Newberry SeminarsFALL 2017

Registration opens August 8. The early registration deadline is September 1. Register online at

www.newberry.org/adult-education-seminars or call (312) 255-3700.

Arts and Language

Creative Partners: Artist Couples in the Modern EraThursdays, 2 - 4 pm September 14 - November 9 (class will not meet September 21)

This course explores joint creative expression by considering eight artist couples from the late nineteenth century to the 1960s. Along with O’Keeffe and Stieglitz, Kahlo and Rivera, we investigate the works of the Delaunays, the Eameses, and Krasner and Pollock, among others. Focusing each week on a different pair, the course considers the complexities of creative enterprise. For the first class, please read Anne Higonnet, “Myths of Creation: Camille Claudel & Auguste Rodin,” pp. 15-30, which will be sent upon registration. Eight sessions. $250.

Margaret Farr is an independent art historian with a PhD in Art History, specializing in art from 1800 to the present. She has worked at the Art Institute of Chicago for over 18 years and has also taught at several colleges and universities.

Demystifying Old English— an Introductory CourseThursdays, 5: 45 - 7:45 pm September 14 - November 16

Is Old English a foreign language? This course aims to demystify the uncanny look and sound of the earliest, pre-Chaucerian stages of the English tongue. We will begin with some background and introductory practice. Then we will enter the world of our texts, trying to discern within their strange mix of Christian and Pagan ambience some likenesses of the most important features of the English language of today. Ten sessions. $285.

Susan Pezzino, a former United States Fulbright Scholar in the field of English Grammar, holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and works as a professional language teacher and curriculum designer in Chicago.

Courtly Display: Art and Fashion in the Middle AgesTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 19 - October 24

In this seminar, we will explore how the elite of the Middle Ages exhibited their high standing and good taste by commissioning works of art and luxury goods. At the end of the Middle Ages, styles of clothing were changing rapidly and artists were expected to represent the latest trends and to use the newest artistic techniques.

We will discuss elaborate gifting rituals, shopping practices, and vast collections the elite amassed, which would become the foundations of national libraries. Readings for the f irst class will be distributed digitally in advance. Six sessions. $210.

Melanie Garcia Sympson has a PhD in art history and has worked at the University of Michigan, The J. Paul Getty Museum, and Kalamazoo College.

The Art of Caravaggio and His FollowersSaturdays, 1 - 3 pm September 23 - November 11 (class will not meet October 7 or November 4)

Explore the dynamic art and compelling life of the Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio through a discussion of images and selected readings. Caravaggio’s vivid and radical style, often controversial in his lifetime, inspired followers in Italy and throughout Europe, and it still speaks powerfully to viewers today. For the first class, please read “3. Giulio Mancini” and “4. Giovanni Baglione” from Howard Hibbard, Caravaggio (New York: Harper & Row, 1983): pp. 46-56. Six sessions. $210.

Jeffrey Nigro is an art historian, adjunct lecturer, and Research Associate in the Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he also serves as President of the Classical Art Society.

“The Princess Bride”: Wedding Traditions and Attire from Queen Victoria to the Duchess of CambridgeSaturday, 10 am - 1 pm November 11

Have you wondered why brides wear white? Why bridal gowns are swathed in lace? Why lilies and orange blossoms scent bridal bouquets? This one-day seminar will look at the most famous “Princess Brides” of the last century—Queen Victoria; Princess Alexandra; Queen Elizabeth II; Princess Grace of Monaco; Princess Diana; and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge—to find the meanings and traditions behind every pearl, every f lower, and every scrap of lace. One session. $70.

Debra N. Mancoff is a Newberry Scholar-in-Residence and author of The Face: Our Human History; Fashion Muse; Flora Symbolica: The Pre-Raphaelite Language of Flowers; and Icons of Beauty: Art, Culture, and the Image of Women. She writes on art, fashion, and culture.

