Mitzi Linsenbart -
Mitzi tells the story of the Orphan Train to local groups and children in class room
settings. She provides her own pictures, books, and supplies.
Travel Area:
Mitzi will talk to groups within 60 miles of Sedalia, Mo.
Fee:
She does not charge a fee but requests her travel expenses be paid. If speaking
to an organization, she requests a donation to help meet NOTC's expenses.
Equipment Requirements:
No special equipment is needed for the presentation.
Contact Information:
3741 Suburban Lane
Sedalia, MO 65301
Dorothy Lund Nelson -
Dorothy is the author of Orphan Train Rider "Burke's Journeys", and is available
to tell the stories of America's lost history. She shares the experiences of the
orphan train riders as they found their new homes, through the use of videos,
slides, role-play, and costumes, Dorothy's program becomes a living experience
for the participants. Program length is one hour. She prefers a group of 100 or
less so that she can interact with her listeners.
Fee:
Dorothy does not ask for mileage or lodging, but does charge a fee.
Contact Information:
dlundnelson@hotmail.com
Elenore Schewe -
Elenore has given talks on the Orphan Trains to the Hannibal, MO branch of the
American Association of University Women and has assisted Evelyn Trickel with
her Elderhostel class at North Central Missouri College. She features the Bond
twins who came to Vandalia, MO in 1910 at the age of 8, but varies the talks
according to the group in attendance.
Contact Information:
P. 0. Box One
Vandalia, MO 63382
Renée Wendinger
Renée is the author of Extra! Extra! The Orphan Trains and Newsboys of New
York, a nonfiction documentary book, that can be purchased through the
National Orphan Train Complex. Renée is a speaker on the subject of the
Immigration Orphan Train Experience offering a historical slide symposium to
educators and schools, community and civic organizations, and libraries and
historical centers. Renée is an avid orphan train historian, and aspires to keep
this phenomenal part of America’s history alive. She is also a descendant of an
orphan train rider, her mother, Sophia Kaminsky Hillesheim, rode the rails as a
two year old from New York City to the state of Minnesota.
Contact information:
author@theorphantrain.com
www.theorphantrain.com
507-794-7835
Shirley Andrews -
Shirley has put together an excellent presentation which she willingly gives to
various groups in the Jefferson City, MO area. In this presentation, she
"Remembers Mama" as she tells of the life and achievements of orphan train
rider Irma Craig Schnieders.
Contact Information:
(573) 635-3338
shugandy@hotmail.com
Mary Jane Baade -
Mary Jane is an Orphan Train Rider who has spoken to many groups in
Nebraska and has been featured in newspapers and on television.
Contact Information:
421 West 9th St.
North Platte, NE 69101
Jean Gassman -
Jean is the daughter of Orphan Train Rider, Katherine Williams Jefferies. Jean
has spoken to the Rotary Club; Retired Teachers Assoc., United Methodist
Women; Lathrop Business & Professional Women; St. Ann's Alter Society, and
many others.
Contact Information:
519 Birch Ave.
Plattsburg, MO 64477
Charlotte Endorf -
Charlotte presents a program titled "Excess Baggage". She has documented
real-life stories of the children who rode the Orphan Trains between the years
1854 to 1929 after traveling over 8,500 miles, seeking the last surviving riders
and descendants. Dressed in period attire Endorf entertains and educates
audiences of all ages about this little known American history.
Travel Area:
While Charlotte has no travel restrictions, she does have a time restriction with
their schedule filling fast. They are currently traveling all of Nebraska and all of
it's neighboring states.
Fee:
The fee for her program is $75, with the rest of the costs being paid by the
Nebraska Humanities Council.
Contact Information:
endorf@cableone.net
402-371-3701
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Pippa White -
Pippa is a professional actress with extensive theater and television
experience. She grew up in San Francisco, appeared regularly on television as
a child, trained at the American Conservatory Theater Academy, and for five
years was seen as hostess of a daily morning television show at ABC. Coming
to Nebraska led to her pursuing an education (UNL 1982) starting a family, and
reestablishing a career with work at the Nebraska Repertory Theater, arts in
education programs with both the Council and the Lied Center, and finally, not
just one, but several one-woman shows drawing on many different sources for
a usual and entertaining solo productions.
Pippa's show [The Orphan Train] is suitable for clubs, classrooms, living rooms,
or theaters. It has few technical requirements and is performed with a minimum
of costumes and props.
Contact Information:
pipcompany@aol.com