The Tuesday essays in this newsletter focus on the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the College of William and Mary. In addition to teaching and taking classes in this program, I serve as the Subject Area Coordinator (SAC) on the Curriculum Committee. Part of what I do in this position is recruit new instructors, interview instructors who apply to teach, and screen course proposals in the area of American History. There are other SACs for other areas – Politics and Law, World History, Current Affairs, Art/Music/Film, Natural and Social Sciences, Health and Wellness, Languages, Literature and Writing, Photography, Finance and Economics, Computers and Technology, and General Studies.
As you can probably guess, American History is a very popular topic among the folks who have retired to Williamsburg. These are the courses offered in my category – American History – for this spring.
A Comparison of the Plymouth and Jamestown Colonies:
The cultural, historical, economic, and religious characteristics of two early 17th-century English colonies will be compared and contrasted. Questions covered include, but are not limited to: Why did they leave England? What skills did the colonists bring to the New World? What were their farming strategies? What were their expectations upon arriving in the New World? What were their perspectives on slavery? What were their life expectancies? What were their religious goals for the Native Americans? What knowledge and expectations did the Native Americans have about the English prior to the arrival of the colonists?
American Polymath: The Extraordinary Life of Benjamin Franklin (I taught this class)
He was born in Puritanical Boston in 1706. He died in 1790, having played a role in the development of colonialism, the birth pangs of Revolution, and the infancy of democratic experimentation. More than 150 places and institutions are named after him: 32 counties, 50 municipalities in 31 states, 51 schools, and many mountains, lakes, fields, parks, zoos, roads, clubs, museums, and even a crater on the moon. This class will focus on three things: Franklin’s early life; his career as a writer, scientist, inventor, printer, and publisher; and his later life as a diplomat, statesman, and political philosopher.
Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War
The Kansas-Nebraska Act brought on a period of violence between pro-slavery and abolitionist forces called Bleeding Kansas. Quantrill’s burning of Lawrence caused the radicalization of John Brown whose role in killings in Kansas allowed him to raise money for the raid on Harper’s Ferry. Bleeding Kansas caused the creation of the Republican party, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and bloody raids along the Kansas-Missouri border during the war. After the war, many Confederate guerrillas, including the JamesYounger gang, became outlaws, and animosity generated by the war continued.
City of Washington: The Origin and History of the Federal City
Washington, DC has grown greatly since the original plan for the Federal City was drawn by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791. This two-week course is an expansion of the instructor’s previous Osher one-time lectures on this topic, and will review in more detail the origin of the Federal City and the significant events, buildings, and features that have shaped the city as we know it today
From Colony to Commonwealth: An Examination of the Primary Sources
It is all too easy to generalize the 18th century as the “Colonial Era.” But Virginians underwent a sea of change in the last quarter of the century. Politically, socially, economically, religiously ... there was not an aspect of life that was not affected to some degree by the assertion of independence and the war. Participants will have an opportunity to read, analyze, and discuss transcriptions of rarely seen documents (including government documents, newspaper ads, diaries, and personal letters) that reveal these changes.
From Elizabeth to Elizabeth - The Influence of British Sovereigns on Virginia
This course will explore the political and historical relationship between British Monarchs (and their governments) and the citizens of Virginia. Using the actions from Elizabeth I to George III to focus on how the understanding of political rights changed up to and after the American Revolution. It will also reflect on how British sovereigns directly influenced commerce (especially the free market system), the rule of law, and the role of religion in the Commonwealth.
Home Fires: From the Wizard of Oz to I Love Lucy
What was life like for those living in the U.S. from just before World War II through the Korean Conflict? Gone were the chaos and desperation of the prior two decades. Wars were raging across oceans and people were unsure when the war might directly impact their lives or actually reach U.S. shores. While quietly keeping the home fires burning, Americans were adapting to new lifestyles and evolving technology. We were exposed to more art and entertainment opportunities than ever before. This is a continuation of the prior social history class Between the Wars: From Ain’t We Got Fun to Brother Can You Spare a Dime. The goal is to better understand the daily lives of our parents and sometimes even ourselves as we lived through this period.
How Britain Came to Lose Its American Colonies 1760-1783
A study of the events that gave rise to increasing tensions between Britain and its American colonies and that ultimately resulted in the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Britain’s reaction to American actions and demands and the outbreak of war will be the focus of this study as will the evolution of Britain’s warfighting strategies and the ultimate evolution of the war into an international conflict. Strategically important battles of the Revolutionary War will be covered.
Seeing the Future: Olmsted’s America
Before he became the nation’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted was a failed sailor, farmer, writer, and gold miner. His writing influenced international opinion on slavery, and wanted to build parks that would stay relevant for hundreds of years, and serve all the people. With dogged perseverance, battling through personal tragedies, he made it happen. This course will focus on Olmsted’s life and world, a time of civil war, rapid nation-building, and the beginning of the American park system.
