It was a startling declaration: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” These words, written by Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1776, were hardly “self-evident” to most people in the world at the time, including those in the new nation, the United States of America. Now, 247 years later,…
Alexander Hamilton, despite a very modest birth, rose to become a key architect of American government. After serving as an aide to General George Washington during the American Revolution, Hamilton devoted his career to strengthening the new nation. He believed it was possible to establish a central government strong enough to sustain itself and its…
In 1871-72, Russian Tsar Alexander II’s son, Grand Duke Alexis, traveled through the United States for three months. Although his trip had a diplomatic purpose, there was a private reason as well – Alexis had fallen in love with an older woman who was not of royal blood, and the Tsar hoped an extended trip…
Special presentation by Tabitha Kidwell, Professorial Lecturer & Department Associate Chair, World Languages & Cultures Department of World Languages and Cultures at American University. Course Description This six-week synchronous online course will help teachers understand how to successfully lead, manage, and develop materials for immersive English language day camps at their schools. Each session will…
Dr. Lee A. Farrow, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Distinguished Research Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama will give a presentation on “What to See in the South,” focusing on historic and cultural sites in the south that any visitor will want to include on their itinerary.
Jazz is a distinctly American musical form but it has its roots in Africa and among European immigrants sharing diverse musical traditions. How this musical form evolved from the Southern piney woods to New Orleans and, eventually, to Chicago and New York and beyond is a story of blending -- both of musical forms and…
Join a virtual session with VSFS intern Sarah Bender - a second-year undergraduate student in Political Science and Statistics at the University of Notre Dame. Sarah will share her personal experience of studying in the U.S. and important tips on how to make your application to the U.S. colleges and universities more successful. Higher education…
Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes are two of America’s most inspirational poets, one white, the other Black. Whitman’s 19th century poetry depicted a new nation, increasingly urban, increasingly diverse, and with unlimited prospects. Yet, he also noted the challenges in preserving a democratic form of government. Hughes, writing in the 20th century, also acknowledged the…
“The American South is a unique region, influenced by its rich history and warm climate, and its culture and language reflect this. Life in the South moves more slowly, as does its dialects, with the well-known drawl and colorful sayings.” Dr. Lee A. Farrow is Chair of the Department of History and World Cultures, Distinguished…
Since the 1960s, American women have experienced significant advances in work, education, legal status, political visibility, and athletics. Yet, it seems that feminism has stalled if not regressed in recent years, particularly in terms of childcare legislation, maternity leave, and pay equity. Changes in public policy, and class and race fissures among women themselves have…
Dr. Lee A. Farrow is Chair of the Department of History and World Cultures, Distinguished Research Professor and Distinguished Teaching Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, in Montgomery, Alabama. She grew up in Louisiana and received her PhD from Tulane University. Her area of expertise is Russian History, with a focus on the history of…
Until the 1930s, housing in America was primarily a private enterprise. But the Great Migration of Blacks from the farm to the city, and from the South to the North created severe housing shortages. As a way to address the population crunch as well as to generate work during the Great Depression, the US government…
