MPL Talks

09 17, 2017

MPL Talks: Political Cartooning after the Civil War

By |2017-09-17T06:00:43-04:00September 17, 2017|

Alan Gephardt, a ranger at James A. Garfield National Historic Site, discussed the role of political cartooning in the latest program of our Civil War series.

He talked about how illustrators like Thomas Nast and Joseph Keppler affected political discourse and changed the lives of post-Civil War politicians like Boss Tweed and Presidents Grant, Hayes, and Garfield.

He also explained:

  • the origins of the donkey and elephant as totems for Democrats and Republicans, respectively.
  • how cartoonists of different political affiliations approached the same events.
  • how the artists used allegory and references to Shakespeare, Fine Art, and more to make their point.

Those who may have missed Gephardt’s talk can watch it in its entirety right now.

Our Civil War series continues with a look at Commodore John Carter, the skipper of the first U.S. iron-hulled boat, at noon on Oct. 11 at our Main Branch. The talk is free and open to all.

Other talks from our Civil War series:

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08 29, 2017

MPL Talks: The Life of Josef Stalin

By |2017-08-29T06:00:26-04:00August 29, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series continued with a program about Josef Stalin, our ally during the war and greatest threat afterward.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

  • Stalin’s rise through the ranks of his party
  • his misdeeds, from armed robbery to mass murder
  • the difference between Stalinism, Leninism, and Marxism
  • how Stalin would “erase” his opponents from history

For those who want a deeper dive into Stalin’s life, Foster recommends Stephen Kotkin’s, Stalin Vol. I: Paradoxes of Power.

If you enjoy history, the next talk in our WWII series will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, at our Main Branch. The subject will be Winston Churchill.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

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08 19, 2017

MPL Talks: Civil War to Civil Rights

By |2017-08-19T06:00:29-04:00August 19, 2017|


During the most recent talk in our Civil War series with James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Judge Paul Mitrovich took on the ambitious task of tracking civil rights from slavery to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

During his talk, he highlighted landmark Supreme Court decisions like:

  • the Dred Scott case
  • Plessy v. Ferguson
  • and Brown v. Board.

Those who may have missed Mitrovich’s talk can watch it in its entirety right now.

Obviously, this is an audacious subject and Mitrovich has to speed through some substantial topics. For a deeper dive, you can borrow his book, Justice Delayed, from our collection.

Our Civil War series continues with an overview of political cartoons, humor, and satire during the war at noon on Sept. 13 at our Main Branch. The talk is free and open to all.

Other talks from our Civil War series:

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07 13, 2017

MPL Talks: Franklin Delano Roosevelt & WWII

By |2017-07-13T06:00:42-04:00July 13, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series continued with a program about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the longest-serving president in the country’s history.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

• how his Roosevelt’s father’s illness contributed to his personality
• why someone tried to assassinate Roosevelt shortly after he was elected president
• his troubled marriage with Eleanor Roosevelt
• how he interacted with other world leaders like Churchill and Stalin
• the two biggest mistakes he made while in office.

If you enjoy history, the next talk in our WWII series will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, at our Main Branch. The subject will be Joseph Stalin.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

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04 13, 2017

MPL Talks: Life after World War II

By |2017-04-13T06:00:30-04:00April 13, 2017|


It’s always momentous when Bob Zonneville comes to Mentor Public Library.

Zonneville is a World War II veteran who received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

He—along with local historian Thom Matowitz, who literally wrote the book on Mentor—hosted a special program where they discussed what life was like for veterans when they returned from World War II.

(Please accept our apologies, in advance, if you can’t hear the audience questions. Next time we’ll have to pass around a microphone.)

If you love WWII history, you’ll want to catch our new Major Leaders of World War II series.

The first talk is 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, at our Main Branch. The topic will be the life of Hitler. (It will be his birthday, after all.)

The program is free and open to everyone. However, we do ask that you register beforehand. You can sign up online or call us at (440) 255-8811 ext. 216.

For more World War II talks on our YouTube page:

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