Sponsored by Arizona Humanities Council, Brookdale Apache Junction, the Friends of the Library of Apache Junction, and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
The Apache Junction Public Library is pleased to present our 2018 Winter Lecture Series. All lectures will be on Tuesdays at 2:30 PM. No registration is required.
Ghost Towns of the Second World War: Arizona’s Historic Military Sites | January 9, 2018
Presented by Eric Berg
This presentation tells the story of Arizona’s role in World War II, where its sparse population and mild weather made it an ideal location for training facilities and prisoner of war camps. By war’s end, Arizona had trained more pilots than any other state, hosted the country’s largest POW camp, and was part of the largest military training grounds in history.
Arizona Stories: Frontier Characters and Communities | January 16, 2018
Presented by Jim Turner
Here we will share Arizona’s experiences from the famous to the little known, from Native American ceremonies to mining booms, cattle drives, cotton harvests, and religious settlements, we will learn how Arizona evolved from a violent frontier to a just and civil society dedicated to its people’s welfare.
Set in Stone but Not in Meaning: Southwestern Indian Rock Art | January 23, 2018
Presented by Allen Dart
Ancient Indian pictographs and petroglyphs are claimed by some to be forms of writing for which meanings are known. However, are such claims supported by archaeology or by Native Americans themselves? Sometimes even the same rock art symbol may be interpreted differently from popular, scientific, and modern Native American perspectives.
The Diamond Jubilee of Cadet Nurses in Arizona: Stories of Service | January 30, 2018
Presented by Elsie Szecsy
July 1, 2018, marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, an innovation for its time that addressed an acute healthcare delivery crisis during World War II. This presentation draws from the voices of those who participated in the program.
Hi Jolly and Mystery of the US Army Camel Corps| February 6, 2018
Presented by R. Casey Davis
In the 19th century, the U.S. Army experimented with using camels from the Middle East for increased mobility in the newly acquired Southwest. In order to teach the soldiers about camels, a local from the Middle East, who was called Hi Jolly, was shipped over with the camels. Even though Secretary of War Jefferson Davis desperately wanted the Camel Corps to be successful, the experiment was a failure.
Bands of Sisters: U.S. Women’s Military Bands During WWII | February 13, 2018
Presented by Jill Sullivan
Women’s bands were originally employed by the U.S. military to support bond drives, but drew enough spectators to be sent on tour. Once discharged at war’s end, the women refused to fade into domesticity. Instead, the strong bond fostered by youthful enthusiasm and the rare opportunity to serve in the military while making professional caliber music would come to last some 60 years.
Salute to Veterans | February 20, 2018
Presented by Erik Larson
Historical songs honoring our veterans. Erik brings original recordings of the bests of the bands and vocalists and when playing them, encourage my audiences to ask questions, identify the performers and share stories in an interactive environment.
Cameron Trading Post: 100 Years of Trading and Tourists | February 27, 2018
Presented by Carolyn O’Bagy Davis
Learn about the unassuming little trading post at the south end of a one-track bridge across the Little Colorado River. The Cameron Trading Post became a destination and a stopover for people from around the world, including movie stars, artists, writers, scientists, and even mobsters.
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