John Foster

01 27, 2019

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: The Infamous Auschwitz

By admin|2019-01-27T06:00:14-05:00January 27, 2019|

Each year, our resident historian Dr. John Foster hosts a special program for International Holocaust Day.

In past years, he’s discussed the Nuremberg Trials, rise of National Socialism in Germany, and origins of the Nazi’s Final Solution.

This year, his topic was Auschwitz, the most notorious of Nazi Germany’s death camps. He discussed its grisly purpose, some of its most famous survivors, and the overwhelming evidence that it served as a death camp.

By the way, each year Foster gives a series of lectures about American history. His previous topics include the Battles of World War II and US Presidents of the 20th Century. This year, he’ll discuss the American Revolution.

The series begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at our Main Branch. The topic is the origins of the Revolution.

Finally, if you’re interested, most of Foster’s previous historical talks can be viewed in their entirety on our YouTube channel.

12 11, 2018

Alexander Hamilton: An American Tragedy

By admin|2018-12-11T06:00:44-05:00December 11, 2018|

Despite his role in our history, Alexander Hamilton languished as one of our more obscure founding fathers until Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical renewed his celebrity.

Hamilton was an orphan who rose from the depths of indigence to the heights of power and intelligentsia through hard work and a couple of fortunate turns.

He served as one of George Washington’s most trusted colleagues during both the Revolutionary War and Washington’s presidency. He built the financial system for our nation.

And yet he suffered disgrace, grief, and famously and fatally lost his duel with Aaron Burr.

Learn about Hamilton’s rise and fall with Dr. John Foster, our resident historian.

And fans of Dr. Foster’s historical talks can view many of them in their entirety on our YouTube channel.

11 4, 2018

Dwight D. Eisenhower: From World War to the Cold War

By admin|2018-11-04T06:00:30-05:00November 4, 2018|

We concluded our Presidents of the 20th Century series with a focus on Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower was a complicated man — a West Point graduate and general who warned about the military-industrial complex; a man who valued duty but also asked to leave his post so he could marry his mistress.

He also oversaw one of our nation’s most fraught periods, including a chilly portion of the Cold War, McCarthyism, and invention of the hydrogen bomb.

Apparently, he was a pretty decent golfer, as well.

Our resident historian Dr. John Foster guides us through this singular president’s life. Foster, in addition to being a reference librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history.

If you missed it the first time or wish to rewatch it, you can view the entirety of our Presidents of the 20th Century series online:

Foster’s next talk will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Concord Township Community Center (7671 Auburn Road in Concord Township.) He’ll discuss the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton.

The talk is free to attend and open to all. If you wish to register, call the Concord Township Community Center at (440) 639-4650.

10 5, 2018

American Transcendentalism & Louisa May Alcott

By admin|2018-10-05T06:00:04-04:00October 5, 2018|

Our resident historian Dr. John Foster discussed American Transcendentalism and its legacy as part of our September celebration of Little Women‘s sesquicentennial.

We don’t usually associate Louisa May Alcott with Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau.

However, all three were involved in Transcendentalism, a uniquely American tradition that helped to define our national culture in the 19th century and beyond.

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

You can learn about the history and tenets of American Transcendentalism — as much as it had tenets — and interesting facts about its key figures, which included Alcott’s father Bronson Alcott.

You’ll also discover:

why Bronson Alcott refused to eat root vegetables
where the idea of school’s having recess came from
and why Louisa May Alcott’s stories so often had an absentee father figure

In addition to being a reference librarian, Foster has earned a doctorate degree in history. His next talk will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, with a focus on Dwight Eisenhower. The program is free to attend and open to all.

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

08 27, 2018

Harry Truman: The Beginning of the Cold War

By admin|2018-08-27T06:00:35-04:00August 27, 2018|

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:

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