New York Times bestseller Robert Edsel will be the featured speaker for the 2014 Welty Gala Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Mary Ellen Weathersby Pope Banquet Room on the Mississippi University for Women campus.
Edsel, author and founder and president of the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, is recognized as one of the world’s foremost advocates for art preservation. His book, “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History,” is about the “unsung heroes who saved the world’s greatest art and cultural treasures for the benefit of civilization” during World War II.
The book was recently adapted to film, starring Academy Award winner George Clooney, who directed the film, “The Monuments Men.”
For his work in preserving the legacy of the men and women who served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section, Edsel was one of 10 recipients of the National Humanities Medal in 2007. It is the highest honor given by the United States for excellence in the humanities field and honors individuals and groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities, broadened citizens’ engagement with the humanities or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to important resources in the humanities.
A former nationally ranked tennis player and pioneering oilman, Edsel also is the author of the nonfiction books “Rescuing DaVinci” and “Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation’s Treasures from the Nazis.” He also co-produced the documentary film, “The Rape of Europa.”
The Welty Gala is a part of the signature Welty Series held annually in October to honor the university’s world-renowned alumna Eudora Welty. As part of the Welty Series, The W also hosts the Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium set for Oct. 23-25.
Gala tickets
Gala tickets are sold at different levels and offer opportunities for attendees to enjoy a private reception with the guest speaker along with premium seating during dinner. A book signing and question and answer session will follow the program.
Prior to the dinner, guests are invited to a reception with several of the authors who are participating in the Welty Symposium.
Proceeds from the Gala benefit the endowment for the Eudora Welty Chair in Humanities. The Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation is a major sponsor of the Welty Series.
For ticket and sponsorship information, call the Office of Development and Alumni at 662-329-7148.
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