Laura Ingalls Wilder

Detroit Public Library renamed one of their library branches the Laura Ingalls Wilder branch in 1967 and had a special dedication for the event with a program.  The branch – still open but now simply called the Wilder Branch today – was dedicated on Monday, February 6, 1967.

You can view the full program here.

It is not clear who was in attendance at the dedication,

They also have a photograph of the branch, prior to its new branch name, here.

The Detroit Public Library also has copies of various photographs, letters and illustrations in their collection, some of which can be viewed here.  It is part of Detroit Public Library’s Rare Book Collection and is open by appointment only.

Caroline Fraser, who wrote the Pulizer winning biography Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, will be appearing in a virtual Meet the Author event celebrating Laura’s birthday anniversary.

During this meet the author event, the library will be discussing the book as well as taking questions about the Little House books and the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder for Fraser.

The event is part of the Somerset County Library of New Jersey’s Explore from Home programs.

Registration is required and seats are limited.

The event will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 8th, 2021 to celebrate Laura’s birthdate of February 7, 1867.

The new PBS documentary that aired at the end of December 2020 is available for viewing online through January 27, 2021.

The PBS documentary, Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page, doesn’t have a lot of new information for researchers, but it was interesting, however, I disliked they tried to focus more on the drama of the books, such as Charles Ingalls and money issues, the Rose Wilder Lane / Laura Ingalls Wilder collaboration issues, and of course how the books are seen through today’s eyes in terms of the depictions of Native Americans as Laura wrote in the books.

The documentary can be viewed here through January 27, 2021.

You can watch the trailer here: