Everyone knows that school years have a natural rhythm. In May, all of the people directly involved in school – students, parents, teachers, staff – are ready for the school year to end. In many situations, the last few weeks are taken up with things that are not routine – final exams and papers, concerts, end-of-year celebrations, student assemblies, and so forth. Everyone wants to wind down. Absenteeism rises and concentration wanes.
Well, not for the Osher program. This week, members can take advantage of a new set of courses that run until the middle of May. The schedule is not as heavy as it was earlier in the semester, but the learning and socializing continue.
International Politics of the 1930s
This class, offered in coordination with W&M’s History 491C seminar, will examine the history of the international politics of the 1930s through “capstone” multimedia research presentations by upper-class W&M history and international relations students. Each class includes 5-6 student presentations.
The instructor for this class is Michael Butler, an adjunct professor at William & Mary who has taught this class for years. His field is diplomatic history, and each year the focus is on a different time period in the first half of the 20th century. As part of their capstone seminar, students (mostly but not always seniors) have to produce an original research paper, and the requirements include presenting their findings to a public audience. A few years ago, Professor Butler got the idea of offering Osher members the chance to be the audience for his students. This provides a wonderful opportunity for students to “go public” as baby historians, and for Osher members to connect with the marvelous young folks at William and Mary.
Professor Butler is the perfect person to teach this course. His Ph.D. focused on 20th-century American Diplomacy; he spent 30 years as a U.S. State Department foreign service officer; was a visiting assistant professor of history at William & Mary; and is a former faculty member at the University of Virginia and West Point.
This class is held in a classroom in the Swem Library on campus, and Osher members who take this class enjoy the opportunity to explore the campus and mingle with the students as they go about their busy lives.
A Brief History of the Arabs
Gain an understanding of Arab history from pre-Islamic times to 1200 CE. Within a very short period after Muhammad’s death (d. 633 CE), the Arabs were ruling over an area larger than the Roman Empire at its zenith. The reasons for this rapid pace of Arab conquests will be discussed. You will also gain an understanding of Arab culture, religion, literature, and contributions.
The instructor for this class is Nashat Ahmad, who has a Ph.D. in computational science from George Mason University and spent 25+ years in the field. The study of history has been his lifelong passion; recent areas of study include the history of the Middle East and South Asia.
I took a class on The Quran from this instructor the first semester he taught for the Osher Program. His knowledge is deep and his desire to share what he knows with Osher members (who generally don’t know much about the history and culture of the Middle East) is evident. This is not a light course; he explores complex topics and unfamiliar events.
Western Europe on Fire in the Middle Ages: The Hundred Years War
From 1337 to 1453, England and France fought almost continuously over the throne of France. In many ways, French and English nationalism emerged from this conflict. We will review the causes, strategies, major battles, key players, and technical and tactical innovations of this conflict. Finally, we will look at who won, why, and the importance of it all.
The instructor for this course, Bill Riffer, is a retired career submarine officer with a lifelong interest in military history. In addition to at-sea commands, he served as Atlantic Submarine Force chief of staff for tactics, training, and doctrine. He holds degrees in nuclear engineering, national security policy, and international relations.
I have taken several classes from Bill and have come to know him a bit through Osher program activities. He is an engaging and infinitely curious lifelong learner – just the kind of person you want to listen to when he talks about topics he loves. He’s teaching this class in the auditorium of the Williamsburg Public Library; this space holds 200 people, and Bill has enough of a following that he could fill this space every time he teaches. The only limitation is parking.
The Rise and Fall of Domestic Servants in Early 20th-Century Northeast America
This course surveys the role of domestic servants as the Gilded Age moved on to the Progressive Era. We’ll cover cultural and historical contexts; structure, roles, and duties of staff; relationships of servant to master and servant to servant; technological impacts; and customs, rules, and manners in wealthy homes attended by servants. We will look at psychological, social class, and sociological factors at work in this unique arrangement of household operations.
The instructor for this course, David Hopkinson, has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He spent seven years teaching full-time at the collegiate and graduate school level, five of those at William & Mary. He has served as a tour guide at Maymont Mansion, has written a manuscript, and presented as a public lecturer.
He has offered this course a half dozen times since I’ve been involved in Osher. I was talking to him one time about whether he was going to offer it again, and he said that he would keep offering it as long as people kept signing up for it. The potential membership for the Osher program is always growing, as hundreds of retirees relocate to Williamsburg every year and they’re all looking for something fun and interesting to do.
David’s class is fun and interesting. He comes by his interest in this topic naturally; his great-grandfather was a domestic servant, and David wears his grandfather’s formal attire to the class.
Thanks, Karen!