Black History in Kansas City *New Event

Feb. 27
8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In-Person
Meet at Edwards Campus (Overland Park) and St. Andrews Office Building (Lawrence)
Cost: $145

Register

Description
Kansas City has a rich and sometimes overlooked history of Black culture. Together we'll explore the deep cultural roots of the Black community including jazz, barbecue and baseball, and also dive into Kansas City's role in the civil rights and desegregation movements. We'll start with a guided bus tour of several influential sites around Kansas City. Discussion topics and sites will include the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, slavery in the heart of America, the Kansas Jayhawks, the Underground Railroad, the untold story of Douglas's Battery and the wartime sacrifices of African Americans. After a barbecue lunch at KC's first and only Black-owned craft brewery, we'll spend the afternoon exploring the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the historic 18th and Vine District. 

Includes executive coach transportation, admission to all sites, docent-led bus tour, tours of both Museums and lunch. The coach will pick up and drop off students at the St. Andrews Office Building in Lawrence and at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park.

Let's All Go to the Movies: Film Critique and Conversation *Two locations*

March 9, 16 & 23
6:30 p.m. - 8: 30 p.m. (lectures)
Noon - 3 p.m. (film screening)
In-Person
KU Innovation Park, 2033 Becker Drive, Lawrence, KS

June 9, 16 & 23
6:30 p.m. - 8: 30 p.m. (lectures)
Noon - 3 p.m. (film screening)
In-Person
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS
Cost: $75

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Description
Learn how to watch a movie like a film critic with veteran film critic Abby Olcese and join other Osher students for a specially curated film screening and discussion. This is a three-part course explores the fundamentals of filmmaking and film criticism designed to help the everyday movie fan understand how critical thinking works when watching a movie - and how to apply those concepts to watching movies at home or with friends and expanding their cinematic horizons. To top it off, we'll meet on a Saturday to view a film curated by Abby. She'll lead a discussion following the screening. We'll bring the popcorn and candy! Abby Olcese is the film editor at The Pitch, a contributor to Sojourners, Rogerebert.com and Paste and the author of Films for all Seasons: Experiencing the Church Year at the Movies. She is an experienced film critic with a special interest in the connections between movies, social justice and Christian spirituality.

Includes three-session class, private film screening and refreshments.

Powwow 101 and KU Powwow & Indigenous Cultures Festival *New event

April 8
6:30 p.m. - 8: 30 p.m. (Powwow 101 Class)
In-Person
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

April 11
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Regalia fashion demonstration, lunch and KU Powwow)
In-Person
Meet at KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS 
Cost: $85

Register

Description
Learn about the history and traditions of a Native powwow with Jancita Warrington, the KU Powwow director. We'll learn about powwow etiquette, the cultural significance of patterns and colors in regalia, different styles of powwow dancing and more. Then, on Saturday morning, we'll meet back at the St. Andrews classroom for a lunch catered by The Native Chef, Jason Champagne, and a deeper dive into the beauty and symbolism of Native powwow regalia as worn by dancers participating in the day's event. Parking at the powwow is extremely limited so we'll provide bus transportation to and from the Lied Center to attend the annual KU Powwow and Indigenous Cultures Festival. Please note that seating at the powwow is also limited, so please bring a folding chair. 

Includes Powwow 101 class, catered lunch, transportation to and from powwow and regalia fashion presentations.

Renee Fleming's "Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene" at the Lied Center

April 16
Time: TBD (Panel discussion with Renee Fleming)
In-Person
Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Ave., Lawrence, KS

April 17
6:30 p.m. Pre-performance lecture and refreshments
7:30 p.m. Performance
In-Person
Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Ave., Lawrence, KS
Cost: $70

Register

Description
Renée Fleming is one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time, performing on the stages of the world's great opera houses and concert halls. A 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, winner of five Grammy Awards and the U.S. National Medal of Arts, she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II to the Super Bowl. All reservations must be made by March 26. No refunds will be given after that date.

Ticket price includes an optional panel discussion with Ms. Fleming on April 16 that focuses on the connection between music and wellness, a pre-performance lecture with a KU School of Music professor, light refreshments and reserved seats for the performance on April 17.

Walking Tour of Old West Lawrence *New Event

April 25
10 a.m. - Noon
In-Person
Meet at northwest corner of 7th and Tennessee Streets, Lawrence, KS
Cost: $30

Register

Description
From its beginnings in 1855, Old West Lawrence has been home to socially and politically prominent families. The beautifully preserved neighborhood is the perfect backdrop to learn about the people who built and grew the city of Lawrence. We'll learn their stories and highlight the variety of architectural styles and building materials that make this area unique. Our guide is Dr. Bob Dinsdale, local Lawrence history aficionado and tour leader. This is a two-hour tour with a mostly flat terrain, but uneven brick sidewalks are a feature.

The Iron Curtain at 80: Missouri's Role in Winston Churchill's Famous Speech *New OVERNIGHT Trip*

April 30
7:30 a.m.
Pick Up at Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive 
8:30 a.m.
Pick Up at KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS  

May 1
Return to Edwards Campus and Osher Institute
In-Person
Cost: $$460 for single occupancy and $370 for double occupancy

Register

Description
Osher is hitting the road for a deep dive into Missouri's connection to Sir Winston Churchill and the end of the Cold War. We'll start the trip with a tour of the newly renovated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. President Truman's endorsement of Westminster College's invitation was pivotal in bringing Churchill to Missouri to give the famous speech. After lunch, we' will head to Jefferson City, Missouri's state capital, for a tour of the domed Capitol building, home to many famous works of art. We'll enjoy dinner together before spending the night in Jefferson City. We'll make our way to Fulton the next morning to explore Westminster College's connection to Sir Winston Churchill, who gave the famous "Iron Curtain" speech there 80 years ago. We'll take a class on the Cold War, tour the National Churchill Museum and Library, and view a segment of the Berlin Wall that was moved to Westminster after the fall of communism. We will also tour St. Mary the Virgin Church, a church designed by Sir Christopher Wren that incorporated stones from the original church that was built in the early 12th century. The church stood in London until it was bombed during the Blitz and before being moved stone by stone to Westminster's campus. We will return to the Edwards Campus and Lawrence that evening. This trip will feature considerable amounts of walking, but all venues are fully accessible. All reservations must be made by April 2. No refunds will be given after that date.

