Lecture Event

In Living Color: A Quilter's Journey

Presented through a series of narrative and graphic quilts, Glendora Simonson reveals glimpses of her life as an African American woman, teacher, artist, activist and crafter. An educator by profession, Ms. Simonson taught special education students, then worked collaboratively with psychologists and social workers to diagnose learning differences. In addition to being a voracious reader, Ms. Simonson also enjoyed a variety of crafting and textile activities. Quiltmaking proved to be the perfect medium to express creatively and contemplate social events.

Women in Jazz

In this virtual presentation, flautist and lecturer Galen Addur-Razzaq highlights the influence of women on the evolution of jazz, their significant contributions to the art form, and their struggles, both professional and personal.

A History of Black Madison

We invite community members of the Monona and Madison area to join us for an afternoon with Michael Johnson, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Dane County to celebrate local Black History. As Michael emphasizes, "Sometimes we focus so much on slavery and the civil rights movement that we forget to share accomplishments achieved by African Americans in our own backyard." Michael will share his documentary, "A History of Black Madison" developed in partnership with Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and Madison365, and will discuss three key figures of Black History in the area.

The History and Lore of Santa Claus

Many folks know that our modern-day Santa Claus had his start as St. Nicholas, but what happened on the journey to make us think of a "jolly old elf" rather than a pious Christian Bishop? Where, exactly, did Santa Claus come from, and why does his popularity remain so high in modern American popular culture?

This illustrated lecture is well-researched, with details on the journey Bishop Nicholas made to become our current-day Santa Claus. You’ll enjoy recognizing many familiar images and poems in this holiday program.

Wisconsin's Gangster Past- Turning the Badger State into the Crime State

Put on your zoot suit and follow in the footsteps of America's most infamous gangsters as they turn WI into their personal crime vacation land. Filled with deadly bank robberies, explosive shootouts, brutal murders, and daring kidnappings, this presentation lets the audience discover the grisly locations where the gangster history will never die.

Registration required. Click here to register.

Twice in a Lifetime: experience with an exhibition on the Pandemic of 1918 & how it resonates in 2020

In 2018 Micaela Sullivan-Fowler installed an exhibition called "Staggering Losses: WW1 and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918." Little did she know that the exhibition would be shuttered by another Pandemic, the one we are experiencing in 2020. She will give a short background on the exhibition itself, how the "Spanish Flu" affected our local populations and how the exhibition resonated for those who visited. Micaela will also touch on the similarities and differences between the two Pandemics.

Teaching in Polarized Times

Teaching in Polarized Times

The political climate in the United States makes it extremely challenging for schools and universities to fulfill their historic obligation to teach for democracy.  During the session, Dean Diana Hess will argue that despite significant and growing challenges to democratic education in K-12 schools and higher education, it remains a vitally important part of our mission.