With all of the recent WWII presentations that focused on various campaigns in Europe, we sometimes lose track of an equally hard-fought war in Asia. For nearly four years British and Indian forces fought a very arduous campaign in southeast Asia, not only against the Japanese but against hunger, disease, jungle conditions, mountains, and monsoons. And they did this in remote areas where there were hardly any roads, railroads or airports, and where the most reliable means of transporting supplies was sometimes on the back of an elephant! Often overlooked by the British press, the British Fourteenth Army, became known as “The Forgotten Army.” This is their story and the story of their very remarkable commander, Field Marshal William Slim.

There is no doubt that Irving Berlin’s life and career is the quintessential immigrant story. Arriving from a foreign land as a small child with nothing, he channeled his talent, ambition and hard work to become the standard bearer of American culture. Come hear a great story, as Julie Kurzava shares the history and music of Irving Berlin’s Americana.

This singer/songwriter icon introduced the Caribbean music known as Calypso to the U.S. and went on to become an ardent activist for Civil Rights. From the front line of music fame to the front line of marches and protests, Belafonte was an intense entertainer and leader. We will explore some of the many interesting facets of this complex man, who died at the age of 96 in 2023.

Mary Cassatt is noted as the only American woman within the French Impressionist circle in Paris. From a wealthy Pennsylvania family, she nevertheless carved out a professional career for herself as an artist, defying social conventions of the time. This lecture will put Cassatt in the framework among the Impressionists and their group exhibitions. It will examine the social and domestic subjects she portrayed and the various media she used in her work. This talk is designed to complement the exhibition "Mary Cassatt at Work" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, May 18–September 8, 2024.

Seen through American eyes, the Revolution marks a triumphant moment. Through British eyes, it looked quite different. To the King, the war for independence was an affront, a temper tantrum by an ungrateful colonial rabble. But, as historian Richard Bell explains, beyond the palace and Parliament, British responses to the war were anything but monolithic. The country was bitterly divided as to what the war was about, how to win it, and whether it was worth it.

See the first submarine to sink an enemy ship (in 1864!), tour the fields and taste the product from a 128-acre tea plantation, learn to speak a few words in Gullah (the black Creole dialect still spoken in communities along the southern coast), see the work of a 21st century wrought iron worker whose artistry is in the Smithsonian, and visit the French Quarter (no, not New Orleans!). Travel Specialist Barbara Paulson offers alternatives to the more familiar Charleston sites.

Wagner’s Ring Cycle is often seen as a long, dull tale set in a world of German mythology. The Ring has always had its devoted followers (the instructor included) who find it a fascinating work telling a profoundly moving human story. This class will provide information needed to appreciate the Ring, including its sources, its use of interrelated musical themes, and its spectacular range of orchestral effects. The class is designed both for those largely unfamilar with the Ring and also for those who know it well and want to know more.

Rarely in modern military history has any unit identified so strongly with its commander as did Patton’s Third Army in the final campaigns of World War II. We will take a look at the Third Army, its commander, and its notable campaigns from the breakout from Normandy until it crossed Germany and entered Czechoslovakia. Along the way, we’ll discuss some vignettes about a few of the people in the Third Army. The Third Army was in combat only from August 1944 until May 1945 (that is, 281 days); but its contribution to the victory of the Western Allies was spectacular.

Examining three major challenges our planet is facing: air pollution, water supply and climate change. Definitions, background, causes and predictions for the future, with a discussion of the potential role of engineering solutions at the institutional/educational level and the industry/commercial level.