Trip includes roundtrip luxury coach transportation, overnight hotel accommodation in Jefferson City, hot breakfast at the hotel, one dinner, two lunches, a lecture class and admission to all sites and tours.

The Underground Railroad & Lawrence, Kansas: A Legacy of Freedom in Bleeding Kansas *New Event

May 8
12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
In-Person
Pick Up at KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS
Cost: $65

Register

Description
A popular bus tour developed by the Watkins Museum of History, join us as we travel to historic sites around Lawrence and learn stories of heroism and tragedy from the city's early days as an important place on the Underground Railroad and the fight for a free Kansas. We'll explore homes, cemeteries and other sites that directly witnessed these events and learn about specific people who risked their lives in the cause of freedom. This tour involves several stops where we will walk and explore sites. Those preferring to stay on the bus may do so. We'll conclude our afternoon with a self-guided tour of the traveling exhibition, "Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad," on display at the Watkins Museum of History. Photographer Jeanine Michna-Bales has spent more than a decade meticulously researching "fugitive" enslaved people and the ways they escaped to freedom. From the cotton plantations south of Natchitoches, Louisiana, all the way north to the Canadian border, this series of photographs by Michna-Bales helps us imagine what the long road to freedom may have looked like as seen through the eyes of one of those who made this epic journey. 

Trip includes bus transportation, docent-led two-hour bus tour and access to the Watkins Museum of History's traveling exhibit.

KU Mini College *Multi-Day Event*

June 1-3
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
In-Person
University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
Cost: $185 Osher members and $210 non-members

Register

Description
KU Mini College an educational event for inquisitive adults offered in partnership with KU's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. KU Mini College is a beloved program that has continued to bring adult community members, alumni, and non-alums from all over the world to the KU Lawrence campus to attend presentations from KU faculty and other professionals on current topics of interest. This year's event will be held on campus with most events being held at Slawson Hall in the Beren Conference Center. Our 3 day lecture series will feature many of KU's outstanding professors and faculty. Attendees will have time to explore the Lawrence campus and visit with friends old and new! The Mini College Schedule of events will be released later in the Spring semester.

Existing Osher members pay a $185 fee and includes a continental breakfast each morning, light snacks, three days of presentations, field trips and one lunch. Non-Osher members pay $210 fee and includes all the same benefits of an existing member plus access to sign up for additional Osher programming and includes access to numerous exclusive Osher Member benefits.

Happy Days: A Nostalgic Review of the 1950s
Instructor: Carl Graves

Dec. 1, 8 & 15
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 
In-Person
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence

Register

Description
For a significant majority of Americans, the ‘50s were good times. The Baby Boom, prosperity and rising home ownership fueled more fun than in previous and subsequent decades. Do you remember “Howdy Doody,” poodle skirts, S&H Green Stamps, the McGuire Sisters and big cars with chrome and tail fins? We’ll look back on these things and more when covering topics such as suburbanization, television, cars, movies, music, fads, fashions, foods, beverages, toys, games and print media. We’ll also touch on social critiques and worries like polio. We’ll compare our memories to documents, film clips and music. 

Carl Graves, Ph.D., holds a master’s degree in U.S. history from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Harvard. He taught at the university and community college levels and at Kansas City’s Pembroke Hill School.

Hyphenated Rock
Instructor: Steve Lopes

Feb. 11, 18 & 25 
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. 
In-Person
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence

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Description
After Rhythm and Blues, Country, and Western music became Rock and Roll, subgenres started to appear: Rockabilly, Soul, Prog Rock, Motown, etc. In this course we will explore the origins, impact, and influence of each type, illustrated with many musical examples. Please join the conversation.

Steve Lopes, A.E., B.A., M.A., M. Ed., was an educator for 15 years prior to 30 years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching rock 'n' roll history and sharing it with Osher participants

"West Side Story": Its Creation, Music and Legacy
Instructor: Paul Laird

April 15, 22,& 29
2 – 4 p.m. 
In-Person
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence

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Description
"West Side Story" is an icon of American popular culture. An update of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" with a plot that addresses issues of youth violence, racism and hatred, the show remains as topical today as when it opened in 1957. We'll first focus on the show's creation by four driven collaborators: Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. Next, we'll consider the music, placing it in the context of American music of the time and how it helps with characterization and dramatic progress in the show. Finally, we'll look at the two films (1961, 2021) and the show's continuing international legacy. 

Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.

"The Golden Girls" and the Politics of '80s Television *New class
Instructor: Taylor Cole Miller

Jan. 17, 24, & 31
2 – 4 p.m. 
Online
Register

Description
The proliferation of new fan sites, thousands of homemade products, a specially themed Caribbean cruise and even a Golden Girls-themed skateboard in the instructor's office (purchased at Comic-Con) are all testaments to the enduring power and legacy of that famous 1980s sitcom. While other shows in the 1980s retreated from the overt politicization of television commonly found in 1970s TV, "The Golden Girls" tackled issues like older and queer sexuality, feminism, immigration, menopause, HIV/AIDS, homelessness and healthcare every week. Today, "The Golden Girls" is one of the most successful series in rerun syndication. In this course, we'll investigate the cultural, political and historical significance of television in the 1980s through the case study of "The Golden Girls." By the end of the course, you'll be well-versed in histories and debates about '80s TV, policy and culture while understanding the resurgent popularity of the show and nostalgia for other older sitcoms in the present political moment. 

Taylor Cole Miller is an assistant professor of media studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and co-editor of the academic collection, "The Golden Girls: Tales from the Lanai." He also makes TikToks about TV history under the handle @tvdoc.

