This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

KIANTONE: Chautauqua County's Mystical Valley invites the reader into a vibrant 19th Century community that impacted Western New York, Indiana, New Orleans, Washington, DC, and Europe. This readable book, part local history and part personal narrative, is extensively researched and often tickles the funny bone as well. Each chapter is designed to function like a quilt block. Thus, the Seneca Indians, early settlers, Congregationalists, Unitarians, abolitionists, Spiritualists, Civil War soldiers, and the stories of other Kiantone residents are examined in detail. Pieced together, these historical blocks become a literary signature quilt offering a panoramic record of Kiantone's history and peoples. Those familiar with Chautauqua County's other Spiritualist center, Lily Dale, founded in 1879, will enjoy the exploration of Kiantone's Spiritualist community, Harmonia, founded in 1853. The book sheds new light on Harmonia's connections with Patriot, Indiana and New Orleans, Louisiana. The author also reveals previously undocumented information about the saga of this unique communitarian group that formed around issues such as the Abolition Movement, Women's Suffrage, and the Free Love Movement. Mystical questions, such as how unique geography affects the human soul, are explored in the context of this very special and seemingly sacred place. Sprinkled throughout the book are suggestions for further genealogy studies and other history research projects that will intrigue and beckon middle and high school teachers, college professors, and both professional and amateur historians. It also contains a detailed bibliography that will prove helpful to both readers and researchers. KIANTONE: Chautauqua's Mystical Valley \s designed to encourage more study and more enjoyment of this rich historical saga.

The chautauqua movement was a truly American phenomenon, providing education and entertainment for millions of people and employing thousands of musicians in the process. While scholars have previously explored various facets of the chautauqua movement, this is the first book to trace the place of music in the movement from its inception through its decline. Drawing upon the rich collections of ephemera left by several chautauqua bureaus, this study profiles several famous musicians and introduces the reader to lesser-known musical acts that traveled the chautauqua circuits. In addition, it explores music's role in defining the chautauqua movement as "high culture," legitimizing the movement in the eyes of community leaders and setting it apart from vaudeville and other competing amusements. Finally, it addresses music's role in establishing chautauqua's identity as an American institution, specifically in the years surrounding World War I.