For release: April 6, 2011
For press information, contact Curt Guenther, 901-678-2843

History buffs and people with a keen interest in earthquakes will enjoy a free presentation, “Before there was a Memphis:  the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812,” the topic of a public meeting which will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, at the Cannon Center in Downtown Memphis. 

The lecture/discussion will focus not only on the large series of earthquakes that occurred in southwest Tennessee during the winter of 1811-12, but the earlier history (1782-1810) of quakes in the region, as well as others that occurred over the past 1,500 years.

Speakers will include Dr. Chuck Langston, director of the Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis and incoming president of the Seismological Society of America; Memphis Mayor A C Wharton; Memphis historian Jimmy Ogle; CERI historian Dr. Kent Moran; Dr. Buddy Schweig, of the U.S. Geological Survey; and Cliff DeBerry, vice chairman of the West Tennessee Seismic Safety Commission.

Validation for free parking at the Convention Center Parking Garage will be available at the meeting registration desk in the Cannon Center.

The event is sponsored by the West Tennessee Seismic Safety Commission, the Seismological Society of America, and the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information.

The schedule for the evening is:

 6:30  
General seating available 
Classical guitar music by Dr. Lily Afshar, U of M music professor

7:00  
Opening Remarks    
Dr. Chuck Langston

7:05  
Remarks by SSA President

7:10  
Building a Disaster Resistant Memphis
Mayor A C Wharton

7:20  
Before there was a Memphis                                                    
Jimmy Ogle

7:40  
The New Madrid Earthquakes of the 1811-1812
Dr. Kent Moran

8:05  
Prehistoric Central US Earthquakes
Dr. Eugene “Buddy” Schweig

8:25  
Closing Remarks
Mr. Cliff DeBerry

8:30  
Informal question-and-answer session, with coffee and dessert