There are 11 upcoming classes.
Japanese Culture: Manga, Calligraphy, and More! (ages 11 - 15) RG
Date: 03/30/24Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Japanese Culture: Manga, Calligraphy, and More! (ages 11 - 15) RG, Teens
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Ages 11 - 15. Registration Required.
Do you want to learn more about the rich and diverse culture of Japan? If so, this is the class for you! Lead by a member of our Teen Advisory Board (TAB), Danielle will lead us as we explore different aspects of Japanese culture. You will have the opportunity to participate in fun and creative activities, such as making manga bookmarks, Japanese calligraphy, Kumihimo bracelets, & more!
History Relived: 75th Anniversary of NATO
Date: 04/09/24Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Branch: Glenwood Branch
Age group: Teens, Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
On April 4, 1949, the United States and eleven other countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty, creating NATO. The treaty’s core provision was Article 5, which today commits NATO’s member states to collective defense. Its formation wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card when World War II ended. Come join an informal discussion of the how and why it was originally formed and the impact it has had over history, including current events.
Privateers, Prisoners, and Britain’s Black Holes: Maritime POWs in the American Revolution
Date: 04/10/24Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Britain’s Royal Navy took 11,000 American sailors captive during the Revolutionary War. They spent months or years buried from the world in prisons in England, Ireland, and Scotland—held indefinitely under the terms of a 1777 law that designated them as pirates and traitors, not as official prisoners of war.
This talk reconstructs their experiences. It uses as its case study the ordeal of William Russell, a privateer from New England who spent thirty months trying to escape from England’s Mill Prison before being transferred to the Jersey, a de-masted prison hulk floating in Brooklyn Bay in British-occupied New York. On the Jersey, Russell who have to fight for simple survival.
Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, and the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar award and the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. He serves as a Trustee of the Maryland Center for History and Culture and as a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Image credit: Journal of the American Revolution
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
Getty Museum series: Dutch Treat (online)
Date: 04/17/24Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Dutch Treat: Holland’s Golden Age of Painting
How did a country as small as Holland produce such an incredible number of artists? Rembrandt, van Ruisdael, de Hooch, and Jan Steen, among others, have given us memorable works of mythology, fields, faces and even humor. In this tour we will look at the landscapes, the portraits and the still lifes that defined this truly “golden age.” Some of the names will be familiar; some less so, but their paintings are things of beauty and worthy of a closer look.
Docent Lee Rubinstein holds dual degrees in English and History with a minor in Art History. She has been leading students through the galleries at the Getty since the program's inception in 2012. Additionally, in 2007, Lee created the curriculum for, and now runs, a volunteer art program in underserved schools in Los Angeles.
Image Credit: Still-Life of Flowers, Ambrosius Bosschaert, 1614
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Don't Let History Be a Mystery: Titanic! [ages 6-10] TK
Date: 04/17/24Time: 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Children
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Ages 6-10. 45 min. Ticket required.
Learn all about the history of ship travel and the sinking of the Titanic. Includes stories, activities, and a craft.
Tickets available at the Children's Desk 15 minutes before class.
Tuesday Movie Matinee - 'Oppenheimer'
Date: 04/23/24Time: 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Our fourth Tuesday of the month movie matinee will start at 2 pm in April!
- March 26: Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023, PG-13)
- April 23: Oppenheimer (2023, R)
- May 21*: Polite Society (2023, PG-13)
No refreshments provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.
See you at the movies!
Registration for the movie is optional. If you would like a movie reminder, please register with an email address.
*Movie will be shown on the third Tuesday in May.
Baltimore and the Road to the White House
Date: 04/23/24Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Did you know that Baltimore was once the main city for hosting presidential nominating conventions?
Join author Stan Haynes for a discussion of the unexpected twists and surprises of the Baltimore presidential conventions.
Stan Haynes is a Howard County author who published The First American Political Conventions: Transforming Presidential Nominations, 1832-1872.
Presented by the Howard County Library System and Howard County Historical Society.
Good Endeavor: A Book Discussion with Author Ned Tillman
Date: 04/24/24Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Glenwood Branch
Age group: Teens, Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Join award-winning author Ned Tillman for a discussion of his book, Good Endeavor.
Following this book discussion, Mr. Tillman presents Historical Fiction as a Lens For the Future, focusing on the value of fiction and non-fiction for telling the stories of our past and how they can be used to get a sense of how life really was over the centuries.
Historical Fiction as a Lens For the Future
Date: 04/24/24Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Glenwood Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Award-winning author Ned Tillman discusses how historical fiction provides perspective on the challenges we face today. Tillman is the author of four books-- two non-fiction and two fiction. Tillman discusses the value of both genres for telling the stories of our past and how they can be used to get a sense of how life really was like over the centuries.
His books provide the reader with insight and perspective on the parallels to challenges we see in our lives today. His latest book, Good Endeavor, uses his 300-year-old childhood homestead as his setting to explore social and environmental challenges down through the centuries. He discusses how he created a series of colorful characters to share realistic stories of their lives, loves, and losses during five different generations of this Maryland family.
Prior to the presentation, Mr. Tillman will host a discussion of his newest book, Good Endeavor.
The Maryland Film Premiere: 'The Artist & The Astronaut' - Featuring a Q&A with Director Bill Muench
Date: 05/05/24Time: 2:00pm - 4:15pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens, Adults
Program type: Tech Skills or STEAM
Description:
You are cordially invited to attend the Maryland premiere of the award-winning film,The Artist & The Astronaut. Join us for an unforgettable cinematic journey that delves into the remarkable love story between artist Pat Musick, a civil rights activist, and Apollo astronaut Jerry Carr.
Witness their captivating tale unfold against the backdrop of some of humanity's most historic moments. Filled with never-before-seen footage of early space exploration and featuring interviews with key figures from that era, this film chronicles the vastly different paths of Pat and Jerry as they navigate uncertain times, ultimately coming together to render some of America’s most enduring art. The Artist & the Astronaut is a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and empathy as agents of change and love.
After the screening, delve deeper into the film's creation through a Q&A session with the writer and director, Bill Muench. Explore the compelling backstory behind the documentary's creation, catalyzed by the encouragement of Bill's wife. Her inspiration ignited his passion to embark on this remarkable endeavor.
Beginning from humble origins with no plan or budget, Bill Muench, a full-time teacher and basketball coach, undertook a six-year odyssey spanning nine states and two continents. His determination to share the untold story of a local Vermont couple led him to interview Apollo astronauts, their spouses, award-winning authors, artists, art historians, and even NASA directors of mission control.
With the collaboration of music legend Todd Hobin, they produced a story that might otherwise have remained untold. Join us as we uncover the extraordinary journey behind the lens, a testament to the power of determination, inspiration, and collaboration.
Don't miss this extraordinary film and Q&A with writer and director, Bill Muench!
Please register with your email address to receive an event reminder.
Don't Let History Be a Mystery: Air Travel and the Hindenburg Disaster [ages 6-10] TK
Date: 05/15/24Time: 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Children
Program type: History & Genealogy
Description:
Ages 6-10. 45 min. Ticket required.
Learn all about air travel, focusing on zeppelins and the Hindenburg disaster. Includes stories, activities, and a craft.
Tickets available at the Children's Desk 15 minutes before class.