Eastern Washington University history students, spearheaded by Holly Claypool and Benjamin Gallon under the tutelage of Professor Larry Cebula, have curated an outstanding exhibit at the Central Library inspired by Jess Walter’s bestselling novel, The Cold Millions. The exhibit is arranged in the glass display cases outside of the Inland Northwest Special Collections (3rd Floor) and can be viewed by the public from now through the end of March.
On Tuesday, February 10th at 4 PM, these EWU students will kick off the exhibit with an event on the nxʷyxʷyetkʷ stage, discussing their research and curatorial choices related to the novel’s historical roots, such as the Free Speech Fight of 1909-1910. Jess Walter will also be present for the discussion.
“The exhibit explores the myths and realities of Spokane at the turn of the last century,” Larry Cebula says, “a time when millionaires lived in elaborate mansions, workers scrambled to survive, and a fearless band of union organizers fought for justice.”
It’s a wonderful student-driven project that complements EWU’s celebration of Jess Walter and his outstanding contributions to our city and beyond. You can read a great article about Jess’s work and life here in Spokane in the recent Eastern Magazine.
The subject matter is also timely. As author Jess Walter says, “Given what’s happening across the country, it’s an especially apt time to look back at the Spokane Free Speech Fight, sometimes described as the first ‘successful’ nonviolent protest in American history, and a fascinating time to think about the role and efficacy of protest, and the lengths the powerful will go to subvert it.”
Walter also gushed about the high school students at The Community School—a Project-Based Learning Option School here in Spokane—who have spent eight weeks taking a multifaceted approach to examining The Cold Millions, including creating a smart and funny mock trial that charged Walter with “undermining youthful idealism” (ha!) and a detailed ‘Cold Millions Companion Map’ has been in development over the course of three consecutive years. You can view this impressive map here. Thank you to the caring educators at The Community School, Nathan Seaburg and David Egly, for allowing us to share the map on our blog.
The students at Eastern Washington University and The Community School are demonstrating how beautifully a well-written work of literature can unite us, educate us, and inspire us. We hope you’ll be able to join Spokane Public Library in celebrating the efforts of these students and the timely work of author Jess Walter. In a hostile era, books are more important than ever, and the thoughtful dialogue they evoke can help forge a much-needed path into understanding and civility.