Haydn & Mozart
Instructor: Paul Laird

Feb. 16, 23 & March 2
10 a.m. - Noon 
In-Person
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence

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Description
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) are both major names in the classical music world. They were friends and colleagues, and their music bears stylistic similarities, but the circumstances of their lives were very different. Over three weeks, we'll get introduced to their lives, music and the culture in which they composed.

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) are both major names in the classical music world. They were friends and colleagues, and their music bears stylistic similarities, but the circumstances of their lives were very different. Over three weeks, we'll get introduced to their lives, music and the culture in which they composed.

Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.

German Genius: The Stories Behind Jeans, Teddy Bears & Porcelain *New class
Instructor: Anette Isaacs

Feb. 17, 24 & March 3
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Online
 
Register

Description
Discover the surprising German roots of three beloved icons: blue jeans, teddy bears and fine porcelain. In German historian Anette Isaacs' lively course, you will meet Levi Strauss, Margarete Steiff and the alchemists behind Meissen's white and gold - visionaries whose inventions shaped fashion, childhood and luxury. A playful and enriching dive into history, creativity and pure German ingenuity!

Anette Isaacs is a German-born historian and public educator who has presented hundreds of programs on more than 40 topics (all pertaining to her native country's history, politics and culture) all over the United States. She holds master's degrees in American studies, political science and history and currently serves as the director of OLLI at Florida International University in Miami.

Cartoons: From Disney to Saturday Morning to Pixar & Beyond *Multiple locations*
Instructor: Karl Menninger

Feb. 19, 26 & March 5
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Village Shalom, 5500 W 123rd Street, Overland Park, KS

April 14, 21 & 28
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Brewster Place, 1205 SW 29th Street, Topeka, KS

June 11, 18 & 25 
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Beacon Mental Health (Clay County Senior Services), 3100 NE 83rd Street, Second Floor, Kansas City, MO
 
Register

Description
We started watching cartoons as children, either at the movies or on television on Saturday mornings. Many of us continue to watch them, even without children or grandchildren. We'll look at the invention of the animated cartoon in the Silent Era, the creation of a certain Mouse by a guy from Kansas City and the entertainment empire that spawned, cartoons from other studios (Betty Boop, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tom and Jerry, Mr. Magoo, Mighty Mouse), how cartoons went to war in the 1940s and how they migrated to television, both on Saturday mornings and on "kiddie" shows on weekday afternoons. We'll review the Disney renaissance in the 1990s, with "The Little Mermaid" and "The Lion King," long-running prime-time cartoons such as "The Simpsons," recent Disney competitors (Don Bluth, Ralph Bakshi, DreamWorks), and Pixar, who led the way in computer-generated animation with "Toy Story" and "Frozen". We'll also share where we watched cartoons: the movies, television, VHS/DVD/BluRay and now streaming services like Disney+.

Instructor bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who seems to have found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics. 

A History of The Kennedy Center Awards for Musicians: 1978 - 2024 *New class
Instructor: Jean Hein

March 25, April 1 & 8
10 a.m. - noon
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS
 
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Description
Join us for a fascinating exploration of the Kennedy Center Awards for musicians and performing artists from 1978 - 2024 featuring star-studded tributes to musical geniuses who have made our lives better through their performing, teaching, scholarship and humanity. Each week we'll look at award recipients representing various musical genres such as Beverly Sills, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, Seiji Ozawa, Itzhak Perlman, Carole King, Paul McCartney and many more. Come ready to be inspired, dazzled and amazed!

Jean Hein recently moved to Kansas from South Carolina, where she was director and recorder performer with Columbia Baroque as well as a clarinetist. She currently teaches online recorder classes for seniors. Hein has served on the board of Early Music America. She holds music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University.

The Life & Music of George Gershwin
Instructor: Paul Laird

March 25, April 1 & 8
10 a.m. - noon
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS
 
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Description
One of the leading musical figures in the history of the United States, George Gershwin (1898-1937) combined influences from Tin Pan Alley, classical music, jazz, and blues into a distinctive music style heard in his numerous Broadway musicals, songs for Hollywood films, and concert works like the famous Rhapsody in Blue. This course explores his biography and each aspect of his musical output.

Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Kansas, where two of his teaching specialties were Baroque music and music of the United States. He has published widely on such topics as Leonard Bernstein and American musical theater and won the 2021 KU Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award. Paul has taught many Osher classes since the program's inception at KU.

A History of Music in The White House from 1948 - 2016 *New class
Instructor: Jean Hein

June 9, 16 & 23
10 a.m. - noon
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS
 
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Description
oin us for a survey history of music in the White House from the Truman administration through the Obama years. Fun facts: President Truman was an accomplished pianist who started piano lessons at age seven! Yo-Yo Ma was seven when he performed at the White House for Presidents Kennedy and Eisenhower. Paul McCartney was approaching age 70 when he rocked the building performing "Hey Jude" for President and Mrs. Obama and their guests. Want to learn more?

Jean Hein recently moved to Kansas from South Carolina, where she was director and recorder performer with Columbia Baroque as well as a clarinetist. She currently teaches online recorder classes for seniors. Hein has served on the board of Early Music America. She holds music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University.

Structural Issues in the U.S. Government *New Class
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson

Dec. 4, 11 & 18
2 – 4 p.m.
Online

Register

Description
We’ll put several issues related to our democratic framework under the microscope in this interactive online discussion class. The House of Representatives is supposed to be representative by population, but is it? Should there be mandatory retirement ages for senators, congresspeople and presidents, or would that be unethical age discrimination? Should voting be mandatory? 

Sarah Rosenson holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in Jewish studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law, then taught classes on ethics, philosophy and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and online, including several Osher classes.

Ethics & Sports *New Class
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson

Feb. 19, 26 & March 5
2 – 4 p.m.
Online

Register

Description
In this interactive online discussion class, we'll explore ethical issues in the world of sports. What is the difference between unethical gamesmanship and ethical sportsmanship? Is it ethical to be a football fan given what we now know about the effects of repeated head trauma? What ethical issues arise when people gamble on sports? And should athletes speak out on social issues, or not? Come join the conversation!

