Manager of Literary Arts Stephine Hunt holds up Black Out, by Angie Thomas, during Bryant Day.
As one season ends, another year begins — a reading year, at least, with the emblematic tradition of Bryant Day — as Chautauquans gathered last Saturday at the Miller Bell Tower eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the first Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle book selections for 2025.
The Bryant Day ceremony began with remarks from Jordan Steves, Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education — who quoted former vice president and Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education Matt Ewalt — as he reminded the community of the importance of reading.
“I’m going to quote one of my predecessors, because I don’t think I could say it any better as an introduction, as we think about Chautauqua’s history of coming together as community and conversation,” said Steves. “ ‘Bryant Day marks the beginning of a new reading year, but is also a reminder (that) Chautauqua, both inside and beyond the Summer Assembly Season and these grounds, reading is both personal and shared, a way to challenge oneself and to learn from and engage with others. It’s a way to share, enjoy, but also confront the devastating, to reckon within and move outside ourselves and seek understanding. It’s a way for us to bring Chautauqua with us.’ ”
Steves was followed by Deborah Sunya Moore, senior vice president and chief program officer, who echoed Steves in saying “how amazing it is to feel like we are joining this incredible community.”
“I hope you all feel those ties that bind, and those ties that bond, from past generations that began Bryant Day, to all of us that are working on the next generations,” she said.
The first 2025 CLSC Young Readers and Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selections sit on a table during the CLSC’s Bryant Day ceremony last Saturday near the Miller Bell Tower.
Moore welcomed Pat McDonald, president of the Alumni Association of the CLSC, and Alumni Association Director of Operations Kathy Hurst, who announced the Kate Kimball Challenge — named after the first executive secretary of the Alumni Association — to celebrate the upcoming sesquicentennial of the CLSC in 2028, and honor Kimball’s legacy.
“Those who participate will have four years to read 18 books from the historical list of the CLSC, one from each decade of the CLSC’s existence, plus one from any decade, and also Chautauqua’s Heart: A History of the CLSC, by Mary Lee Talbot,” said McDonald. “We chose 18 books because Kate was 18 when she took this job.”
McDonald also unveiled a patch — designed by Hurst — that those who complete the challenge will be able to receive for their Guild of the Seven Seals stole, starting next summer.
“The Kate Kimball Challenge is an opportunity to expand your understanding of the world previous generations of the CLSC explored,” said McDonald.”
Finally, as the anticipation reached its peak, Steves and Manager of Literary Arts Stephine Hunt unwrapped — literally — two CLSC selections for next year, as well as a CLSC Young Readers
book selection.
The first CLSC book revealed was Liberation Day: Stories, by George Saunders, the selection for 2025’s Week Three. Steves also announced that Saunders will be featured during Week Three of the 2025 Chautauqua Lecture Series, “Art in Action: Building Community Through the Arts” where he will give a joint presentation for the CLSC.
After a bit of a struggle with the wrapping paper that was keeping the book a secret, Steves revealed the second CLSC book already selected for next year: Blackout, written by Ashley Woodfolk, Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon and Angie Thomas.
Thomas will join Chautauqua during Recognition Week in 2025 — Week Seven, with the Chautauqua Lecture Series theme of “Kwame Alexander and Friends.”
The last glimpse Steves gave into the 2025 reading season was CLSC Young Reader selection Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy, also by Thomas.
Following the book unveiling, Moore made her way to the Bell Tower, and with the 12 traditional chimes from above — which represent each month of the new reading year — she invited everyone to officially welcome in the new reading year.
