Great Lives Lecture Series

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University of Mary Washington Great Lives

The Great Lives Series: Biographical Approaches to History and Culture entered its third decade with a schedule that included 18 programs, running from January 16 through March 28, 2024. The dates, topics, speakers, and archived recordings for the series are listed below– thank you for making our 21st season successful. See you in 2025!

Presenter standing behind the podium, smiling, with a slide on the screen behind her.
Two men sitting in the audience in Dodd Auditorium smiling at the camera.
Presenter standing behind podium with a slide behind her. The slide is a sketch of a jail with the text, "Mary Lumpkin lived in Lumpkin's Jail complex with her enslaver".
Author signing her book titled "Elizabeth Taylor".
Three attendees holding the book titled, "A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe" by Mark Dawidziak.
Presenter on stage holding and speaking into a microphone.

Great Lives Headlines

Great Lives Raises $10,316 on Mary Wash Day!

Preliminary data shows that Great Lives was able to raise $10,316 on Mary Wash Day, thanks to YOUR SUPPORT! This amount exceeded the $7,500 challenge goal, unlocking an additional $5,000 for the future longevity of the program next season, and beyond!

Date Lecture Speaker Media
Date Lecture Speaker Media
Jan. 18 Lewis & Clark/Sacagawea Dale Blanshan
Jan. 23 Shakespeare Elizabeth Winkler
Jan. 25 George VI and Elizabeth Sally Bedell Smith
Jan. 30 Sam Shepard John Winters
Feb. 1 Wild Bill Donovan Douglas Waller
Feb. 6 George Washington Alexis Coe
Feb. 8 Mary Lumpkin: Enslaved Woman, Liberator Kristen Green
Feb. 15 Franklin D. Roosevelt Jonathan Darman
Feb. 20 Picasso Marjorie Och
Feb. 22 Stan Lee: Spider-Man and Marvel Comics Bob Batchelor
Feb. 27 Martin Luther King, Jr. Jonathan Eig
Feb. 29 Rosemary Kennedy Kate Clifford Larson
Mar. 12 Edith (Mrs. Woodrow) Wilson Rebecca Roberts
Mar. 14 Billie Jean King Johnette Howard
Mar. 19 Elizabeth Taylor Kate A. Brower
Mar. 21 George Remus: A Real-Life Gatsby Abbott Kahler
Mar. 26 Ten Caesars Barry Straus
Mar. 28 Edgar Allan Poe Mark Dawidziak

Great Lives

Help Great Lives Live On

This compelling lecture series offers insight into a wide and diverse range of figures of historical and cultural significance. These presentations are delivered by eminent authorities from throughout this country — and abroad. Thanks to a substantial initial endowment and continuing annual support from John Chappell, the program is open to the public free of charge and no admission tickets are required. Public support — via attendance, donations, and ideas about future lecture topics — is vital to the continuation of this program.

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Weather Cancellations

When the University of Mary Washington is closed due to inclement weather the Great Lives Lecture is cancelled for that evening. To check for cancellations due to inclement weather, visit the Campus Advisories page, or the UMW Information Line at 540-654-2424.