Everything we think is new it is only a whisper of the ancestors reminding us to carry the positive forward. There are a lot of similarities between the Chautauqua Movement of the early 20th century and what we are trying to accomplish on a daily basis here are BlogHer and at the BlogHer Conferences.

The Chautauqua Movement was an effort to educates, enlightened and inspire rural Americans in the late 19th and 20th century. It started in New York and spread across the country. Visitors would be exposed to music, poetry, political discussions and debates of the time. Some of the visitors witness the birth of new technologies like motion pictures.

Other folks spent their time listening to science and philosophical discussions while others lined up to listen to politicians and the muckey-mucks of the day. There was also a faith based component where those that wanted it could soak up religious instruction by the leading faith based promoters of the day.

As good as it sounds not everyone thought that providing information to adults or the general public was a good idea. I was reading the University of Iowa Traveling Culture web site. There was an essay by Charlotte Canning "What Was Chautauqua" and this is what I learned how the leading figures of the day felt about it:

• Sinclair Lewis "Nothing but wind and chaff and the ...laughter of yokels"
• William James found it "Depressing from its mediocrity"
• Gregory Mason dismissed it as "Infinitely easier than trying to think"

Hmm, sound like the great, great, great grandfathers of Andrew Keen to me.

The Chautauqua Movement began to decline during the depression and new inventions like radio and television put a serious hurt in the number of locations that had events. Chautauqua never died it just evolved.

At the Maryland Humanities Council Chautauqua, there are historical interpreters that help bring the speakers of the past forward to inspire participatory action. Here is "Emma Goldman" presenting her ideas on Anarchy, Margaret Sanger and participation in small organizations.

At the Chautauqua Institute (NY) you can listen to podcasts on upcoming events, discussions about China, India, Media Ethics, Karen Armstrong on Sacred Texts and other topics to come.

You see, people never stopped wanting to learn, to gather in communities and to exchange information about their lives and the world beyond them. There are a number of regional Chautauqua events that are happening this summer.

When you think about it the BlogHer community has a lot in common with some of the goals of the Chautauqua Movement. We do spend a lot of time communicating, educating and sharing experiences.

And like the participants from long ago BlogHers also like to have fun, goof off and on occasion pontificate until our brains hurt. It is probably just the ancestors trying to get another word in edgewise.

Other views of Chautauqua:

• Hoarded Ordinaries - Photos and commentary on "William Jennings Bryan" and the sky of possibilities.
• Transparent C shares memories of Chautauqua
• Claudia Taller talks abut her experiences at the Word Lovers Retreat at a former Chautauqua location and the inspiration she received from the experience.