Dr. J. Larry Allums, Executive Director of the Dallas Institute
Fall 2010 will be, among other things, an advent semester of considerable significance. Thirty years ago, in fall 1980, a small group of people vitally interested in the cultural future of Dallas met informally at the White Swan warehouse--located in what is now Victory Park--to talk about how best to activate their various interests as educators, urban planners, and intellectuals. The result was the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture--chartered as a non-profit on November 12, 1980, with programs commencing early in 1981. Six of those gathered at the White Swan became the Institute's Founding Fellows: Dr. Gail Thomas, who served as Founding Director, Dr. Louise Cowan, Dr. Donald Cowan, Dr. Joanne Stroud, Dr. Robert Sardello, and Dr. James Hillman.
Thus it is with great anticipation of commemorating the Institute's 30th year in 2011 that we enter the fall 2010 semester. You will be hearing much about the anniversary to come next year--"30 events for the 30th year"--even as we focus on the offerings of the semester at hand: a conference in City Council Chambers on "The 21st Century City"; another conference on the American West with expert writers and scholars; a class juxtaposing the literature of two seemingly different American regions--the Great Plains and the Deep South; a new and innovative group led by Judy and Patrick Kelly and designed to give you a front-row, in-the-know experience of The Season in Dallas; and several other events and programs, including continuation of our regular groups.