Celebrating the Life of Silas Soule: Reading His Letters on His Birthday
July 26
Rev. Dr. Nancy Niero has just published her first book, Witness at Sand Creek, The Life and Letters of Silas Soule and has three upcoming Denver events this month bringing community together to celebrate this important work.
Please join Dr. Niero at the annual reading of Silas Soule’s letters read at the grave on his birthday at Riverside Cemetery, July 26 at 10 am. “Celebrating the Life of Silas Soule: Reading His Letters on His Birthday” includes reading 25 letters he wrote from 1860-1865. Silas is buried in the Grand Army of the Republic block of graves, near the light rail line on the east side of the cemetery. Bring a chair and listen to the letters of this witness at Sand Creek Massacre who disobeyed orders, and watched the Massacre where 250 Cheyenne and Arapaho elders, women, and children were murdered by Colorado soldiers under the command of Methodist minister John Chivington on November 29, 1864. This event is not appropriate for all ages as words of violence will be spoken.
A book reading and signing will follow later in the day on July 26, at Salem UCC, 5300 E. Florida Ave., Denver beginning at 3:30 with a community singalong featuring freedom songs from the civil rights movement. The book reading featuring favorite letters will begin at 4pm. Refreshments will follow.
On Thursday, July 31, join Dr. Niero, Iliff alumna and Dr. Loring Abeyta, University of Denver alumna for a conversation at Iliff School of Theology, 2323 E. Iliff Ave., Denver from 3pm to 4pm. “A Literary Alumnae Salon: A Scholarly Confluence of Faith, History, the Land and Meaning Making in the 21st Century” will feature a conversation on the nexus of their research in the history of the Sand Creek Massacre and The Iliff Book. The Iliff Book is a book of Latin scripture that was covered in the skin of a Lenape man and donated to Iliff in 1893. Its complex history is part of the ongoing work of the Iliff Reckoning Study Group where both scholars serve.
For information on these events, contact Dr. Niero at nancy@anointjourney.com