Elizabeth I: Woman, Ruler, and MythSaturday, 12:30 – 3:30 pm November 18

As a woman ruler in a man’s world, Queen Elizabeth I turned perceived disadvantages into strengths by inspiring the greatest creative talents of the English Renaissance. Poetry, music, portraiture, even fashion and cosmetics were employed to portray her as an exceptional personality. This program will examine Elizabeth’s transformation from human ruler to myth through the writing of Shakespeare and Spenser, the music of Dowland and Morley, and the paintings of Hilliard and Gheeraerts. One session. $70.

Jeffrey Nigro is an art historian, adjunct lecturer, and Research Associate in the Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he also serves as President of the Classical Art Society.

John Nygro is a lecturer, actor, and musician in the Chicago area with a thirty-year career in the arts whose talks have been heard at universities, libraries, and on radio.

Chicago Interest

It Didn’t All Go Up in Flames: Exploring Pre-Fire ChicagoThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 14 - October 12 (class will not meet September 28)

Think the Fire burned your chance to discover what Chicago was like in its early days? Think again! Come join us as we explore a gold mine of pre-Fire treasures, many drawn from the Newberry’s collections, including maps, diaries, church records, newspapers, and sheet music. Selected primary source readings will further inform our discussions about what life was really like for early Chicagoans. Four sessions. $170.

Ginger Frere, MLS, is a professional researcher and lecturer. Matt Rutherford, MLS, is Curator of Genealogy and Local History at the Newberry.

50 Years of Community Murals in ChicagoSaturdays, 1 - 3 pm September 16 - November 18

This seminar will examine the origins, history, legacy, artists, works, and meanings of the Chicago-born contemporary mural movement. Through weekly readings, slide presentations, several site visits, and class discussions on the theoretical, artistic, and material development of the still-evolving Chicago community-based public art scene, we will explore its role in urban neighborhoods and its place in a larger national and public art context. Reading materials for the first class will be distributed digitally before the meeting. Ten sessions. $285.

Jeff Huebner is a Chicago-based art writer and journalist, who writes frequently on public art and murals. He’s a longtime contributor to the Chicago Reader and Public Art Review, among many publications, and has authored several books on Chicago-area murals.

Tour and History of Garfield Park ConservatorySaturdays, 10 am - noon September 16 - September 23

The Garfield Park Conservatory on the West Side of Chicago was the concept of Prairie School landscape architect Jens Jensen. At the time of its completion in 1908, the conservatory was considered revolutionary for the presentation of the plant collection and themed rooms.

Some have suggested the Fern Room alone deserves a place at the Art Institute for its beautiful design. This class will focus on the history of the conservatory and Garfield Park, as well as its current and future usage. A lecture and behind-the-scenes tour of Garfield Park Conservatory, its surrounding gardens, and production greenhouses will be featured. Recommended reading for the first class: Inspired by Nature by Julia Bachrach and Jo Ann Nathan. Two sessions. $100.

John Rafetto (BA in landscape architecture, University of Illinois Urbana; MA in environmental studies, Northeastern Illinois University) is a retired horticulturist and landscape designer for Garfield Park and Lincoln Park Conservatories.

Postcard of “A Corner in the Conservatory, Garfield Park, Chicago,” from the Curt Teich Postcard Collection.

Chicago ParkitectureWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 27 - October 18

This seminar highlights the fascinating history of architecture in Chicago’s parks. From Victorian refectories and conservatories to the world’s f irst f ield houses and Art Moderne bathing pavilions, Chicago parks feature many of the city’s most significant buildings and structures. This course explores the contributions of renowned designers including Daniel H. Burnham, William Le Baron Jenney, and Dwight H. Perkins, as well as that of talented but lesser-known architects such as Clarence Hatzfeld and Emanuel Buchsbaum. Reading assignments for the first class will be emailed upon registration. Four sessions. $170.

Julia Bachrach has an MA Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation from University of Wisconsin-Madison. She served as Chicago Park District historian for 28 years and is author of The City in a Garden: A History of Chicago’s Parks.