Sarah Rosenson holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in Jewish studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law, then taught classes on ethics, philosophy and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and online, including several Osher classes.

The Coming Struggle Over Social Security
Instructor: David J Ekerdt

March 5, 12 & 19
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description
A solvency problem looms for Social Security within the next several years. (Is it going bankrupt?) Decisions must be made in light of a changing economy and recent cuts in customer service. Together, we'll cover the basics of Social Security, essential features of retirement, retirement before Social Security, the Social Security Act of 1935, expansion and modern retirement, reforms of 1983, current pension models, future solvency and reform proposals, political struggle since 1983's "The Playbook," points of debate, what the arguments are really about and notes on political rhetoric in this realm.

David Ekerdt, Ph.D., is Professor of Sociology and Gerontology at KU, specializing in work and retirement, focused on the changing role and practice of retirement. He is the editor-in-chief of the "Macmillan Encyclopedia of Aging".

The World Comes to Lawrence: U.S. Immigration and Refugee Stories *New Class
Instructor: Chuck Olcese

March 26, April 2 & 9
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

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Description
The course presents a history of immigration in the U.S. with emphasis on efforts in the Lawrence community to support immigrants and refugees in the resettlement process. We'll share case studies of immigrant stories, discuss how changes to current immigration laws impact the resettlement efforts in Lawrence today and get a chance to meet new refugee immigrants to the U.S. to hear their personal journey stories.

Chuck Olcese is president of Assistance for Immigrants and Refugees, a nonprofit organization in Lawrence, Kansas, dedicated to the resettlement of refugees and other immigrants in the area. He has trained in intercultural communication and presented workshops on these skills at numerous institutions. Chuck and his wife were among the first Americans to teach English in China from 1985 - 1986. This experience launched his career in international student services in higher education - a 33-year career spanning four institutions in four states. Before his retirement from the University of Kansas, Chuck founded Lawrence Interfaith Refugee and Immigrant Ministry (LIRIM), a communication network to facilitate assistance, advocacy and awareness of immigrants and immigrant issues in the area. Since his retirement, he helped co-found AIR in 2023. AIR has resettled three families in the Lawrence area since November 2024 and continues to help connect Lawrence residents with their new neighbors from Afghanistan and Venezuela, as well as to advocate for immigrant rights.

World Issues Discussion Group: Artificial Intelligence
Instructor: Chick Keller

May 20, 27 & June 3
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

This unique class will give us insight into worldwide issues affecting modern society - and a platform for lively discussions related to them. (Come ready to share your ideas and engage your peers!)For the second installment of our discussion series, we'll focus specifically on how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence may spark the fourth industrial revolution. How will AI impact the job market? What ethical safeguards need to be in place so AI serves the public good instead of running amok? How will AI's need for vast quantities of natural resources affect climate change?

Charles "Chick" Keller is a retired senior executive and retired professor. He worked 15 years each at Sprint and Black & Veatch in strategic planning and strategic marketing, rising to VP level both times. In 2000, he began a career as a professor in the University of Kansas engineering management program where he taught finance and strategic planning.

Immortalized: Sports Museums and Halls of Fame *New class
Instructor: Andrew Stockmann

June 10, 17 & 24
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

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Description

Why do sports mean so much to so many in our society? Sports museums and halls of fame help build these emotional connections by remembering, celebrating and commemorating iconic athletes, coaches and events. We'll learn about the field of sports heritage, discover the different types of sports museums and reflect on how legends are remembered.

Andrew Stockmann is curator of exhibitions at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence. He grew up visiting baseball stadiums and museums with his family, which sparked his love for history. Andrew is from Liberty, Missouri, and is a 2024 graduate of the museum studies master's program at the University of Kansas and holds a bachelor's degree in sport management from Wichita State University.

The U.S. Naturalization Process & The Path to Citizenship *New class
Instructor: Anita Tebbe

June 11, 18 & 25
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

The U.S. naturalization process has changed significantly since it started in 1790. We'll delve into the history of the process as well as walk through the steps of eligibility, application and interview processes and culminating ceremony.

Anita Tebbe is a retired professor in the legal studies department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a law degree. Anita is a Kansas-licensed attorney and has more than 40 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels.

Personal Vitality & Fulfillment *New class
Instructor: Cathie Peterson

Feb. 19 & 26
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

Join us in this interactive discussion class as we actively explore and consider our own personal vitality and fulfillment. Vitality is a necessary component to finding happiness and fulfillment. It involves not just physical health but also mental and emotional wellness. During class you'll assess your mental and physical energy, consider the definitions of personal vitality and ascertain what contributes to your own liveliness. We'll conclude with developing an understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that contribute to creating your own vibrant and fulfilling life.

Cathie Peterson earned a doctorate in education from the University of Kansas. She explored the notion of vitality while conducting research at the University of Kansas.

Butterflies, Birds & Bees *New class
Instructor: Kristen Baum, Victor Gonzalez and KU History Museum staff

April 13, 20 & 27
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

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Description

We'll dive deeper into the biology and beauty of our favorite pollinators: butterflies, birds and bees! Monarch butterflies are an iconic insect that has experienced population decline in recent years. Learn more about monarch butterflies, from basic biology to less known and fascinating observations. We'll consider the facts in the context of monarch conservation and what you can do to support monarch. In addition, we'll get to see monarch eggs, caterpillars and butterflies up close so you can be prepared to identify any activity in your home garden.

Kristen Baum is the director of Monarch Watch, senior scientist with the Kansas Biological Survey and professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. Her research focuses on the effects of land use and management practices, and weather extremes on monarchs, native bees and other pollinators.

Victor Gonzalez earned his bachelor's degree in biology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá and his doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas. He completedhis postdoctoral research at the USDA Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management and Systematics Research Laboratory in Logan, Utah. Victor's research focuses on bee phylogeny and evolution, documenting patterns ofdiversity and investigating how bees respond to environmental stressors.

