Commonwealth Speakers:Times to Remember
When the South Fork Dam, 14 miles north of Johnstown, burst on May 31, 1889, a wall of water over 35 feet high crashed down on this small industrial city. In a few short hours, the city was destroyed and 2,209 people became the victims of one of the worst man-made disasters of all time.
Came High Water Then Fire: The Johnstown Flood of 1889
The Johnstown flood of May 31, 1889 has been recorded as the worst in United States
history, with a reported loss of 2,209 souls. The cause of this nightmarish tragedy
cannot be attributed solely to nature, but partially to human insensitivity and a failure to
heed official warnings as well. In this slide-illustrated presentation, Joseph Edgette tells
the story of the disaster and the devastation that followed it. He also examines how an
affluent hunting and fishing club located 14 miles above Johnstown helped to create
environmental conditions that partially caused the flood.
Slide projector and screen required.
J. Joseph Edgette, Ph.D., Professor of Education and Resident Folklorist,
Widener University, Chesterwn
During the 1920s, the popular women's magazine Vogue carried a monthly column entitled "On Her Dressing Table," which offered women advice on how to dress, treat their bodies, and live their lives. Today, these columns serve as poignant artifacts of how women in the 1920s were encouraged to perform the role of "woman" in their everyday lives. Dacia Charlesworth presents the historical context of the 1920s, performs excerpts from the Vogue columns, and offers a cultural critique on the roles women were expected to perform.
Slide projector and screen required.
Dacia Charlesworth, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication, Robert
Morris University, Coraopolis
From the Zippos of Bradford to the zippers of Meadville; from the first oil well to the first jeep to the first Gulf station; from George Westinghouse to Rachel Carson to Andy Warhol to Punxsutawney Phil; from the Ferris wheel to the Slinky to the Big Mac, western Pennsylvania's innovations are not limited to steel. Dave Crawley shares anecdotes and video highlights of one of America's most inventive regions.
TV and VCR required.
Dave Crawley, "KD Country" Feature Reporter, KDKA-TV,
Pittsburgh
World War II was fought not only in Europe and the Pacific theater, but on the home front, where Americans bought war bonds, worked in armament factories, endured rationing of basic goods, and worried about their loved ones far away. In the process, they changed the way Americans live today, the roles we play, the way we look, and the way we look at ourselves. During his discussion, Bernard Hagerty uses excerpts from memoirs and interviews, snatches of swing music, and clips from contemporary radio shows to evoke the atmosphere of that dangerous and exciting time.
TV,VCR,and CD/cassette player required.
Bernard Hagerty, Ph.D., Lecturer, Dept. of History, University of Pittsburgh
Some of the most fascinating examples of Pennsylvania's influence during the 1950s included Levittown, the first of the many planned suburbs that would come to dot the nation; the Philadelphia TV show American Bandstand, which helped spread the popularity of rock 'n roll and 1950s youth culture; and Pittsburgh communist Steve Nelson, whose conviction for sedition and later battle in the Supreme Court helped fan the flames of anti-communism. Using slides and musical excerpts, Katherine Sibley explores how Pennsylvania Cold War culture shaped our nation.
Projection screen and CD/cassette player required. PowerPoint preferred.
Katherine A.S. Sibley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History, Saint Joseph's
University, Philadelphia
Heather Arnet worked with Fred Rogers ("Mister Rogers") and others as they created Dear Mister Rogers, a compilation of letters from children. It was her job to assist in selecting the letters for inclusion and to then find the children who authored the letters (some of whom were now adults) and request their permission to publish their letters in the book. Through this extraordinary journey, she learned first-hand the incredible ways that Fred Rogers inspired children to question and explore the world around them. In this presentation, she shares her favorite letters and stories from the making of the book Dear Mister Rogers.
Slide projector and screen required. TV and VCR preferred.
Heather S. Arnet, Theatre Director, Pittsburgh
As the most luxurious ship ever constructed by human ingenuity, the "unsinkable" Titanic attracted some of the wealthiest and most prominent Americans. In this slide-illustrated presentation, Joseph Edgette focuses on several of Philadelphia's most socially elite citizens who were a part of history's greatest maritime disaster. The booking passage, the events leading to the tragedy, and the final disposition of both victims and survivors of the R.M.S. Titanic will be discussed in this riveting account from the annals of history.
Slide projector and screen required.
J. Joseph Edgette, Ph.D., Professor of Education and Resident Folklorist,
Widener University, Chester
Using photographs and oral history to discuss the small country schools that were prevalent in Pennsylvania prior to 1950, Robert Leight discusses a typical day in a one-room school and contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of one-room-school education.
Overhead projector and screen required.
Robert L. Leight, Ed.D., Professor of Education Emeritus, Lehigh University,
Bethlehem
During World War II, millions of American women were mobilized for war work, military support duty, and other tasks. In taking on men's jobs, women challenged stereotypes that had already been undermined by women's work during the Depression. Katherine Sibley discusses the dramatic changes women experienced at work and at home, as well as the way that the government and other institutions both encouraged women's labor and circumscribed it in line with traditional patterns. She also explores how these wartime roles left a legacy for women in the more placid 1950s and later decades.
Projection screen and CD/cassette player required. PowerPoint preferred.
Katherine A.S. Sibley, Ph.D. , Associate Professor of History, Saint Joseph's
University, Philadelphia
When the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic device in 1949, the cultural fallout reached into every area of American life. Throughout the 1950s, concerns about atomic war were expressed not only in the building of bomb shelters and the wearing of protective clothing but also in the content of books, movies, and popular games. In this multimedia presentation, Todd Pfannestiel introduces audiences to the real "nuclear family" of the 1950s.
Projection screen, TV, and VCR required.
Todd Pfannestiel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History, Clarion University
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