Chicago Personified: Richard J. Daley and Mike RoykoThursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm September 28 - November 2

After Richard J. Daley’s death in 1977, Mike Royko wrote, “If a man ever ref lected a city, it was Richard J. Daley of Chicago.” The same could be said for columnist Royko. In this seminar, we will explore the parallel and contrasting life stories of both men: the politician who shaped the city we live in more than any other individual, and the writer who chronicled that city’s transformation. Six sessions. $190.

Bill Savage teaches Chicago literature, history, and culture at Northwestern University; he has led Newberry seminars since 1992.

Genealogy

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: 1-8The Newberry has one of the strongest genealogical research collections in the nation. Whether you’re a beginner or simply looking for formal fundamentals training, try these seminars, tailored to meet your research needs. Take all eight or just those that interest you most.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: The Most Helpful Tools You’ve Never Used—Part 1Saturday, 9 am - noon September 23

Based on the popular new book Fundamentals of Genealogy®: The Most Helpful Tools You’ve Never Used!, this seminar offers a wealth of helpful tools plus in-depth instruction for practical uses of online resources, county boundaries, maps, timelines, genealogical precepts, and other research strategies. We will also review tips for using CyndisList tools, wikis, lookups, health predisposition results sheets, and recommendations for blogs and podcasts on the subject. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: The Most Helpful Tools You’ve Never Used—Part 2Saturday, 12:30 - 3:30 pm September 23

This seminar offers even more tools based on the new book, Fundamentals of Genealogy®: The Most Helpful Tools You’ve Never Used! We’ll walk through in-depth instruction for practical uses of the Newberry Library’s catalogs and guides for genealogy, forensic photo analysis, and Google’s Research Tools. We will also review many organizational strategies, including using Evernote and OneNote to document findings, and Pinterest and other new options for presentations. Finally, we’ll explore the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge, genealogical societies, and using DNA in research. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: Research MethodologySaturday, 9 am - noon September 30

In this session, we will tackle the fundamentals of accredited genealogical research and process methodology including research basics, important records repositories, precepts, and establishing standards of proof. We will review genealogical software, online resources for research, and research strategies. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: Records Group ISaturday, 12:30 - 3:30 pm September 30

This session will teach you how to find and use vital records, US Federal and other census records, maps, land records, religious records, and newspaper records. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: Analyzing, Recording, Organizing & NetworkingSaturday, 9 am - noon October 14

We’ll explore how to create research and presentation plans, to turn your piles of paper into files, to generate heirloom inventories, to preserve documents, to organize digital f iles, to use Analysis Style Sheet + methods, to use Recording Style Sheet + methods, and to navigate today’s many means of networking. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: Records Group IISaturday, 12:30 - 3:30 pm October 14

This session will cover how to use wills and probate records, immigration and naturalization records, local histories, city/county/telephone directories, genealogical publications (including PERSI), military records, tax records, and ethnic records. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: Genealogical Research in Libraries & Newberry TourSaturday, 9 am - noon October 21

This session will focus on library research and reference, including genealogical resources at the Newberry Library, a tour of the Newberry, library catalog searching, inter-library loan, Chicago genealogical materials, and more using Newberry.org, Ancestry.com, and FamilySearch.org. One session. $70.

The Fundamentals of Genealogy Series: Genealogical Researcher’s PracticumSaturday, 12:30 - 3:30 pm October 21

In this “hands on” session, we’ll put it all together by reviewing genealogical sources and methods, then via case studies, we’ll discuss how best to formulate research strategies. (While a laptop or other electronic device is not required, you’ll be able to explore online sources if you bring one.) One session. $70.

Marsha Peterson-Maass is author of the Fundamentals of Genealogy® textbook series and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has led numerous genealogy seminars at the Newberry Library since 2002.

Discover Your German Ancestors’ OriginsSaturdays, 1 - 3 pm October 21 - November 11

Learn how to research your immigrant ancestors’ German origins in this course, which will guide you through the process of researching a German immigrant using United States sources. Discover your ancestors’ town of origin and continue researching them in the former German Empire. