Most of her memoir centers on her childhood in the Mennonite Community and her conflicting desire to become a sophisticated woman in the outside world.
Shirley Hershey Showalter was born to a family of Swiss-German farmers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She grew up during a time when many in the Mennonite church were favoring a more progressive direction and that helped shape her experiences, particularly as one who supported the move. She was the first person in her family to attend college. She later went on to be a teacher, professor, and college president before becoming an author.
Showalter offers several subjects for her talk and those who attend may get a chance to vote on which one she’ll give. For more information, contact the library at 913-722-7400. The South Branch is located at 3104 Strong Ave, Kansas City, Kansas, 66106.
