Join us in the Museum to hear the story of one of the most interesting ukuleles in the world!

Nazareth, PA—The Moravian Historical Society kicks off its fall Museum Music and Lecture series on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 3:00 pm with a talk by Dick Boak on “A Stowaway Ukulele Revealed.”

Archival research, interviews, and imaging all combine to make a spellbinding story that blends biography, music, polar exploration, history, determination, courage, and romance.

The “Konter Ukulele” made by the famed C.F. Martin & Co. may be the most interesting ukulele in the world. It was owned by Richard Konter, “Ukulele Dick,” who took it along on Admiral Richard Byrd’s famed expedition to the North Pole in 1926. During the expedition, Konter solicited signatures on the ukulele at every opportunity, including all the crew members and a remarkable number of famous dignitaries of the day. Ticker tape parades and galas welcomed home the polar conquerors. Konter asked notable people to sign his famous souvenir. Calvin Coolidge, Thomas Edison and Charles Lindbergh were among them.

Dick Boak and archeologist Larry Bartram researched and co-authored the book “A Stowaway Ukulele Revealed” that traces the ukulele’s journey. Boak will tell the fascinating story behind this little Martin ukulele and the space-age detective work that revealed the more than one hundred famous people that signed it. Dick Boak worked for more than four decades with guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co., including as archivist and director of artist relations.

General admission tickets are $10, MHS members are $5, and students with ID are free. Seating is limited, advanced reservations are recommended.

Additional programs in the Museum Music & Lecture series can be found on the Moravian Historical Society’s website: www.moravianhistory.org. This series is funded in part by the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development through its Hotel Tax Grant. Additional support for this talk is provided by the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation.

The Moravian Historical Society’s Museum is open daily from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Founded in 1857, the Moravian Historical Society (MHS) preserves, interprets, and celebrates the rich culture of the Moravians. Located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, MHS maintains the 1740–1743 Whitefield House and the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest surviving Moravian structure in North America. Recognized widely for its significant collection, the museum offers permanent and changing exhibitions, educational programs, guided tours, and public activities.

For more information, visit us at www.moravianhistory.org, call 610-759-5070, or email events@moravianhistory.org.

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Information provided to TVL by:
Moravian Historical Society