University of Mary Washington - Where Great Minds Get To Work

The Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series

Biography is the most intimate approach to history, and the most entertaining. UMW’s Great Lives lecture series reveals how extraordinary people – some born to privilege and power, others from modest backgrounds – shaped art, literature, science, government, and the human experience.

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University of Mary Washington Great Lives

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Spring 2017 Lecture Schedule

This series is open to the public free of charge and no admission tickets are required. Programs begin at 7:30 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium in George Washington Hall.  Each lecture concludes with an audience Q&A session with the speaker and a book-signing.

In partnership with the University Bookstore, selected titles related to the topic are available for purchase in the Dodd foyer the night of the lecture. Additional suggested readings related to the Great Lives topics are available at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library

For further information, contact the Office of University Events and Conferencing information line at 540-654-1065.

The list of upcoming lectures for the 2018 Series will be available by October 20, 2018 on the UMW calendar.

Date Lecture Speaker Media
Date Lecture Speaker Media
Jan. 24 Woodrow Wilson David O. Stewart
Jan. 31 Frank Sinatra James Kaplan
Feb. 2 Hamilton and Burr John Sedgwick
Feb. 7 Nat Turner Kenneth S. Greenberg
Feb. 9 John Wayne Scott Eyman
Feb. 14 Ty Cobb Charles Leerhsen
Feb. 16 Douglas MacArthur Walter R. Borneman
Feb. 21 Harriet Tubman Catherine Clinton
Feb. 23 George Custer T. J. Stiles
Mar. 2 George Lucas Brian Jay Jones
Mar. 14 Cancelled: (Rescheduled for 2018) Pauli Murray and Eleanor Roosevelt Patricia Bell-Scott
Mar. 16 Queen Liliuokalani James L. Haley
Mar. 21 Mark Twain Ron Powers
Mar. 23 Cancelled: Nicholas and Alexandra Greg King
Mar. 28 The Witches of Salem Stacy Schiff
Mar. 30 Andrew Jackson H. W. Brands
Apr. 4 Nero and Caligula Barry S. Strauss
Apr. 11 Agatha Christie Jeremy Black
Apr. 13 The Jeffersons and Hemingses Annette Gordon-Reed

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.

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.