 |
|
|
M. J. Albacete
 |
M.J. Albacete is the Executive Director of the Canton Museum of Art, and is Adjunct Professor of Art History and Architecture at Kent State University, Stark Campus. He has received a number of grants to visit and photograph important sites abroad. From his color slide collection, he has created many fascinating illustrated lectures on topics related to art, art history, architecture, and archaeology. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tomb of Tutankhamen
One of Mr. Albacete’s most popular illustrated programs, this revised and updated version includes many new color slides based on his recent visit to Egypt. The program follows archaeologist Howard Carter from the exciting moment of discovery through the removal and conservation of many items found in Pharaoh’s tomb. Of particular interest is the opening of the sarcophagus, untouched since the Pharaoh’s burial 3,300 years ago. The program also surveys the most important artifacts found in the tomb.
The Parthenon: Masterpiece of the Doric Order
After a brief historical overview of this magnificent architectural wonder, Mr. Albacete discusses the construction of the Parthenon, and then surveys the various sculptures with which it was decorated. The program includes reconstructions of the statue of Athena Parthenos, which once stood inside, fragments of the two pediments and the Doric frieze. For the finale, we follow the action of the 528-foot Panathenaic procession, augmented by rare 17th century drawings that largely fill in lost portions of the original frieze.
The Sistine Chapel Frescos of Michelangelo: History, Restoration, and Controversy
Beginning with the building and decoration of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, this illustrated program details the life and work of Michelangelo. After briefly reviewing past restorations of the Last Judgement wall and the Genesis sequence on the Chapel ceiling, the program follows the restoration-in-progress with many stunning before and after slides.
Dr. Albacete offers several other presentations, such as On and Off the Beaten Path in Israel and Classical Curios: Strange and Memorable Moments in Music. Please contact him or OHC for more information.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Dr. M.J. Albacete
al@cantonart.org
(330) 453-7666
|
|
Back to Top |
Timothy G. Anderson
 |
Timothy Anderson is an Associate Professor of Geography at Ohio University, where he teaches courses in cultural and historical geography. His research interests include the historical settlement geography of Ohio, the historical development of Ohio’s regional cultural landscapes, and German immigration to the United States. His most recent research involves the analysis of Pennsylvania-German settlement and cultural landscapes in central Ohio. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ohio’s Regional Cultural Landscapes
Both the historical and contemporary cultural landscapes of Ohio reflect the legacy of the settlement of a variety of population groups during the state’s period of settlement. During this formative era migrants from three of the primary East Coast culture regions, as well as foreign immigrants hailing mainly from Germany, funneled into the frontier Old Northwest via Zane’s Trace, the National Road, The Great Lakes, and the Ohio River. As migrants from each of these hearth areas settled in geographically separate regions in Ohio, they brought with them characteristic values and ideals, including agricultural traditions and material culture. This resulted in distinctive regional cultures. This talk will analyze Ohio’s early settlement history and geography, delineate the state’s distinctive culture regions, and identify the attendant cultural landscape features that distinguish each of these regions.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Timothy Anderson
Anderst1@ohio.edu
(740) 593-1138
|
|
Back to Top |
Hank Arbaugh
 |
Hank Arbaugh has spent more than forty years as a performer, scholar, and educator of traditional music. With an MA in English/Folk Studies from OSU, he has years of intensive personal research, and has spent long hours in the field. He has taught at the high school and college level, published and recorded music, appeared at several national festivals, and is president of two music organizations. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The British-American Ballads from Professor Child?s Collection: Classic Narrative Song Spanning Eight Centuries and Two Continents
At the turn of the 20th century, F. J. Child collected 305 different stories transmitted by folksong in Great Britain; many of which were brought to the U.S. These ballads--some as sold as the medieval adventures themselves--are replete with historical allusions, ancient supernatural beliefs, a distinctive "literary" style, and dramatic action. Hank performs and explains these ballads in an informative and entertaining manner.
Murder Ballads: Pen-knifed Sweethearts, but Other ?-cides? to the Issue
The old-world murder ballads relate tales of passionate murder told by a third-person narrator, and--like a Shakespearean tragedy--suggest universal consequences. Their American counterparts are mostly the stories of murders of a jealous manís sweetheart, told in the first person (often at the gallows) and occurring in a private setting like in the woods. Like many naturalistic novels, they suggest little consequence except to the characters themselves. Although these ballads may seem gruesome, they wax pale when compared to modern TV or movies. Hank performs these stories in a detached folk manner while explaining their socio-historic value.
A Bicentennial Music and Story-telling Program
From the collections of Eddy Grimes, and Salt, Hank learned the old Anglo-American songs and ballads carried from the colonies to Ohio, as well as songs of the Ohio canals, cultural diversity, historical figures and events, and immigration. He also has studied and performs songs of the Underground Railroad and Civil War. Hank ties all the music and stories together with engaging historical background to link wars, movements, settlement, and oral traditions to the larger socio-historic picture.
Hank can create a variety of thematic programs and presentations that address different periods of American history. Some of his most popular programs include: Celtic Traditional Music, Appalachian Folk Music, Ghost Ballads: Apparitions and Other Paranormal Phenomena, A Musical Perspective on Women, The Afro-American Experience: the History of Black Musical Expression, Love Songs through the Ages, and A Christmas Program.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Hank Arbaugh
(614) 538-8906
|
|
Back to Top |
Abukar Arman
 |
Abukar Arman is a writer, peace activist and interfaith bridge-builder. Over the years, his writings about Islam and Muslims and other related topics have been published by media groups around the world such as International Herald Tribune, Middle East Times, Tikkun Magazine, Global Politician, Antiwar, Arab News, and The American Muslim. Abukar believes that people of faith have a major role in creating an environment conducive for peace and understanding. Moreover, he believes that any interfaith collaboration toward the common good could play a critical role in removing the biggest divide and perpetuator of hate known to mankind- ignorance. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Islam: War, Extremism, Justice, and Peace
An introduction to the Islamic viewpoint of critical issues such as war, extremism, justice, and peace, this interactive presentation will scrutinize a faith practiced by an estimated seven million people in the Unite States and more than a billion around the world. In the process it will present crucial facts that challenge certain prevalent misconceptions and stereotypes.
Commonality within the Abrahamic Religions
While, in general, people of faith have profound commonality that could serve as the foundation for cultivating peace and preventing injustice, none have more in common than the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, in recent years followers of these faiths seem to be growing further apart. What can be done to reverse this course?
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Abukar Arman
abukar_arman@yahoo.com
(614) 778-3132
|
|
Back to Top |
Gerald Bazer
 |
Gerald Bazer is former Dean of Arts and Sciences at Owens Community College. He specializes in the history of the U.S. presidency. In addition to his teaching and administrative career, he has for many years spoken to audiences across Northwest Ohio. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great American Presidents
What makes a president great has long been a subject of debate. Over the years, scholars have generally agreed that certain U.S. presidents have been great, and others have been near great. This presentation discusses the factors normally used to evaluate presidents, discusses who were the greatest, and who were the less great. Dr. Bazer also gives special attention to presidents from Ohio.
The Most Consequential Actions of American Presidents
Each U.S. president makes a myriad of decisions during his term in office. Some of them have significant and lasting impact, while others may be soon forgotten. This presentation discusses which actions of fifteen American presidents should be considered the most consequential in U.S. history.
The United States
Presidents from Ohio
Seven U.S. presidents were born in Ohio, ranking Ohio with Virginia
as the states sending forth the most presidents. This presentation
discusses the contributions of each Ohio President, highlighting
the strengths and weaknesses of each administration.
Abraham Lincoln after 200 Years
This talk covers the rise of Abraham Lincoln from a one-term US Congressman to arguably our greatest president. It explores how Lincoln rose from obscure and difficult beginnings to reach the White House, discusses his role during the Civil War, his views on slavery, and controversies surrounding his alleged abuses of civil liberties during the war. Audience members will receive a variety of materials, including an extensive bibliography, copies of his greatest speeches, and pictures of Lincoln at various points in his life--which graphically depict the wear and tear on our only president to serve his entire time in office during war. In addition to adult audiences, this talk will be of value to high school students who are interested in studying American History.
America’s First Ladies
The wives of some presidents--such as Abigail Adams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton, and others—made great contributions not only to the administrations of their husbands, but to the country as a whole. This talk discusses the most prominent of American first ladies and the enduring legacies of their time in the White House.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Gerald Bazer
Bazergerry@aol.com
(419) 841-7856
|
| Back to Top |
James H. Bissland
 |
Associate professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University, James H. Bissland has spent his professional life as a teacher and writer, specializing in gathering and telling stories of remarkable people from American history. His 2007 book, Blood, Tears, and Glory: How Ohioans Won the Civil War, tells the dramatic but under-appreciated story of how men and women of Ohio played the pivotal role in winning the war. The book also chronicles how the war shaped modern America, making it the most important event in our history since the Declaration of Independence. Throughout Bissland’s extensive lecturing career, a wide variety of audiences have learned how Ohioans led the Union to victory. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The War Nobody Knows
More books have been published about the American Civil War than any other event in our history, but we know far less about it than we could. The Civil War saved what we call the “American Dream,” the promise of our Founding Fathers that “all men are created equal.” Few Americans know the dramatic story of how Ohioans led the Union to victory in the struggle to defend this cornerstone of American thought. With the 150th anniversary of the war approaching, this presentation will help Ohioans better understand how the war unfolded and the roles our Midwestern ancestors played in it.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
James Bissland
jbissla@bgsu.edu
(419) 352-0984 - home
(419) 349-2234 - cell
|
|
Back to Top |
Damian Bowerman
 |
Damian Bowerman holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Ohio State University . An accomplished actor, he also has extensive experience as a teacher and director of student productions at high schools throughout Ohio. Damian crea ted John D. Rockefeller for Ohio Chautauqua 2000. He has also performed at The Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO), Porthouse Theatre, Wexner Center , Phoenix Theatre for Children, Barn Theatre, Huron Playhouse, Showboat Becky Thatcher, and Findlay SummerStock. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Get money; get it honestly; and then give it wisely."
Deeply influenced by his Baptist religion, Rockefeller recorded this motto in his first ledger book and kept it throughout his life. During this presentation, John D. Rockefeller will share personal anecdotes and seek validation for his business practices and life decisions. The program centers on his corporate and philanthropic philosophies.
John D. Rockefeller Speaks Out
Rockefeller believed it was better to be silent than to dignify a personal attack with a response, though his family felt he should speak out. He was a complex man who lived in a complex time. In this program, Rockefeller finally defends himself against his critics and explores his life--from the creation of Standard Oil to his great love of golf.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Damian Bowerman
damianbowerman@hotmail.com
(614) 471-7616
|
|
Back to Top |
Ann M. Bowers
 |
Ann Bowers is University Archivist at Bowling Green State University. She also teaches and has taught Ohio History, Women’s History, and Public History. In addition to these subjects, she is interested in family records and local history. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White-gloved Feminists: Women’s Literary Clubs in Ohio, 1880-1920
The popular women’s literary clubs of this time provided means for middle-class women to broaden their minds and to understand the world and public policy. This program uses slides and excerpts of club records, and literary documents to examine the important effect of these clubs and the impact of their participants on society.
Ella B. Stewart: "Fight for Human Dignity and World Peace"
Ella Stewart, from Toledo, Ohio, was the first female African-American pharmacist in the U.S. She served as president of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations. This biographical presentation brings her story to the public’s attention, where it truly belongs.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Ann M. Bowers
13697 Cuckle Creek Road
Bowling Green, OH 43402
abowers@bgnet.bgsu.edu
(419) 352-1921
|
|
Back to Top |
Randall Buchman
 |
Randall Buchman is Professor Emeritus of History and Archaeology at Defiance College. He specializes in Ohio Valley American Indian studies, and has worked at prehistoric sites in Ohio and Indiana. He recently taught Native American History at Bacone College and Indian College in Oklahoma. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Road to Fort Defiance
Offering a glimpse at the conflicts General Anthony Wayne faced during the Indian Wars, this program relates the struggle for power within Wayne’s legion and hint of treason that confronted him during his military conflict with Ohio-area American Indians. Buchman includes overhead maps and illustrations of Fort Defiance.
Chief Little Turtle Reflects
Torn between two cultures, the Turtle reflects on his actions over the past thirty years on the Ohio Frontier. This program deals with the struggles the Turtle faced as he led the Native American resistance to the occupation of the Ohio Country by the Euro-Americans.
Historic Indians of Ohio
This presentation examines the relocation of the Historic People into Ohio and the cultural ramifications of Euro-Americans on the People in the process. This program uses slide and overhead projections as illustrations.
The Ohio Frontier
Ohio was looked upon as the eastern frontier for American Indians and the western frontier for the Euro-Americans. This program examines the impact on the frontier of the white-red relations during the pioneer era, and examines the role of the cultural brokers.
A Sorrowful Journey
This story of the removal of the Shawnee, Seneca, and Ottawa from Ohio in 1832 is based on the recently discovered journal of John Shelby. Shelby was an assistant conductor of those tribes as they followed their own “trail of tears,” walking across four states to lands west of the Mississippi River. The presentation is expanded by PowerPoint reproductions of Shelby's journal and maps.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Prof. Randall Buchman
rbuchman@cityofdefiance.com
rbuchman@def.net.com
(419) 783-2423
|
|
Back to Top |
Lilly Calderon-Cavanaugh
 |
Lilly Calderon-Cavanaugh is a native of Costa Rica and has a passion for promoting understanding and appreciation of peoples around the world. With over fifteen years of experience, Lilly has trained extensively in cross-cultural sensitivity, adjustment, and communications. She has lived and worked in Latin America, Africa, South East Asia, Europe, and the United States, and recently served as the Hispanic Liaison for the Sinclair College Office of Admissions. Her first hand experience informs her presentations, which seek to improve understanding of cultural differences on a local, state, and national level. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cultural Diversity: Understanding Hispanics
Although Hispanics are qualified as one ethnic group, there are many sub-ethnicities that form part of this rich culture. This presentation will help audiences to discover how Latinos think, learn, where they come from, and to understand the values that affect and shape their thinking.
Making the Right Turn for Diversity
Explore why you should care about diversity in the workplace and community. Understand general values that bring people together regardless of race and color. Realizing that we all smile in the same language can help us learn to cope with and appreciate cultural differences.
Perception is Reality—How Americans are Perceived by Foreigners
Learn how people from other countries see Americans. This program will explore some common “American Ways” and will discuss how foreigners interpret them.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Lilly Calderon-Cavanaugh
3683 Preserve Crossing Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43230-6467
lcavanaugh@insight.rr.com
(614) 738-0351
(937) 287-7875
|
|
|
Back to Top |
James B. Cash
 |
James Cash is a writer and business consultant. His broad experience includes employment as a steelworker as well as a contracting official for several federal agencies. He has traveled overseas extensively and conducted wide-ranging personal study. His popular history of the Ohio Presidents, Unsung Heroes, is now in its fifth printing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unsung Heroes: U.S. Presidents from Ohio
Eight men from Ohio won the U.S. presidency between 1840 and 1920. Although they lived dramatic lives and were heroes of their time, they are not generally highly regarded today. This program makes a case for reconsideration of the merits of the Presidents from Ohio.
Playing Through the Rough--A Satirical History of Golf
This program presents a satirical history of the game of golf from its Roman beginnings to its current status as a worldwide sport. Using the words of Shakespeare, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott, the speaker presents a unique slant on the stories of literary and historical figures from Scotland and Great Britain.
Mr. Cash has also created a number of other presentations, such as The Clash for Ohio: William Henry Harrison, Little Turtle, and Tecumseh; Lincoln and the Ohio Presidents; Five Ohio Presidents and their Civil War, The First Ladies of Ohio’s Presidents; and Education, Character, and Culture of the Ohio Presidents.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
James Cash
JamesBurr@aol.com
(937) 293-4399
|
|
Back to Top |
Cynthia Crane
 |
Cynthia Crane is the author of Divided Lives: The Untold Stories of Jewish-Christian Women in Nazi Germany . Inspired by the experiences of her paternal family, it tells the dramatic true stories of girls and women who endured persecution because of their mixed religious heritage. Dr. Crane holds a Ph.D. and is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Cincinnati. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Story of Divided Lives
Most attention on the Holocaust rightfully focuses on the plight of Jews in concentration camps, but not all victims of Nazi persecution were put to death. Many survived, lost in a social and political limbo, shunned by friends, neighbors, and oftentimes family because of their "mixed" religious heritage. Hundreds of thousands of Mischling, ("half-breed") children found themselves socially isolated because a parent or grandparent was Jewish. Dr. Crane’s presentation includes a PowerPoint slide show (if desired) that chronicles her journey and those of the women she interviewed, and can be tailored to audiences of varying backgrounds and ages.
Media Representations of Men and Women
This program delves into American popular culture, primarily the advertising industry’s stereotypical images of men and women. How do these keep our society "stuck"? How do these images affect gender relations? Do these images harm women, in particular? This program discusses looking critically at advertising and its subliminal messages.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Cynthia Crane
cranec@email.uc.edu
(513) 745-5799
|
|
Back to Top |
Betty Darst
 |
Betty Darst presents a living biography of fascinating First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes. The roles of historian and dramatist are Darst’s favorite avocations. She has worked for many years to share stories of exciting people, including many extraordinary Ohioans, with a wide variety of audiences. She is an adjunct faculty member at Wright State and is recognized nationally for her leadership in young adult and children’s literature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lucy Webb Hayes
There were many firsts connected with Lucy Hayes. She was the first wife of a president to have a college degree, and she described the dynamic of the Civil War on the first typewriter in the White House. Stretching her role as First Lady beyond that of hostess, she worked for completion of the Washington Monument and brought the Easter Egg Roll to the White House lawn, where it continues today. This first person portrayal lifts Lucy out of the pages of history.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Betty Darst
2423 Brown Bark Drive
Dayton, OH 45431-2618
Jdarst@woh.rr.com
937-426-8114 (phone and fax)
|
|
Back to Top |
George Dauler
 |
George Dauler has been portraying Ulysses S. Grant for schools, historical societies, and other community groups for over 25 years. With Masters’ Degrees from McCormick Theological Seminary and Case Western Reserve University, he has served as a social worker and marriage counselor, and is currently the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Orwell. Dauler also portrayed Grant across the state as part of Ohio Chautauqua 2001. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Look at the Character of U. S. Grant
In this first person portrayal, Dauler presents a look at Ulysses S. Grant near the end of his life, as he reminisces about his years as President, General of the Armies, and his formative years spent growing up in Ohio. He looks at the important influences of his life and discusses his achievements.
Grant’s Methods of Handling Life’s Problems
Mr. Dauler explores Grant’s unique process of setting goals, making decisions to implement those goals, and handling the results of those decisions. After discussing Grant’s problem-solving methods, Dauler takes on the first person character of Grant to relate some of his life experiences in which he utilizes those methods.
The Vicksburg Campaign
In this first person presentation, Grant tells the remarkable story of his military masterpiece: the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He discusses the strategic nature of Vicksburg and why the Union cause needed to capture that fortress, using maps to show the movement of troops. The Vicksburg Campaign is a study in persistence, effective problem solving, risk taking, and accomplishing a vital task.
Grant’s Boyhood Days
In this first person presentation, Grant looks at his relationship with his parents, his job in his father’s leather tanning shop, his school experiences, and his feelings about his appointment to the West Point Military Academy.
The Administration of the Eighteenth President of the United States
In this first person portrayal, Ulysses S. Grant discusses his successes and failures as president. He describes the difficulties of reconstruction, the post-war financial crisis, and relations with Congress. Dealing with issues regarding former slaves and Indian affairs on the frontier were also great challenges. After discussing his eight years as president (elected in 1868 and re-elected in 1872), he closes with the fascinating election of 1876, which had many similarities to the recent presidential election of 2000.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
George Dauler
1712 Drenik Drive
Wickliffe, OH 44092
Georgedaul@aol.com
440-943-5137
231-347-8914
|
|
|
Kenneth Davison
 |
Ken Davison is Emeritus Professor of History and American Studies at Heidelberg College. He has published a prize-winning biography of Rutherford B. Hayes and the only full length article on Hayes’ Great Western Tour. He has also co-written Ohio’s Heritage and continues his work as a researcher and public speaker. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lincoln: A Bicentennial Assessment
This talk presents an overview of our present understanding of Lincoln the man, and Lincoln the president. Recent scholarly work has brought to light new information about all aspects of Lincoln, from his family background and youth, through his legal and political careers, to his presidential administration and assassination. Dr. Davison will discuss this research and Lincoln’s place in history today.
Rutherford the Rover: Retracing the Hayes Great Western Tour of 1880
Among his many noteworthy achievements, Hayes was the first president to travel to the American Northwest and Southwest while in office. His two-month journey utilized seven means of transportation and helped unify a country still recovering from civil war and reconstruction. This presentation includes Powerpoint illustrations to retrace Hayes’ unique journey.
Along the Lewis and Clark Trail
This exciting anniversary program is based upon a 2004 field exploration by Dr. Davison during which he traced the route taken in 1804 by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. He investigated more than fifty interpretive sites along the famous route. Large colored maps, numerous pictures, and other display items supplement the speakers commentary.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Ken Davison
125 Hampden Park
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
kdavison@heidelberg.edu
(419) 447-1741
|
|
Back to Top |
Peter D’Onofrio
 |
Dr. D’Onofrio is President of the Society of Civil War Surgeons and editor of its quarterly publication, The Journal of Civil War Medicine. He has been active in many reenactments and published and presented numerous articles on his subject. Prior to his current scholarly pursuits, he learned about traumatic injuries first hand as a professional paramedic and has taught in various training facilities, including the National Fire Academy in Maryland. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Medical Advancements of the Civil War
The Civil War was the first modern war and resulted in the highest number of U.S. casualties per capita of any of our wars as approximately 620,000 men perished, including 360,000 in the North and 260,000 in the South; 25% of those involved died. These casualties exceeded those of all other U.S. wars and affected nearly every family in the North and South. What are not often understood or appreciated now are the rapid advancements made in American medicine that were stimulated by this conflict. This power-point illustrated presentation explains those advances and their impact on the subsequent development of American Medicine.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Peter J. D'Onofrio, Ph.D.
President
Society of Civil War Surgeons, Inc.
539 Bristol Drive, SW
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
socwsuregeons@aol.com
740-927-3088
|
|
Back to Top |
J. Clayton Fant
 |
Clayton Fant is Associate Professor of Classical Studies, Anthropology and Archaeology, and of History at the University of Akron. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. His interests are in Roman archaeology and architecture, especially the Roman marble trade. He has done fieldwork in Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, and Turkey, and has done research at Pompeii throughout the last decade. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to Read the Roman House: Daily Life and Class Distinctions at Roman Pompeii
The familiar Pompeian house, with its sober atrium and gracious peristyle, looks less standard in light of recent research. This slide-illustrated program shows that most Pompeians did not live in grand houses, and those who did inhabited an uneasy world of status claims and class distinctions that were coded in architecture and wall painting.
The Ancient Olympics: Not What You Thought!
A modern time traveler would hardly recognize the games at the festival of Olympian Zeus because these familiar elements were missing: team sports, national teams, "sportsmanship," amateurism, and medals for second and third place. This slide-illustrated program explains how the driving idea behind the Olympics was to prove yourself the best--at any cost. By comparison, the revived Olympics of the Victorian era were an exercise in upperclass self-congratulation.
The Marble Trade in the Roman Empire: Merchandise or Madness?
The Roman emperors operated about twenty quarries of the finest marbles and granites of the Mediterranean world. These marbles required enormous expenditures of manpower and money, but most were reserved for exclusive use in the Emperor’s buildings. This slide-illustrated program follows the marble trade from the quarries to the famous buildings like the Pantheon and asks, "Was the great expense worth it?"
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
J. Clayton Fant
cfant@uakron.edu
(330) 972-8069
|
|
Back to Top |
James Farrelly
 |
James P. Farrelly is a Professor of English and Director of Film Studies at the University of Dayton where he has taught for more than thirty years. His specialty is Irish literature and drama, but he also teaches courses in science fiction and modern fantasy, popular literature, and film and literature. He has a keen scholarly interest in the primal forms of storytelling—myth, folktales, and fairy tales—and in the roles they play in opening windows on the world for readers of all ages. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patterns of Culture
Storytelling exists in all cultures and traces its roots to early efforts of humans to define and explain the world around them: their origins, their communities, and their survival. Many myths, folktales, and fairy tales evolved out of this oral tradition and eventually were written down and preserved for posterity. This presentation will examine cross-cultural links in these stories and will propose that the human imagination may well spring from a common source.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Writers of fantasy literature and science fiction answer the call “to boldly go” where no one has gone before. When we sign on and enter the otherworlds they have created, we vicariously experience an odyssey of the mind that can teach us important lessons about our own existence and what it means to be human. In this presentation we will explore some of these constructed worlds and test the proposition that “Literature is life.”
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Dr. James P. Farrelly
James.Farrelly@notes.udayton.edu
(937) 229-3435
|
|
Back to Top |
Jeff Gundy
 |
Jeff Gundy is Professor of English at Bluffton College. He has published stories and essays about his ancestor’s pioneer days in Ohio and Illinois. Exploring the points where history and fiction meet, his work reconstructs the lives of early inhabitants of Ohio and the Midwest. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Community of Memory: My Days with George and Clara
Using their own stories, this presentation describes the personal experiences of Ohio’s pioneers and early inhabitants, including encounters and interaction with American Indians. It also discusses the style and selectivity of first-person accounts and the relevance of early history to contemporary conditions and issues.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Dr. Jeff Gundy
gundyj@bluffton.edu
(419) 358-3283
(419) 358-5425
|
|
Back to Top |
Gladys Haddad
 |
Gladys Haddad is Professor of American Studies at Case Western Reserve University and Director of the Western Reserve Studies Symposia. An accomplished author and filmmaker, her scholarship centers on the history, literature, and arts of Northeastern Ohio’s Western Reserve. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Viewpoint: A Regional Arts Perspective
This retrospective slide presentation traces the visual arts from the period of the Western Reserve’s settlement to present. It will include discussion of Laukhuff’s Book Store, Cleveland’s literary and artistic landmark, for its singular role in encouraging the arts.
Samuel and Flora Stone Mather: Partners in Philanthropy
From among America’s most wealthy and influential families, these great Cleveland philanthropists touched the lives of thousands, either through charitable gifts or through the creation of valuable and enduring institutions. They realized that their wealth presented an opportunity for practical sharing in the city’s social, cultural, and civic affairs.
Flora Stone Mather: A Legacy of Stewardship
She was an ideal of 19th century womanhood and a prototype of the Progressive period. Flora Stone Mather supported most philanthropic causes and was active in education and social welfare. Including a video presentation, this talk explores Mather’s unique life and career.
Women and Music
Long considered one of America's great orchestras, the Cleveland Orchestra (founded in 1918) stands today among the world's most revered symphonic ensembles. Three notable women figured significantly in its history and the creation of its home, Severance Hall. This slide-illustrated program examines the contributions of patron Elisabeth Huntington DeWitt Severance, impresario Adella Pentiss Hughes, and artist Elsa Vick Shaw.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Dr. Gladys Haddad
1640 South Belvoir Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44121
gmh3@po.cwru.edu
(216) 381-1743
|
|
Back to Top |
Dr. W. Sherman Jackson
 |
Sherman Jackson is Professor of American Constitutional History and Law at Miami University. An authority on the U.S. Constitution and race relations, Dr. Jackson has written extensively on the contributions of African Americans to history and culture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Civil War: A Constitutional Crisis
The focus of this talk is on interpreting the causes of the Civil War through constitutional, economic, political, and social issues. This non-military approach examines the relevant legal and cultural concerns of that period in history.
Supreme Court and Public Policy Issues
Each of the three branches of the federal government--Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court--has a specific role. The Supreme Court interprets federal and state laws, and in doing so, the courtís decisions become public policy. This program explores important policy issues, such as abortion, affirmative action, campaign finance, and the death penalty.
Tax Reforms
This program will interpret tax issues such as Social Security, income tax reform, and the Internal Revenue Service. The speaker will analyze how these impact our daily lives and will examine the many forms of taxation and their effects on the public.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Dr. W. Sherman Jackson
History Department
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056
(513) 529-5121
|
|
|
Back to Top |
Annette E. Jefferson
 |
Annette Jefferson holds an MA in Black Studies and a Ph.D. in Social Work, and works as a development officer in Human Services. She has spent more than 20 years developing her presentation and performing as Sojourner Truth across the state, including as part of Ohio Chautauqua 2001. She hopes that people are uplifted by Sojourner’s story and will use that inspiration to bring about positive changes in their own lives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sojourner Truth: Destiny’s Traveler
Sojourner Truth was an ordinary woman, illiterate and untrained, who did extraordinary things. Several years after "walking away" to obtain her own freedom from slavery, she became a national spokesperson for the rights of women and African-Americans. In this first person portrayal, Truth shares her amazing life story through personal anecdotes, songs and stories, explaining how she overcame repeated challenges in service to herself, her family, and mankind in general.
African American Women During the Civil War
They were young and old, sisters, mothers, and grandmothers. Some were well-to-do, others were slaves. All resolved to be a part of the War that would ultimately determine the status of the Black man in America. This talk focuses on women of African descent—Susie King Taylor who nursed with Clara Barton; Elizabeth Keckley, dressmaker and confidant to Mary Todd Lincoln; Charlotte Forten, college graduate and first African American to teach freed slaves in the south, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and others—and their unique contributions to the war effort. Dr. Jefferson discusses how such women, without access to political power and often lacking material and/or financial resources, acted with strength of character and will to make meaningful contributions to the war that impacted the world and changed a nation.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Annette Jefferson
299 S. Hague Ave.
Columbus, OH 43204
(614) 276-3160
|
|
Back to Top |
Hasan Kwame Jeffries
 |
Hasan Jeffries teaches history and is a faculty member of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at the Ohio State University. His writings and presentations focus on the Black Civil Rights Movement in America and the impact of the freedom struggle on local people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fields of Play: The Integration of College and Professional Sports, 1945-1970
In sports, as in all aspects of black life, African-Americans found creative ways to cope with segregation. In this presentation, Dr. Jeffries discusses the sports leagues that African-Americans created as outlets for black athletes during the age of Jim Crow. This serves as the backdrop for a broader discussion of the desegregation of premiere white college and professional sports that started in the mid-1940s, and the painfully slow process of on-the-field integration.
Prelude to a Revolution: The Brown decision and the Start of the Civil Rights Movement
This presentation explores the role the Brown v. Board ruling played in starting the African-American Civil Rights Movement. After situating the Brown case in the continuum of 20th Century African-American protest, Dr. Jeffries will consider Brown’s merits as a primary catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement by weighing its impact on everyday lives and comparing it to the impact of the 1950s bus boycotts and 1960s student sit-ins. Finally, he examines white backlash to Brown and the possibility that by generating massive resistance to desegregation, the case may have actually retarded, rather than jumpstarted, the movement.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Hasan Kwame Jeffries
Jeffries.57@osu.edu
(614) 688-4120
|
|
Back to Top |
Debra Johanyak
 |
Debra Johanyak is Professor of English at the University of Akron Wayne College, where she teaches literature classes and writing and is a member of the annual Wayne College Shakespeare Festival steering committee. Her book, Shakespeare’s World, explores the literary and cultural landscapes of Shakespeare’s writing. Her most recent book, Behind the Veil: An American Woman’s Memoir of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, was published in November 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Personal Impact of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis
The author discusses her experiences as a graduate student at Shiraz University in Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. A citizen of both the U.S. and Iran, Debra Johanyak experienced insights that shaped her political and religious beliefs. As tensions escalated, she was forced to choose one country over another for the well being of her two young sons and herself.
20th Century U.S.-Iran Relations
Dr. Johanyak explains some of the history behind the relations between our two countries that clarifies sources for much of the tension fueling the 1979 break in diplomatic relations. The author also describes the Iranian people, their history, and their culture in this session.
Turks and Terrorism in Shakespeare’s Drama
Middle Eastern terrorism is not new to Western society. The Ottoman Turks loom as a political threat in nearly half of Shakespeare’s plays. Find out why Shakespearean drama depicts Moors and Muslims in curiously contradictory ways.
Shakespeare and “Foreigners” in Elizabethan England
Was Shakespeare anti-Semitic? How did he feel about Muslims? What was known of American Indians and European gypsies? This session discusses the notions of “otherness” and “difference” in Tudor and Jacobean England in the Age of Discovery.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Debra Johanyak
dljohan@uakron.edu
(330) 972-8752
|
|
Back to Top |
George Kalbouss
 |
George Kalbouss is Professor of Russian Literature at The Ohio State University. He is a popular speaker and is frequently asked to consult on cultural, business, and political issues concerning the former Soviet Union. Dr. Kalbouss is also a facilitator for the Ohio Humanities Council’s Booked for the Day program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russians in the Movies
American movies have often been linked to our foreign policy, as illustrated by this retrospective of U.S. cinema from 1938 to the present. Through World War II, the Cold War, Détente, and the downfall of the USSR, it is surprising that Russians have rarely been portrayed as evil villains, but in a more sympathetic, even comic light. This presentation includes several film excerpts.
St. Petersburg and Moscow--Opposing Cultural Meccas
Russian culture includes two opposing currents: to be one with the West, or to reject the West and go it alone. Through slides and music, this presentation considers examples of Russian art, architecture and music. The speaker ties the two trends to current Russian relations with the West and to apparent contradictions, interpreting how Russians think and view the world.
The Great American Songs of the 30s, 40s, and 50s
This is a piano presentation, with commentary, of the great music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s from the pens of American songwriters. This music includes the works of Glen Miller, Rogers and Hamerstein, songs from the various Hit Parades, movie themes, and commercial jingles. A piano or organ is required for this presentation.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
George Kalbouss
kalbouss.1@osu.edu
(614) 487-1531
|
|
Back to Top |
Fazeel S. Khan
 |
Fazeel S. Khan is a civil rights and consumer protection attorney. He was born in the Fiji Islands, grew up in Canada and now resides in Ohio. Aside from his keen interest in the law, he has a passion for theology and comparative religious studies. He is the Secretary of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Islamic Society, Editor of the periodical The Light and Islamic Review, and an active participant in various inter-faith programs in the Columbus area.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Faith of Abraham, from an Islamic Perspective
Abraham is regarded as the “Patriarch” of the Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths. He is bestowed with the status of having firmly established monotheism and belief in an “unseen” God. Indeed, in Abraham we find a common ground among the three major religions of the world. This presentation will examine the unique position of Abraham in Islam and discuss how Islam endeavors to affirm the basic concepts of the Abrahamic model of faith.
