The Jefferson Educational Society will be honoring the country’s 250th anniversary with several events and lectures for the public to enjoy.
USA 250 events with JES include:
Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. – The Years Bring Enlightenment: The Friendship and Politics of Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson following a 6 p.m. kick-off reception will feature Steven Edenbo and Kim Hanley as the visiting speakers at the JES
Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson and the Boisterous Sea of Liberty at the JES
Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. – The American Flag Unfurled at the JES
Feb. 12 at 12 p.m. – ‘Remember the Ladies’
Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. – ‘All Men are Created Equal’ at 250: Thomas Jefferson’s Perceptual Revolution
Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. – Revisiting the 1976 American Bicentennial: ‘It was a Really Big Deal!’ by historian Richard Arthur at the JES
Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. – Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the Civil War by George Deutsch, executive director, emeritus, of the Erie County Historical Society/Hagen History Center in partnership with the Erie Civil War Roundtable
March 3 at 7 p.m. – Exploring the Past and Present of Gerrymandering: How It’s Done, Why It’s Done, and What’s Happening Now by Dr. Robert Speel, professor of political science at Penn State Behrend at the JES, in partnership with the Brock Institute
March 9 at 6 p.m. – The French Expeditions to Lake Erie: An American Legacy by Dr. David Frew, JES Scholar-in-Residence at the Lincoln Community Center Library, 1255 Manchester Road, Erie
March 10 at 6 p.m. – Exploring the Legacy of the Historic Eagle Hotel by historian Richard Arthur at the Corry Higher Educational Council, 221 N. Center St., Corry
March 13 at 1 p.m. – From Founders to Frontiers: 250 Years of Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation, a conversation with Brian Slawin, Ben Franklin Technology Partner Regional Director and Portfolio Manager, in partnership with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, at the JES
March 16 at 7 p.m. – Songs That Remember: Oral Traditions and Cultural Resilience in Diasporic Families by Dr. Shreelina Ghosh, director of the writing program at Gannon University, at the JES
March 17 at 7 p.m. – From Deck to Deadline: B.S. Oshon’s Civil War Naval Experience — How One Man Served in the Union Navy, Reported the War, and Illustrated the Conflict by Brian Graff, retired geographer/cartographer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the JES
This year at JES there will be ‘A History of Rivalry between US Presidents and the Supreme Court of the United States’ course. This is a five-event course that will examine the long rival history between Presidents and the Court from Dred Scott through Plessey to Presidential Immunity (Trump v United States 7/1/2024). The course will begin at 3 p.m. on Feb. 25 and will continue every Wednesday until March 25.
Over 30 events will be hosted by the JES with some at satellite locations and additional courses. All events and courses can be found on their website.
Most of the programs are free of charge. To learn more about programs, memberships, or to make reservations call (814) 459 – 8000 or visit JESErie.org. All speakers are available after the event to speak with guests.