Harry Truman

Our resident historian Dr. John Foster continued his US Presidents of the 20th Century series last month with Harry S. Truman.

We’ve filmed and shared his talk for those who couldn’t join us that night.

Truman’s rise to the presidency is nearly unimaginable. He was a failed haberdasher and zinc miner. Yet he served as president during some of this nation’s most tenuous times — the end of World War II and beginning of the Cold War.

And his policies still have an effect on our military, diplomacy and civil rights.

Our series continues at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, with a focus on Dwight Eisenhower. The talk is free to attend and open to all.

Foster will also discuss American Transcendentalism at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, at our Main Branch. The talk is part of celebration of Little Women’s 150th anniversary.

Louisa May Alcott’s father, Amos Bronson Alcott, was one of the most important figures in Transcendentalism, a uniquely American tradition that helped to define our national culture in the 19th century and beyond.

Foster – who in addition to being a reference librarian also earned a doctorate degree in history – will talk about Transcendentalism and the world of the Alcotts. Registration is required and opens Aug. 30.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, as well, including:

• Woodrow Wilson: The Rise of American Internationalism
• Theodore Roosevelt: Making the Modern President
• The Nuremberg Trials
• Major Leaders of World War II: Winston Churchill
• Major Leaders of World War II: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Major Leaders of World War II: Josef Stalin
• The Battle of Stalingrad
• The Nazi’s Final Solution
• The Fall of Berlin
• Nazism in Power