History of Russia *New class
Instructor: Russ Hutchins

Jan. 8, 15 & 29
10 a.m. - Noon
Online

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Description

Vikings to czars, revolution to world wars, communism to Vladimir Putin. Russia, the world's largest country, offers a rich, complex - and long - history! We'll start in 825 A.D. with the Viking period and end in 2025 with the Age of Putin. Over three weeks, we'll examine the Age of the Czars, the Russian Revolution, the adoption of communism, World Wars I and II, Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, the Cold War, the fall of communism and modern Russia since 2000.

Russ Hutchins teaches U.S. history, Western civilization, economics, business, philosophy and business management at Friends University. He is a retired public-school administrator and educator.

Khrushchev's Cornfields *Multiple locations*

Instructor: David Mills

Jan. 14, 21 & 28
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

March 10, 17 & 24
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

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Description
The Cold War was at its height in 1955 and the Soviets could not feed their own citizens. At the same time, a small-town newspaper editor suggested that the Soviets come visit Iowa if they wanted to learn how to grow hogs and corn. One thing led to another, and 12 Soviet agricultural ministers came to Iowa to learn about "the secret to American farm productivity," while 12 American farmers traveled to the Soviet Union, at their own expense, to teach the Soviets how to be more productive. Both the Soviet and American delegations were treated like rock stars by their host nations. At the same time these two governments threatened nuclear war, the most peaceful demonstration of goodwill took place between these two enemies. 

David Mills is an associate professor who joined the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 2016. Dr. Mills spent ten years in the United States Army, including service in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, earning a Bronze Star. He was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship, having taught for a semester in the Russian Federation at Ufa University. He holds a doctorate from North Dakota State University and is the author of three books on military and Cold War history. His current research project examines the effort to feed Germany from the fall of Hitler through the Marshall Plan.

Kansas Forts & Bases: Sentinels on the Prairie *New class
Instructor: Michelle Martin

Jan. 14, 21 & 28
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Online

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Description

Join us as we travel back in time to explore the social, cultural and military histories of Kansas' numerous military forts and bases. We'll cover the role of military forts and bases in Kansas from the 1820s through World War I. You'll meet the people who called military forts and bases their homes and the historical events connected to them.

Michelle M. Martin is a Michigander by birth and a Kansas and Oklahoman by choice. Martin earned her doctorate in history at the University of New Mexico. Her research probes interracial marriage, gender, race and power in the Mvskoke Nation in Indian Territory from 1870 - 1897.

American Revolution at 250 Years *New class
Instructor: Russ Hutchins

Feb. 4, 18 & 25
10 a.m. - Noon
Online

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Description

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we'll explore the reasons we fought the king - and the disasters and victories that led us to defeat the best army in the world from 1775 - 1783.

Russ Hutchins teaches U.S. history, Western civilization, economics, business, philosophy and business management at Friends University. He is a retired public-school administrator and educator.

KU-Phoria *Multiple locations*
Instructor: Curtis Marsh

Feb. 17, 25 & March 3
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

March 23, 30 & April 6
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

One school is better than another because of a variety of measures; their academics, athletics, alumni and students, environment, traditions. The University of Kansas has it all. This class examines the stories that make KU better than the rest. Curtis Marsh has spent his 30-year career on campus, half of which was spent with KU Info, a program that answered any KU question imaginable. He is the co-founder of the KU Osher Institute and the past director of the DeBruce Center. Known on campus as "Mr. KU," his book, entitled "KU-phoria," is a collection of 60 stories that prove KU is the best. Join Marsh for a deep dive into KU's past present and future.

Curtis Marsh has spent his 30-year career on campus, half of which was spent with KU Info, a program that answered any KU question imaginable. He is the co-founder of the KU Osher Institute and the past director of the DeBruce Center. Known on campus as "Mr. KU," his book, entitled "KU-phoria," is a collection of 60 stories that prove KU is the best.

The Remarkable Montgall Avenue
Instructor: Margie Carr

Feb. 18, 25 & March 4
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

Some of the most important leaders in Kansas City lived on this block. We'll learn about the lives and work of these remarkable men and women, including Hugh Oliver Cook, principal of Lincoln High School; Anna Jones, prominent civil rights leader and suffragette; John E. Perry, founder of Wheatley Provident Hospital; Chester Franklin, founder of the Kansas City Call, and Lucile Bluford, the Call's longtime editor. In addition to discovering these folks, we'll examine the street itself and the attitudes and policies that impacted its rise and fall. When the first Black residents moved to Montgall, it was integrated. Over the course of the 20th century, the street - and the nation - became more segregated, and the Montgall residents responded in various ways. Jim Crow finally ended in the middle of the 20th century, but other policies replaced it, and with devastating consequences.
  

Margie Carr is a fourth-generation Kansan and grew up in the Kansas City area. She knew how to attend only one school, the University of Kansas, which is where she earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Her undergraduate and doctoral degrees are in education while her master's degree is in museum studies, an area she pursued because it sounded calm. Except for the years spent raising her children when she worked as a freelance writer, she was in classrooms working with every age of student from preschool to the graduate level. Today she trains and supervises volunteers who advocate for children in the foster care system. She is the author of "Kansas City's Montgall Avenue: Black Leaders and the Street They Called Home," winner of the George Ehrlich Award for excellence in writing and chosen as a Notable Book of Kansas in 2024.

Remembering Emmett Till *New class
Instructor: Dave Tell

Feb. 19
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

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Description

Just over 65 years ago, 14-year-old Emmett Till was kidnapped from his great-uncle's home in Money, Mississippi, for whistling at a white woman. His abductors tortured and murdered him before throwing his body into the Tallahatchie River. When Emmett's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, chose an open-casket funeral back in their hometown of Chicago, the brutality of Emmett's murder made front-page headlines across the globe, helping to spark the Civil Rights Movement. Dave Tell will discuss how the memorials devoted to Emmett Till's murder have altered the Mississippi Delta's physical and cultural landscape. We'll learn about five accounts of the commemoration of this infamous crime. In a development no one could have foreseen, Till's murder - one of the darkest moments in the region's history - has become an economic driver for the Delta.

Dave Tell is professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas. He is the author of "Confessional Crises and Cultural Politics in Twentieth Century America" (Penn State University Press, 2012) and "Remembering Emmett Till" (University of Chicago Press, 2019). "Remembering Emmett Till" was listed as a 2019 book of the year by The Economist and won the 2020 McLemore Prize and the 2021 Byron Caldwell Smith Book Award. Professor Tell is a former fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a founding director of the Emmett Till Memory Project - a GPS-enabled smart-phone app dedicated to commemorating the murder of Emmett Till. His writing on the Till murder has been published in Esquire, New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Atlantic Monthly and LitHub. From writing a bullet-proof sign to designing an exhibit for the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Tell is firmly committed to the public value of the humanities.

Before Marco Polo: China & The Silk Road *New class
Instructor: Bob Thorp

March 10, 17 & 24
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

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Description

Long before Marco Polo visited Kublai Khan, China was linked to the cultures of Central Asia, Iran, India and the Mediterranean by the "Silk Road." From Han armies that engaged with steppe warriors (late second century B.C.) to Indian and Iranian merchants and monks who traded luxury goods and transmitted religious teachings in the Middle Ages, China was on the receiving end of distant cultures that had a profound impact on Chinese civilization. Recent archaeology has vastly expanded our understanding of these impacts and the peoples and places that contributed to the "Golden Age of Tang."

Bob Thorp taught at Princeton and Washington University in St. Louis for 25 years followed by a second career as a tour lecturer in China and Japan. His publications include "Chinese Art and Culture" (2001), "China in the Early Bronze Age" (2006) and "Visiting Historic Beijing" (2008). He has visited China more than 50 times.

United States & World War II: Forgotten Military & Civilian Heroes and Heroines
Instructor: Anita Tebbe

March 16, 23 & 30
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Mission Chateau Senior Living Community, 4100 W 85th Street, Prairie Village, KS

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Description

Americans living during World War II have been called the "Greatest Generation." Outstanding military leaders immediately come to mind: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Gen. George S. Patton. This course, however, celebrates the not-so-famous U.S. heroes and heroines of World War II. We'll learn about Black American, Native American and Japanese American soldiers, as well as the Counterintelligence Corps. We'll also honor women's roles as nurses, pilots, factory workers and sustainers of the home front. Lastly, we'll examine how American journalists, the Red Cross and other humanitarian groups, U.S. test pilots, medics and others contributed to the war effort.

Anita Tebbe is a retired professor in the legal studies department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a law degree. Anita is a Kansas-licensed attorney and has more than 40 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels.

The American Revolution: The British Perspective, 1775 - 1783 *New class
Instructor: Robert Smith

March 19, 26 & April 2
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Brewster Place, 1205 SW 29th Street, Topeka, KS

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Description

Join us for an exercise in perspective: We're studying the American Revolution from the British point of view! We'll start with why the British Crown went to war, their public's perception of the conflict and the dissenting voices within Britain. Next, we'll examine both the British political and the military's strategic vision in conducting the war and the logistical handicaps they faced. Finally, we'll look at the successes and failures of the British military operations during the conflict and the motives for ending the conflict.

Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the recently retired director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.

Beyond The Trenches: World War I Fronts in Italy, Eastern Europe, Turkey & Africa
Instructor: Karl Menninger

March 19, 26 & April 2
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Santa Marta, 12800 W. 116th Street, Olathe, KS

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Description

You may be familiar with the World War I battles on the Western Front, where France and Great Britain (and later the U.S.) fought Germany in the trenches. But there was a reason it was called a World War. We will explore battles that were fought in other front, involving Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary and African colonies. We'll also discuss the Polar Bear Expedition: what were U.S. troops doing in Siberia? 

Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who seems to have found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics. 

The JFK Assassination: 63 Years Later
Instructor: Brian Edwards

March 23, 30 & April 2
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Beacon Mental Health (Clay County Senior Services), 3100 NE 83rd Street, Second Floor, Kansas City, MO

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Description

Let's jump into the political and social climate of the early 1960s and the circumstances involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. Over three weeks we'll consider the major theories as to who was likely behind the assassination. You'll see numerous photographs which were not available to the public in 1963during the course, too. We'll conclude with an in-depth examination of an eyewitness - who was ignored by the federal government - who observed a man shoot at the president from behind a picket fence.

Brian Edwards has researched the Kennedy assassination for five decades. During that time, he has interviewed hundreds of individuals connected with the case. He has given numerous presentations on the assassination throughout the United States. Brian co-authored three books on the assassination: "Beyond the Fence Line: The Eyewitness Account of Ed Hoffman and the Murder of President John Kennedy" (2008), "Blueprint for Murder" (2020) and "Admitted Assassin" (2024). In 2019, he collaborated with and appeared in Oliver Stone's four-hour documentary on the assassination, "JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass."

The Women of the Supreme Court *New class
Instructor: Marlene Katz

March 23
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

Since the Supreme Court's inception in 1789, 116 jurists have sat on the bench. Only six have been women -- and all have taken their place in history since 1981. Marlene Katz will embody our four living female justices -- Amy Barrett Coney, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor -- to give us glimpses into their personal and professional lives.

Marlene Katz, a University of Missouri graduate, was an adjunct professor at UMKC, where she taught English and literature. Marlene has a 28-year teaching career and has been involved in storytelling for 20 years. Women in history is her specialty and Marlene has performed in a five-state area and has lectured for various groups, often in costume and speech of the character she is portraying.

