The University’s popular William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series begins its 16th season in January with a schedule of 18 programs, all open to UMW students and the general public free of charge.
The series is characterized by diverse offerings, all presented by preeminent authorities on wide-ranging subjects including leading figures from the fields of politics, history, literature, religion, art, entertainment, sports, and science.
An unusual feature of this year’s series will be several group biographies, including those of intrepid women based on the bestselling books The Radium Girls and The Rocket Girls. The final lecture, by Heath Lee, based on her book, The League of Wives, focuses on the women who worked tirelessly for the return of Vietnam POWs and MIAs. The topic has particular relevance to UMW, as one of its leaders was Jane Maury Denton, Mary Washington Class of 1948.
Another featured speaker will be Caroline Fraser, winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize in Biography for her study of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the much-beloved book, Little House on the Prarie.
The complete schedule of topics and speakers is available online at umw.edu/greatlives
William Crawley, Adjunct Instructor, History and American Studies, Great Lives
Ali Hieber, Coordinator of Community Events, Great Lives