DOWNWIND: A People's History Utah tour set to begin soon (with special appearences in Idaho!)

This week, Downwind: A People's History of the Nuclear West author Sarah Fox will be returning to the region where her book research began ten years ago, to speak at libraries and universities across Utah (with a side trip to two communities in Southern Idaho) during the Utah Book Festival.  Her visit is made possible by the generous support of Utah Humanities, the Charles Redd Center for Western American Studies, and the libraries and institutions that will host her on this trip. Fox will be available to record oral history interviews for residents who are interested in sharing their memories of the Cold War in three different locations (noted below). Learn more about how to sign up for an oral history session here. 

Highlights of Fox's tour include:

Utah State University, Logan, Monday October 19, at 3:30 pm.

Salt Lake City Library, conversation with Mary Dickson, Salt Lake City, Tuesday October 20, at 7 pm.

Utah State Archives, Salt Lake City, Wednesday October 21, at 12:00 pm (Courtyard Meeting Room, 346 South Rio Grande (450 West), Salt Lake City, UT).

HEAL UTAH visit, Salt Lake City, Thursday October 22.

Oneida County Library, Malad Idaho, Friday October 23, 5 pm.

Emmett Library, Emmett, Idaho, Saturday October 24, 12:00 pm.

Oral History Gathering Session, Emmett Library, October 24, 1:30-4:00 pm. (email the author at downwindhistory@gmail.com to sign up for a time.)

Washington Branch Library, Washington City, Monday October 26, 7 pm.

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Tuesday October 27, 7 pm.

Oral History Gathering Session, SUU Library, Tuesday October 27, 1-4 pm. (email the author at downwindhistory@gmail.com to sign up for a time.)

Enterprise Library, Enterprise, Wednesday October 28, 7 pm.

Oral History Gathering Session, Enterprise Library, 5-6:30 pm. (email the author at downwindhistory@gmail.com to sign up for a time.)

Charles Redd Center for Western American Studies, BYU, Provo, 11:00 am.

Would you like to share your story of life downwind?

Author Sarah Fox will be available on three dates during her upcoming tour to record oral history interviews with residents who are interested in sharing their memories of the Cold War.  Digital recordings of these interviews will be donated to the University of Utah Downwinders Archive and the SUU archive.

Oral History Gathering Sessions will take place on the following dates:

Emmett Library, Emmett, Idaho, Saturday, October 24, 1:30-4:00 pm.

Southern Utah University Library, Cedar City, Utah, Tuesday October 27, 1-4 pm.

Enterprise Library, Enterprise, Utah, Wednesday October 28, 5-6:30 pm.

If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a story, please email the author at downwindhistory@gmail.com to sign up for a time at one of these sessions. If you aren't able to make it to an oral history gathering session, but would still like to share your story, you can submit a written history to Fox for donation to the archives (email downwindhistory@gmail.com to learn more), or you can contact the Utah Downwinders Archive directly to see about having your story preserved. 

Your stories matter. They are helping to change the historical record of the Cold War as it played out in the American West.  They are helping to bring awareness to the health problems, environmental contamination, and family tragedies that are still playing out across the downwind and uranium-affected regions. Thank you for telling them, and keeping this history alive.

Downwind author Sarah Fox interviewed on Bainbridge Community Broadcasting

This week I had the pleasure of riding the ferry over to Bainbridge Island to meet with my friend Channie Peters of Bainbridge Community Broadcasting. We had a wonderful discussion about my experience researching and writing the book, which you can listen to on the What's Up Bainbridge podcast on the BCB website. I'm looking forward to returning to Bainbridge on Sunday, July 19 to speak about Downwind at the beloved local and independent Eagle Harbor Book Co.

Thank you Bellingham!

Bellingham brought a fantastic set of questions to my talk on Downwind last week. It was a huge honor to speak at Village Books, and dear to connect with some of Bellingham's thoughtful writers, readers, scholars and activists.  If you live in the Whatcom or Skagit areas, please make a point of purchasing your copy of Downwind from Village Books.  They do incredible work in their community and they have been supporting authors like me for thirty-five years! They also have signed copies.