The Civil War Soldier as Represented in Today’s Market
A representation of mostly the Civil War infantryman, both Union and Confederate as represented by what is currently available for purchase in today’s market. We will not only explore prices but weapons and accoutrements used by both sides in the conflict as represented by existing examples. Participants are encouraged to bring in any items they have for discussion.
The Foreboding Storm: Freedom, Capitalism, and the Enigma of Slavery (1607-1861)
Were the founders hypocritical, or were they simply accepting the philosophical perspectives of the times, believing subjugation, racial hierarchy, and religious beliefs were consistent? What responsibility did the emergence of capitalism have in promoting such practices? This course provides a history of early economics in Colonial America and encourages thoughtful consideration and dialogue on this ever timely subject.
Wild Times: Audubon’s America
A young man in a young nation, John James Audubon had the ambitious goal of painting all the birds of America, life-size. The still-new United States was mostly wilderness, and Audubon had a small business to run and a family to support. He labored without success for years, suffering personal rejection and financial ruin, as he discovered new species, studied their habits, and left a warning and a legacy for the conservationists who would follow. This course will focus on Audubon’s life and world, a time of explosive growth and rapid scientific and technological change.
Introduction to The American Wisdom Tradition, Part I: Williamsburg and the 18th Century
Is there a compelling tradition of wisdom in American life? The world looks to the example of America for many things—for independence, for ideals of freedom and equality, for industry, wealth, and opportunity— but seldom for wisdom. Yet through the length of American history runs a current of “plain living and high thinking” that draws upon the world’s many wisdom traditions, at last, to reflect that ancient light back to the world as something radically new. In this Part I, we examine the revolutionary wisdom of the 18th century American Enlightenment by focusing on Thomas Jefferson and Williamsburg, Virginia.
Introduction to The American Wisdom Tradition, Part II: Walden and the 19th Century
In Part II, we examine the transcendental wisdom of the 19th century American Renaissance by focusing on Ralph Waldo Emerson and Concord, Massachusetts.
Introduction to The American Wisdom Tradition, Part III: The West and the 20th Century
In Part III, we examine the environmental wisdom of the early 20th century American West by focusing on John Muir and Yosemite Valley, California.
Introduction to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 or Year of the Big Giveaway
Early in 1851, the Congress of the United States authorized holding a great treaty council with Plains Indian tribes to assure peaceful relations along the Overland Trails. Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming was chosen as the meeting place. More than 10,000 people (men, women, and children) gathered to listen to the big talk and receive the big giveaway promised by the Indian Bureau. The resulting treaty outlined the rights and responsibilities of both the American Indians and the U.S. Government. Never before had so many American Indians assembled to parley with the white man.
The Extraordinary Advances in Surgical Care in America: 1775-1900
Between 1775 and 1900 American surgical care progressed from primitive to scientific and modern. In the Revolutionary War, 9 of 10 soldiers died from infections. American medicine was 100 years behind Europe. Frontier medical schools brought scientific medicine to most cities in America. The Civil War added “the best treatment in the history of warfare.” The beginning of modern medical science distinguished the final part of the 19th Century and presaged the historic advances of the 20th Century.
The Lost Cause: How the South’s post-Civil War Propaganda Campaign Won the Peace
In the aftermath of the Union Army’s victory, influential Southerners began mounting a propaganda campaign aimed at reasserting the South’s white supremacist social order. Drawing on recent scholarship this lecture will explore the potent role the South’s interpretation of the Civil War and Reconstruction played in legitimating the South’s, and the nation’s, systemic racism.
The Metaphysical Thomas Jefferson
“If you could talk with Thomas Jefferson, what questions would you ask?” Eight Jefferson scholars posed queries that were channeled to “Mr. Jefferson” by an experienced medium. The result is a fascinating commentary on government, race relations, religion, the media, foreign policy, the military, slavery, higher education, and other Founding Fathers. Author Suzanne Munson compiled Jefferson’s observations for her new book, “The Metaphysical Thomas Jefferson,” trending well on Amazon. Whether you believe in mediumship or not, prepare for an intriguing journey to the immortal mind of Thomas Jefferson.
Menokin’s Cultural Landscape Tour: A Walking Tour
Through the themes of Home, Freedom & Memory, the built and natural environment reveal to us the lived experiences of Menokin’s people. Their triumphs and struggles over the course of Menokin’s history are tied to the nation’s founding ideals and realities. Students will identify key groups and families who lived at Menokin in the past and those who continue Menokin’s story today. They will discover how and why the full cultural landscape is integral to its past and present. (Menokin was the home of Francis Lightfoot Lee)
The City of God: A Philosophical Garden Tour
This hour-long walking tour of the town and gardens along Palace Street in Colonial Williamsburg examines the city through the philosopher’s eyes. Do gardens have meaning? Is architecture more than shelter and decoration? Is there a difference in Williamsburg and what difference does it make to us? What role can a city play in the pursuit of wisdom?
Could you find something interesting in this list of classes?
Would love to attend the Olmsted class. I read the biography "Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted" and found it fascinating. He was an amazing person in so many fields.
This time I won't be late to register and miss a class!