1864: Hard War
Instructor: Ethan Rafuse

March 25, April 1 & 8
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description

We head back to the battlefield to explore the military history of the American Civil War in 1864 and how the North and South approached what would be a bloody and transformative year in the war. We'll look at the evolution of the ends, ways and means of Northern and Southern strategy in 1864 and the course, conduct and result of major operations. We'll delve into strategic and political contexts that shaped military operations in Virginia, Tennessee and elsewhere, as well as the leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Philip Sheridan, Jubal Early, Braxton Bragg, Samuel Curtis, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant, whose decisions and leadership shaped their plans, oversight and outcome. *Please note: this class will be offered as a hybrid but will not be recorded, at the request of the instructor.*

Ethan S. Rafuse received his doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His publications include "Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy 1863 - 1865," essays in "The Chattanooga Campaign" and "The Chickamauga Campaign," and "U.S. Presidents During Wartime."

The Willows Maternity Sanitarium & Kansas City, Adoption Hub of America
Instructor: KelLee Parr

May 7, 14 & 21
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Santa Marta, 13800 W. 116th Street, Olathe, KS

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Description

This course will share the reunion of a mother and daughter 66 years after being separated at birth at The Willows Maternity Sanitarium. We will delve into the history of The Willows and dozens of other maternity homes that brought more than 100,000 young women shrouded in secrecy to Kansas City.

KelLee Parr holds bachelor's degrees in agriculture and education plus a master's degree in adult and occupational education from Kansas State University. He has taught elementary school for many years in Topeka and now writes science curriculum for Nancy Larson Publishers.

The Development & Evolution of the US Army: The Cold War Years 1947 - 1995 *New class
Instructor: Robert Smith

May 14, 21 & 28
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Brewster Place, 1205 SW 29th Street, Topeka, Kansas

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Description

This class picks up where "The Growth and Evolution of the United States Army, 1775 - 1945" left off. Over three weeks we'll examine the changes of the U.S. Army during the Cold War years that focused on a doctrine of containing and limiting Communist expansion. In the first class we'll look at the Korean War and the planned deterrence of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces in Eastern Europe. Next, we'll focus on the Army's plans for continental defense in the nuclear/missile age and the restructuring of the Army's tactical organization from the 1950s Pentomic Division to the ROAD Division of the early 1960s. Lastly, we'll delve into the Army's operations during the Vietnam Conflict, its rebuilding and reequipping in the 1970s and its Land, Sea and Air doctrine of the Desert Storm era.

Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the recently retired director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.

Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) *New class
Instructor: Anita Tebbe

May 14, 21 & 28
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community, 13800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS

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Description

Prime Minister Winston Churchill is well-regarded across the world for his long-reigning influence in British Parliament, but did you know he had ties to Missouri and the Kansas City area? Delve into the professional and personal life of Churchill and discover this famous Brit's unique impact in the Midwest.

Anita Tebbe is a retired professor in the legal studies department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a law degree. Anita is a Kansas-licensed attorney and has more than 40 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels.

What Really Happened?  Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence, Kansas: Revisiting the Evidence *Multiple locations*
Instructor: James C. "Chris" Edwards

May 18
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS

May 19
10 a.m. - Noon
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Lawrence, KS

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Description

Join James C. 'Chris' Edwards as he discusses and reads from his new book, "What Really Happened? Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence, Kansas; Revisiting the Evidence." He will provide firsthand survivor accounts of Quantrill's raid that are at odds with each other. Topics include access to weapons, fortifications, troop strength, town preparedness, and conspiracy theories. The class juxtaposes popular survivor testimony of the attack with conflicting accounts from other witnesses.

Chris Edwards earned his master's degree in history from the University of Missouri-Columbia where his focus of study was the Border War between Missouri and Kansas (1854-1865).

German Settlements & Culture In Kansas
Instructor: Bill Keel

May 20, 27 & June 3
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Beacon Mental Health (Clay County Senior Services), 3100 NE 83rd Street, Kansas City, MO

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Description

German is the most prevalent language after English and Spanish spoken at home in 77 counties in Kansas. Since 1854, thousands of German-speaking immigrants have sought better lives here, including Pennsylvania Dutch, Volga Germans, Mennonites, Austrians and Swiss. German churches dot the prairie, and some rural Kansans still speak a dialect of German.

William Keel, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of German at KU, having taught the history and culture of German settlements in Kansas and Missouri.

The History of John Brown *New class
Instructor: Aaron Margolis

June 8, 15 & 22
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description
In life and death John Brown was called many things: hero, terrorist, martyr and criminal. This class puts his life and legacy in the context of the times, exploring Brown as an individual and a determined actor that could only have existed in the Antebellum United States. A life full of contradictions, a supporter of civil rights and freedom, yet able to justify murder, Brown's actions were part of a uniquely American life whose legacy still echoes to this day.

Aaron Margolis received his doctorate in history from the University of Texas at El Paso where he concentrated on Latin American and borderlands history. He is currently an associate professor of history at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

1865: The Union Restored *New class
Instructor: Ethan Rafuse

June 10, 17 & 24
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description
It's 1865, and the American Civil War has raged for four long years. We'll continue examining the military history of the war, including how the North and South each approached what would culminate in the war's end. We'll look at the evaluation of the ends, ways and means of both sides' strategy in 1865, and the course, conduct and outcomes of major operations. We'll also address strategic and political contexts that shaped military operations in Virginia, Tennessee and elsewhere, as well as the leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Joseph Johnston, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant, whose decision and leadership influenced their handling of the war and its end results. * Please note: this class will be offered as a hybrid class but will not be recorded, at the request of the instructor.*

Ethan S. Rafuse received his doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His publications include "Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy 1863 - 1865," essays in "The Chattanooga Campaign" and "The Chickamauga Campaign," and "U.S. Presidents During Wartime."

The Life & Wars of Robert E. Lee
Instructor: Ethan Rafuse

July 13, 20 & 27
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, KS

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Description
Robert E. Lee was the son of fabled Revolutionary War general "Light Horse" Harry Lee. In this course, we'll examine how this general's son became one of the most respected officers in the U.S. Army, only to forge a record in the Confederacy that made him one of the most respected commanders in history. We'll look at the great maneuvers that carried him to triumph at Chancellorsville in 1863, and then to complete defeat in 1865. We will consider the factors that shaped Lee's generalship both in victory and defeat, then look at how Lee dealt with the aftermath of defeat in his postwar endeavors. *Please note that this class will be presented in hybrid format but will not be recorded, at the request of the instructor.

