Dayton Duncan, an award-winning writer, documentary filmmaker, and frequent collaborator with Ken Burns, will be the featured speaker at a keynote dinner on June 7. The event is part of the “Conversations on Collecting Yellowstone” conference hosted by Montana State University Library and University of Wyoming Libraries. Dayton’s talk is titled “Happenstance and History.” It explores the unlikely confluence of events that resulted in Yellowstone becoming the world’s first national park in 1872; and the equally unforeseen and unplanned evolution of the park’s mission. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Music Hall in the Armory Hotel. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $100 for those not attending the conference and can be purchased here: https://collectingyellowstone.com/keynote-speaker/. For nearly 30 years Duncan has been involved with the work of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns as a writer and producer. Their series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, won Emmy awards for outstanding nonfiction series and outstanding writing for nonfiction programming. Duncan is currently working with Burns as the writer of Benjamin Franklin (scheduled for broadcast in 2022) and American Buffalo (2023). He is also the author of thirteen books, including The National Parks, a companion book to documentary series. Duncan’s appearance is sponsored by the MSU’s College of Art and Architecture and the School of Film and Photography. Conference leadership support is provided by Friends of MSU Library. The “Conversations on Collecting Yellowstone” conference coincides with the 150th anniversary of the creation of Yellowstone National Park and draws scholars, researchers, collectors, librarians and archivists to explore collections, scholarship and research related to the park and its greater ecosystem. Over 50 individuals from across the country will present including retired Yellowstone National Park historian Lee Whittlesey, author Dr. Diane Smith, Dr. Shane Doyle of the Apsáalooke Nation, and environmental leader Mike Clark. Those wishing to register can do so by visiting: https://collectingyellowstone.com/register/. For more information about the dinner event with Duncan or “Conversations on Collecting Yellowstone,” visit collectingyellowstone.com or contact Ann Vinciguerra, ann.vinciguerra@montana.edu or 406-994-6857.