Local Ojai author Joseph M. Puglia will visit the Ojai Library at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 31 to give a talk titled “North American Trade Beads.” The history of beads dates back 40,000 years, expressing culture, social circumstance, political history, religious beliefs, wealth and trade. . Dr. Puglia’s focus will be on North American trade beads, exploring their roles in indigenous cultures with an emphasis on artistry. He will share his collection of trade beads dating back to the Lewis and Clark era.
Dr. Puglia is a former college professor who taught English, Philosophy, Social Science, and History of Western Expansion. He also taught high school English on the Cheyenne Reservation at Lame Deer Montana. Currently, he is a writer soon to publish his fifth novel.