For immediate release | May 24, 2011

Tahlequah Public Library designated a Literary Landmark by ALTAFF, in honor of Wilson Rawls

PHILADELPHIA – The Tahlequah (Okla.) Public Library was designated a Literary Landmark in honor of Wilson Rawls by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

Woodrow Wilson Rawls (1913-1984) was the author of two children’s books: "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Summer of the Monkeys." Rawls’ early childhood was spent on his mother’s Cherokee allotment 13 miles northeast of Tahlequah, along the Illinois River in Cherokee County. As a young boy, he was inspired to become a writer by Jack London’s "The Call of the Wild." Rawls visited the Carnegie Library in Tahlequah when he was young. He wrote, “The day I discovered libraries was one of the biggest days of my life. Practically all of my spare time was spent there. I read everything I could get my hands on pertaining to creative writing. I didn’t just read those books, I practically memorized them.”

Rawls’ lifelong dream of writing was finally realized after he married Sophie Ann Styczinski in 1958. She encouraged and supported him as he began working on a story of a boy and his dogs. In 1961, his story “The Hounds of Youth” was serialized in The Saturday Evening Post. Doubleday renamed the story "Where the Red Fern Grows" and published it as a book. Rawls’ second book, "Summer of the Monkeys," was published by Doubleday in 1976. "Where the Red Fern Grows" is a best-selling book with more than 6.5 million copies sold. Both of Rawls’ books were made into films

Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO), Tahlequah Friends of the Library and the Cherokee Heritage Center of Tahlequah joined ALTAFF in supporting this Literary Landmark designation. This is the 10th Literary Landmark in Oklahoma.



At the Literary Landmark dedication on April 30, 2011, Robin Mooney, branch manager of Tahlequah Public Library, welcomed more than 100 guests. Rob McClendon, host and executive producer, "Oklahoma Horizon TV," served as master of ceremonies. "Oklahoma Horizon TV" airs nationally on PBS and is producing a segment about the dedication. In honor of Rawls’ Cherokee heritage, John Ketcher offered a Cherokee blessing, and the D. D. Etchieson United Methodist Church Choir sang three hymns in Cherokee. Information about the significance of the Wilson Rawls Collection donated by Sophie S. Rawls to the Cherokee Heritage Center was shared by Tom Mooney, archivist at the Cherokee National Historical Society, Inc., Tahlequah. Dr. Bill Corbett, professor of history, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, discussed Wilson Rawls’ life.

Special guests who traveled from out-of-state were Rawls’ nephew Carl George,wife Laura and their children, Danni and Kaya; Carl’s mother, Charlotte George; niece Susan Rawls Faulk and her daughter Vanessa Rawls Estes; niece Jeanne Styczinski and daughters Kayla and Elizabeth.

The dedication occurred during Tahlequah’s sixth annual Red Fern Festival, sponsored by the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Council. Festival events include hound dog trials, crawfish pond, children’s games, music and a car show. The movie "Where the Red Fern Grows" was shown outdoors in Norris Park near a chainsaw sculpture of Billy Colman, Old Dan and Little Ann from the book "Where the Red Fern Grows."

In conjunction with the event, FOLIO published a 28-page booklet titled "Woodrow Wilson Rawls: Writer, Storyteller, Carpenter, Cherokee, Outdoorsman" for the purpose of celebrating Rawls and his writing, encouraging literacy and storytelling and helping instill pride in Oklahoma’s literary heritage and the Cherokee Nation.

The full-color booklet contains Rawls’ autobiography; pictures; timeline; the essay “Where the Red Fern Grows -- Life-Changer, Mind-Changer” by Jim Trelease, author of "The Read Aloud Handbook;" lists of Rawls’ publications and awards and places of interest; and information about Sophie S. Rawls, the Cherokee Nation, the Tahlequah Public Library, FOLIO and Literary Landmarks. The booklet was edited by Karen Neurohr, associate professor and librarian, Oklahoma State University Library, FOLIO Committee Chair, Oklahoma Literary Landmarks; and FOLIO members and Tahlequah residents Irene Wickham and Harlene Wills.

The booklet was funded in part by the Oklahoma Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Major booklet partners include FOLIO, the Oklahoma State University Library, Friends of the Oklahoma Center for the Book, the Cherokee Heritage Center, Kiwanis Club of Tahlequah, Reading Tree Productions, the Tahlequah Community Foundation, World Literature Today, and the OSU Native American Student Association. The booklet will be digitized for online access by the OSU Library.

The Literary Landmark program is administered by ALTAFF. More than 100 Literary Landmarks across the United States have been dedicated since the program began in 1986. Any library or citizens group may apply for a Literary Landmark through ALTAFF. For more information, visit www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/products_services/literarylandmarks.

ALTAFF will present a panel discussion on “Recognizing Your Community’s Literary Heritage: How to Designate a Literary Landmark” at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. For information, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/events_conferences/annual/workshops/workshops.cfm.

ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org

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Contact:

Jillian Kalonick