history

03 29, 2023

The Supreme Court: John Marshall & Judicial Review

By |2023-03-26T12:22:36-04:00March 29, 2023|

Our in-house historian Dr. John Foster reviews the history of the US Supreme Court by highlighting the lives and careers of its most important justices. He begins with John Marshall.

Marshall was the fourth Chief Justice in the court’s history but none of his predecessors — not even John Jay — contributed more to our country’s judicial history. Foster discusses Marshall’s life and discusses his two most crucial cases:

  1. Marbury v. Madison, which establishes the Supreme Court’s right to judicial review
  2. McCulloch v. Maryland, which defined the federal government’s powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause in the Constitution.

Foster also explains Marshall’s stance and role in the Federalist v. Democratic-Republican squabbles of our nascent nation.

Foster’s series continues in May with a lecture about John M. Harlan.

In addition to being a reference librarian, Foster has a doctorate degree in history. He has taught history at both high school and college levels. Previously, he has led series on the Battles of World War IIthe Cold Warthe American RevolutionThe Vietnam Wars, and US Presidents of the 20th Century at the library.

01 14, 2023

The US Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation

By |2023-01-11T15:53:01-05:00January 14, 2023|

Ranger Alan Gephardt from James A. Garfield National Historic Site discusses The Emancipation Proclamation. He answers who it, in fact, emancipated and whom it did not. He also examines what other options — compensated emancipation, colonization — President Abraham Lincoln considered before his proclamation.

The next talk in our Civil War series with Garfield National Historic Site will be at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The topic will be Civil War veterans who went on to become President of the United States.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in this series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

10 22, 2022

See how the Reconstruction Amendments shaped the US Constitution

By |2022-10-19T09:19:38-04:00October 22, 2022|

Dr. Todd Arrington from James A. Garfield National Historic Site and our own Dr. John Foster discuss how the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments shaped our nation’s past and inform its present. They also explain why the amendments were necessary during (in the case of the 13th amendment) and after the Civil War. Finally, Dr. Foster provides examples of how the amendments have been subverted by narrow readings from the Supreme Court.

By the way, all of Foster’s three previous talks in this series can be viewed online:

In addition to being a reference librarian, Foster has a doctorate degree in history. He has taught history at both high school and college levels. Previously, he has led series on the Battles of World War IIthe Cold Warthe American RevolutionThe Vietnam Wars, and US Presidents of the 20th Century at the library.

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09 24, 2022

You’re History, Episode II: Roanoke & Chowing Down on Ron Chernow

By |2022-08-29T17:16:49-04:00September 24, 2022|

Our resident history wonks John Foster and Traci Hoffman like big books and they cannot lie. So when Ron Chernow writes an 1,100-page biography of President Ulysses Grant, they don’t just read it. They want to tell you all about it!

This time, they’re discussing:

  1. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. (Yes, they discuss the musical. No, neither John nor Traci try to sing anything from it.)
  2. The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke by Andrew Lawler
  3. Grant by Ron Chernow
  4. My Dear Hamilton by Laura Kaye and Stephanie Dray Listen

Listen and learn who wrote John’s favorite presidential memoir and why John White was a terrible grandfather. And come back for more You’re History every month.

08 27, 2022

Discover The Federalist Papers

By |2022-08-21T10:11:10-04:00August 27, 2022|

Our resident historian Dr. John Foster continues his discussion of the origins of the US Constitution! This time, he’s talking about The Federalist Papers.

After the US Constitution was written and signed, it still had to be approved – both by the states and in the hearts and minds of the people. Consequently, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay launched a spirited defense of the new constitution in a series of articles from the fall of 1787 to the spring of 1788. These articles became known as The Federalist Papers. Discover their contents and importance!

Also, learn about one of the most fatal “your mother” jokes in US history. I promise … it’s relevant.

Foster’s series concludes on Oct. 11 when Dr. Todd Arrington from James A. Garfield National Historic Site will join us to discuss the Civil War amendments. The program is free to attend. Due to limited space, registration is required. Once registration opens, you can sign up on our website or by calling us at 440-255-8811 ext. 1.

By the way, both of Foster’s two previous talks in this series can be viewed online:

In addition to being a reference librarian, Foster has a doctorate degree in history. He has taught history at both high school and college levels. Previously, he has led series on the Battles of World War IIthe Cold Warthe American RevolutionThe Vietnam Wars, and US Presidents of the 20th Century at the library.

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