Ethan S. Rafuse received his doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His publications include "Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy 1863 - 1865," essays in "The Chattanooga Campaign" and "The Chickamauga Campaign," and "U.S. Presidents During Wartime."

Understanding George Orwell: His Life and Legacy
Instructor: Vic Peterson

Jan. 15, 22 & 29
10 a.m. – noon
In-Person & Online
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, Kansas, & Online

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This course explores the life and works of George Orwell, a pivotal 20th-century writer known for his sharp critiques of totalitarianism, class inequality and political corruption. First, we'll delve into Orwell's life, from his upbringing in British India to his formative experiences in Burma, the Spanish Civil War and World War II. We'll connect these moments, which shaped his political views and literary voice, to his early works, such as "Down and Out in Paris and London" and "The Road to Wigan Pier."

We'll then shift focus to Orwell's most iconic works, "Animal Farm" and "1984." We'll explore their themes of power, propaganda and societal control, discussing their relevance to modern political and digital landscapes. The session also examines Orwell's influential essays, including "Politics and the English Language," and his enduring legacy as a writer and thinker. Through discussions and reflections, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Orwell's contributions to literature and his resonance in contemporary times.

Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.

Poetry, Art and Philosophy: New Approaches to Abraham and Isaac
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson

Jan. 15, 22 & 29
2 - 4 p.m.
Online

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The story of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son Isaac is one of the most well-known in the Bible. In this interactive online discussion class, we'll first read and discuss the text and then look at a number of paintings of the scene by different artists. Then we'll delve into the Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard's "Fear and Trembling," his book devoted exclusively to this story. Next, we'll explore the ways modern poets have used the imagery of this story in their work. Finally, we'll focus on Sarah, using both ancient and modern Jewish commentary. What did she know about her husband almost killing their son, when did she know it and how did this incident affect her? Advance reading is not required; all source materials will be provided during class.

Sarah Rosenson holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in Jewish Studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law, and then taught classes on ethics, philosophy and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and on various online platforms, including several Osher classes.

The Many Sides of Sam Clemens and Mark Twain *Multiple locations*
Instructor: Jim Gaither

Feb. 10, 17 & 24
1 - 3 p.m.
In-Person
Tallgrass Creek Senior Living Community, 13800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas

March 24, 31 & April 7
2 - 4 p.m.
In-person & Online
KU Edwards Campus, 12610 Quivira Road, Overland Park, Kansas, & Online

April 21, 28 & May 5
2 - 4 p.m.
In-person
Beacon Mental Health (Clay County), 3100 NE 83rd St., Second Floor, Kansas City, Missouri

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Samuel Clemens had several pen names before he settled on the name by which he is best known: Mark Twain. In a sense, Clemens and Twain were two personalities embodied in one life. Twain grew up in Missouri, traveled the world and settled in Connecticut. Over the course of his life, he wrote short humorous stories, historical novels, fantasies and essays on social, religious, philosophical, literary and political issues. He worked in mines and on steamboats. Twain was one of the most popular public performers of his era. He was both a man of the people and friend of the elite. His work has at various times been censored for different reasons by different factions of American culture. Yet his works continue to be read; biographers continue to write about him. He suffered personal tragedies and received public acclaim. Join us to investigate the many sides of the man sometimes acclaimed as the "Father of American Literature." If you only know Twain from humorous quotations and "Huckleberry Finn," you'll be amazed by the scope and complexity of his life and thoughts. He was a man who contained multitudes. Think of this course not as a literary critique or complete academic biography but, rather, a chance to get to know and be entertained by one of America's first "standup comics" and great literary figures.

James Gaither, Th.D., holds a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Holos University Graduate Seminary. For over 25 years he has taught courses on the history of Western thought, world religions, metaphysics and ethics and is currently "semi-retired."

Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
Instructor: Michael Cooley

March 3, 10, 17 & 24
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
In-person
KU Osher Institute, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, Kansas

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Shakespeare wrote plays to entertain the contemporaries of his time - audiences who shared a common set of cultural values and knowledge, which are embedded in the text of his plays. To see his plays, one had to go to the theatre, watch, listen and participate in the drama before them. Four hundred years later, we live in a radically different culture. To enjoy and be "entertained" by Shakespeare's plays, a few of those Elizabethan norms are integral to understand. Key cultural elements of plays will be presented in brief lectures, which will allow shared cultural concepts to be "seen" more easily within the plays. This, in turn, should allow the plays to be more engaging, as they were to Shakespeare's original audience. As time and energy allow, most of the class discussion will be based upon a close reading of, talking about and enjoying "Hamlet." Prepare to be entertained and enlivened by Shakespeare's art and insights into his world as well as our own.

Michael E. Cooley is a retired professor. He taught courses on Shakespeare for 20 years, various writing genres (creative, analytical/argumentative, advanced essay) for 33 years, as well as interdisciplinary honors courses. Michael taught at the University of Georgia, University of Louisville, Emporia State University and Berry College. He works to involve class members in active engagement with course content, to enjoy and celebrate the many pleasures of learning and to discuss the ways literature and art enliven the experience of life.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: From the Prairie to the Page
Instructor: Michelle M. Martin

March 14, 21 & 28
2 - 4 p.m.
Online

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Load up the wagon - we're headed back in time to delve into the life and times of beloved children's author Laura Ingalls Wilder. From her birth in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to her brief time on the Kansas prairie and her family's travels in the West, Wilder's books have delighted children for generations and spawned televisions shows, musicals, merchandise and scholarly conferences. We'll unpack the complicated legacy of Wilder's works and how they can still help us have conversations about our nation's past.

Michelle M. Martin is a Michigander by birth and a Kansas and Oklahoman by choice. Martin earned her doctorate in history at the University of New Mexico. Her research probes interracial marriage, gender, race and power in the Mvskoke Nation in Indian Territory from 1870 - 1897.