Alone, Alcott is an interesting subject.Generally, most people only know her for her children’s books. However she spent time writing thriller and pulp fiction stories under a different name.

Hurlbert, who is a fan of Alcott’s children’s books, calls her a “diversely interested” woman, with a remarkable family.

English professor, Dr. Andrew Lieter, who is partnered as a scholar on Louisa May Alcott for these events, plans to “kick back with a couple of thrillers.” There seems to be a lot that is generally unknown about Alcott, and it will definitely be exciting to learn more about her.

According to Hurlbert, there will be activities for everyone to attend. They will include raffles, readings and workshops, among others. The activities will not only catch the attention of an Alcott fan, but people with varying tastes and interests, she said. History buffs may want to check out a talk given at Pennsylvania College of Technology about the Underground Railroad in Williamsport, and people interested in medicine may want to learn more about Alcott’s brief experience as a Civil War nurse.

There will be a performance of some 19th century music for anyone curious about music from the period. Education students may want to visit the 19th century school house that will be set up in the J.V. Brown Library’s children’s wing.

Leiter is excited to take his 4-year-old son to the school house for a lesson in 19th century dancing.

The diversity of Alcott’s life and the events that took place during the time she live should make it engrossing, as well as fun, to learn and participate at these events. Before each of these events, Reisen’s book will be raffled off for anyone interested in knowing more about Alcott’s life. Book groups and clubs throughout Williamsport are all encouraged to take a look at the book.

Visit http://www.lycoming.edu/library/pdfs/news/Alcott.pdf for more information about the events going on in the community.

Hurlbert has set up a Facebook page that you can “like” as well.On “Discover Louisa May Alcott’s World,” visitors can learn captivating and little-known facts about Alcott. The page includes information about the times and places of all of the events. It will also host photographs of the activities which have occurred.