To commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation, join us for a Commonplace Book workshop on Saturday, June 27 featuring speakers Nina Sanders (Curator of Indigenous Collections at Montana Historical Society), Mary Murphy (Professor Emerita of History at Montana State University) Wendy Purnell (MSU Library), and Dale Martin (MSU History Department). Rooted in the rich tradition of commonplace books, used by figures like Virginia Woolf, Mark Twain, and Isaac Newton, this workshop invites participants to begin creating their own personalized collections of quotations, images, ideas, and reflections inspired by the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Attendees will receive a notebook and curated materials to get started, along with opportunities to hear from scholars on the history of commonplace books, the nation’s founding documents, and the significance of this milestone anniversary. Together, the day will foster thoughtful engagement, creative expression, and meaningful civic reflection.

Sponsored by: Extreme History, MSU Library, The Montana 250th Commission, The Friends of the MSU Library, and Tinworks Art