Lectures in History

What does it take to keep the White House running behind the scenes? American University professor Lina Mann and guest lecturer Sarah Fling explore the people, responsibilities, and day-to-day operations that support life and work at the nation's most famous address. The lecture was recorded at American University in Washington, D.C.

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This 1966 U.S. Information Agency film showcased a working cowboy's day on a California ranch. Reel America is an American History TV series featuring 20th-century archival films.

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Washington University hosted a series of lectures called "1776: Then and Now." This lecture looked at women's roles when the United States declared independence and fought the Revolutionary War.

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What was the natural world like during the American Revolution — and how did it shape the fight for independence? Washington University’s Rachael DeWitt and Hester Blum explore the landscapes, weather, waterways, plants, and animals that were part of everyday life during the Revolutionary War. This lecture is part of Washington University’s “1776: Then and Now” series.

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University of Wisconsin professor Alfred McCoy explored how espionage played a critical role during the Vietnam War.

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San Diego State University professor Edward Blum examines the state constitutions created before the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1787. He explores how states approached questions of political power, representation, and individual rights—and how those early experiments in government helped shape the federal Constitution.

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The Founding Fathers have inspired many writers and politicians, but who inspired the Founding Fathers? Washington University in St. Louis professor Fannie Bialek looked at the people who inspired early American political thought.

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This week on Lectures in History — from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the story of one Air National Guard pilot’s experience on September 11th, 2001.

Heather Penney was one of the first F-16 pilots scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base after the terrorist attacks.

She discusses her mission that day, including the possibility that she might have had to bring down United Airlines Flight 93, which had been hijacked by terrorists.

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Washington University hosts its “1776: Then and Now” lecture series. This lecture examines why Thomas Jefferson owned a Qur’an and explores his study of Islam and its influence on his thinking about religion and religious freedom.

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Santa Clara University music professor Christina Zanfagna teaches a class about the relationship between race and music throughout history.

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Bestselling presidential historian Michael Beschloss joins David M. Rubenstein for a wide-ranging conversation on American history. They discuss the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the pivotal events and presidents that shaped the United States in the twentieth century.

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Washington University hosted a series of lectures called "1776: Then and Now." This lecture examined the international context of the American Revolution.

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ashington University hosted a series of lectures called "1776: Then and Now." This lecture examined the reasons behind the Declaration of Independence.

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History Professor Aaron Aster of Maryville College (TN) explores Appalachia's role in the founding of the United States, including how the American Revolution unfolded alongside conflicts among European and indigenous people over control of the land.

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Washington University hosted a series of lectures called "1776: Then and Now." This lecture examined the reasons behind the Declaration of Independence.

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This week, professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kathleen DuVal examines the international context of the American Revolution.

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Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, author Rick Atkinson, and retired Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford discussed Revolutionary War leadership at an event held at George Washington's Mount Vernon.

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Washington University hosts a series of lectures called "1776: Then and Now" with the first exploring religion in Revolutionary America.

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How did a rebel nation establish a federal court system? Utah Valley University professor Matthew Brogdon shows how the U.S. court system formed during the Revolutionary War.

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