Reclaiming Islam: Exposing the Untruths of Extremist Propaganda
The word “Islam” is derived from the Arabic word “silm”, meaning “peace”. Today, however, far from a religion of peace, Islam is perceived in the West as a violent and intolerant faith that is incompatible with the civil, democratic ideals accepted by the modern world. This view is primarily sustained due to the acts and propaganda of extremists who claim it is a strict adherence to the principles of Islam that justify their crude convictions. This presentation will examine the validity of this claim using the extremists’ views on jihad, apostasy and democracy as illustrations.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Fazeel Khan
fsk@BHMlaw.com
(614) 923-3103
|
|
Back to Top |
Bradley T. Lepper
 |
Brad Lepper is a Curator of Archaeology for the Ohio Historical Society and an occasional Visiting Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Denison University. His primary areas of interest include North America’s Ice Age peoples, Ohio’s magnificent mounds and earthworks, and the history of Archaeology. Noteworthy research includes excavation of the Burning Tree mastodon and discovery of the Great Hopewell Road, featured in a recent documentary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Burning Tree Mastodon and Ohio’s Ice Age
The 1989 discovery of this giant, ancient elephant opened an unprecedented window onto Ohio’s Ice Age. Archaeologists, biologists, and geologists excavated and studied the mastodon’s nearly complete remains (including its last meal) and other Ice Age animals and plants. This presentation will describe their findings and address the question of whether ancient human hunters drove the mastodon intoextinction or environmental changes caused its demise.
The Newark Earthworks: One of the World’s Ancient Wonders
The Newark Earthworks are the largest set of geometric enclosures and mounds in the world. The work of the Hopewell people who lived in Ohio circa 100 B.C. to A.D. 400, these geometric earthworks covered more than five square miles, using more than seven million cubic feet of earth. Why did the Hopewell build such monumental works? Were they prehistoric forts, or, rather, ancient American cathedrals?
The Great Hopewell Road: Ohio’s Ancient Superhighway
The Great Hopewell Road was a set of parallel earthen walls built around the time of Christ. They began at the monumental Newark Earthworks and ran southwest in a remarkably strait line. The road’s destination is a mystery, but it may have been a route of pilgrimage connecting the two grandest centers of the Hopewell world: the Newark Earthworks and the many Hopewell mounds and enclosures near Chillicothe--more than sixty miles away.
The Newark "Holy Stones": Science, Politics, and Religion in 19th Century Ohio
The "Holy Stones" are a series of carved and polished stones bearing Hebrew inscriptions, said to have been found in the ancient mounds near Newark, Ohio in the 1860s. They were seized upon by those who believed "savage" Indians could not have built Ohio’s mounds, but have been considered frauds since the late 1800s. However, some enthusiasts have recently claimed they might be authentic. What are the "Holy Stones?" Are they evidence of pre-Columbian visitations by ancient Hebrews? If they are clever frauds, what were the perpetrators’ motives?
The Serpent and the Alligator: Ohio’s Ancient Effigy Mounds
Effigy mounds are gigantic earthen sculptures in the shapes of animals or people. The Serpent Mound in Adams County and the Alligator in Licking County are fascinating legacies of Ohio’s prehistory. Although much about them is still mystery, they may finally be giving up some of their secrets. This program discusses studies the theory that they were powerful symbols of Woodland Indian culture and may have been sacred places where Shamans invoked the terrible power of the underworld.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Bradley T. Lepper
blepper@ohiohistory.org
(614) 297-2642
|
|
Back to Top |
Herbert Woodward Martin
 |
Herbert Martin is Professor of English and Poet-In-Residence at the University of Dayton. He teaches American and African-American Literature and has authored six books of poetry. He has been associated with the work of Paul Laurence Dunbar for over twenty years. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Eyes of the Poet
The poems, letters, and essays of this African-American writer, who was a descendant of slaves, create a legacy in which all Ohioans should take pride. Through readings and dramatization, the speaker brings to life the passion, pain, drama, humor and humanity in Dunbar’s dialect and standard English poems.
Oral Traditions in African-American Literature
Forms of indigenous speech and song are an influential part of African-American literature. This program explains how the sermon, the spiritual, the worksong, the dozens, the catches, the blues, gospel, jazz, and popular ballads, as well as folk tales operate to keep African-American literature alive and well.
Black Women Writers: A Foundation for Community and Sisterhood
Toni Cade Bambara, Rita Dove, Toni Morrison, and many others are among a new and vital generation of African-American writers. This program explores the ways they engagingly portray the joys and despairs of characters and their families and neighborhoods.
To schedule a presentation, please contact:
Dr. Herbert W. Martin
(937) 229-3439
|
|
Back to Top |
William Theodore McDaniel, Jr.
 |
William "Ted" McDaniel is Professor of African-American Studies and Professor of Music at the Ohio State University. A specialist in African-American music and jazz performance, he is noted for his analysis of the music of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. He has published several works on black music and more than 300 music arrangements. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Understanding Black History Through Black Music
| |
