History   

John Rogers (1829 – 1904) was both a talented artist and successful businessman whose statuary "groups" were very popular in the late nineteenth century. Called “The People’s Sculptor,” he was the first American sculptor to mass produce his work and worked mostly in plaster to make his sculptures more affordable. He sold as many as 80,000 sculptures during his lifetime and effectively brought the art of sculpture to the American middle class. Rogers got his start as a sculptor in Manchester while working as a mechanic in the machine shop of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company from 1850 to 1856. In his free time, he began modeling with clay that he found near the Merrimack River in Hooksett, which led to his career as a sculptor. Towards the end of his career, he gave one of his finest works, a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, to the City of Manchester as a gift. This course will feature a slideshow presentation looking at Rogers' life and many of his sculptures. We will then have a chance to see some of his sculptures in the Manchester Historic Association's collection through a tour of the MHA Research Center building.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II this past September and the accession of eldest son to become King Charles III in the United Kingdom has sparked renewed interest in heraldry, the art, science and use of creating coats of arms. Today’s heraldry really began in the Middle Ages, when knights and warriors fought covered in armor. Oh, my, who’s on my side once things start getting serious and mixed up? Heraldry to the rescue! From ancient times to the present moment, symbols have helped identify leaders, nations, groups and institutions. Join Father Jerome Day, O.S.B., in a two-class exploration of heraldry on both sides of the Atlantic, why such symbols still matter in 21st Century America and maybe devise your own personal coat of arms.

You have probably heard of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, the famous suffragists, but you may be among the many who are not familiar with the name of Lucy Stone. In fact, in the rotunda of the Capitol in Washington D.C. is a sculpture of the leaders of the women's suffrage movement, and Lucy Stone is not included. Yet she was an extremely important early leader in the movement. She began as an eloquent public speaker on the anti-slavery lecture circuit, and then turned her talents to speaking on behalf of women's rights. She was instrumental in organizing the first truly national Woman's Rights Convention in Worcester in 1850. She was a founder of the American Woman Suffrage Association, and publisher of the long-running Woman's Journal, the influential voice of the movement. Her private life demonstrated her courage and commitment to the cause in fascinating ways. This course is an opportunity to explore the life and work of this important but forgotten champion, and to see why she has often been left out of the history of the fight for women's suffrage.

It is often said that China is the world’s oldest continuous civilization. While the Egyptians, Syrians, and Iraqis may have something to say about that, in today’s China there is no dispute. China’s view of itself has remained remarkably consistent over at least three millennia, Perhaps it is best summed up in a letter from one of China’s greatest emperors to England’s King George III, rejecting the request of the King’s emissary to establish a diplomatic presence in Beijing: “Our dynasty’s domestic virtue has penetrated every country under Heaven, and kings of all nations have offered their costly tribute…we possess all things…and have no use for your country’s manufactures.” Since the Qing emperor’s letter was written in 1793, China has experienced a spectacular collapse, and a phoenix like rise. Let’s examine China’s tumultuous past, how it informs today’s China, and talk about what this portends for the remainder of the 21st century.

A single 90-minute class divided into two parts. Part one involves the history of the French language from 17th-century France to New France, where the language was first influenced by Native languages. After the conquest by the English in 1763, the language underwent further changes, especially in the early 19th century due to the Industrial Revolution. Finally, the migration of French Canadians to New England (1840-1930) brought further influences upon the language. Part two offers a list of words and expressions in this language. Participants who grew up speaking French in New England will also have a chance to share their own words and expressions.

An exploration into the rise of the Nazis, the destruction of German democracy and the ongoing threat of fascism and Nazism. We will explore the relevance of antisemitism; the myriad of social forces and political agendas influencing decision-making in Germany and the United States. In examining how the Nazis were able to come to power and how they secured that power by destroying democratic institutions within the first five months, we will raise important questions about democracy and the role of citizens and institutions. We will compare and contrast Hitler and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s reaction to the economic crisis; the power of the Southern democratic bloc in shaping U.S. policy; issues of Jim Crow, refugees, and U.S. immigration policy; and the connection between eugenics in the U.S. and Nazi race policy. As we compare and contrast this eugenics history, we will explore the connection to and divergence between sterilization laws, and Nazi euthanasia policy and its influence in shaping and implenting the Holocaust. We will ponder what lessons apply for democratic citizenship and civic responsibility. Given the rising appeal of fascism and Nazism and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, how can this history enhance our resiliency in confronting the challenges facing democracy today? No advanced reading is required.

The Spanish Inquisition was just one of several inquisitions that occurred between the 12th and 19th centuries. Religion was not something one just did at church. It was the peoples’ science, their philosophy, their politics, their identity, and their hope for salvation. It was not a personal preference but an abiding and universal truth. Heresy, then, struck at the heart of that truth. It doomed the heretic, endangered those near him, and tore apart the fabric of community.The goal of this class will be to reach a basic understanding of the uniqueness of the Spanish Inquisition and how it operated. By providing both the historical, political, cultural, religious and judicial aspects of the Spanish Inquisition this course will explore why intolerance became a normal acceptable way of life.