Newman Chautauqua

(1916 - 1923)

Chautauqua in Newman

For the purpose of this article, the term “Chautauqua” (chau·​tau·​qua) refers to a movement which began at Lake Chautauqua, New York in 1874.  What started out as a summer school for Sunday School teachers, evolved into a movement intended to enlighten society, particularly in rural communities.  Instruction, which was initially presented in established venues, eventually became mobile in order to reach more of the populace.  These latter incarnations of the movement were in the form of traveling shows and local assemblies that flourished in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Presentations provided popular education combined with entertainment in the form of lectures, concerts, and plays.  Educational content included all manner of subjects (science, philosophy, history, politics, health, etc.).  President Theodore Roosevelt described Chautauqua as “the most American thing in America.” 

In 1916, one such iteration of these traveling shows, known as the “Ellison-White Chautauqua Circuit”, began stopping in Newman for an annual 6-day long "season", typically in early to mid-May.

The Chautauqua in Newman was held each year from 1916 to 1923, ending its run largely due to the advent of radio and motion pictures which rendered such in-person instruction redundant.

In Newman, the Chautauqua was held for the first 4 years in a large tent erected on the site of what is now the location of the City of Newman Museum (1209 Main Street).  By 1920, after the Newman Library was built (the present Museum), the Chautauqua event was moved north on Main Street, about a half block beyond the intersection of Kern Street.  The last two events (1922 & 1923) were held indoors at the Star Theatre which was located at 1046 Fresno Street (currently "Newman Food Center").

Many contemporary newspaper articles provided a detailed accounting of the Chautauqua events, some of these articles are reproduced in the gallery section of this essay.

Below is an abbreviated list of the many prestigious individuals who came to lecture at the Chautauqua in Newman:

William Jennings Bryan

Ng Poon Chew

Victor Murdock

Governor George Alfred Carlson

Chief Nipo Strongheart

 Below you will find a collection of images from the Museum's archives - Click on the thumbnail pictures to enlarge to full size

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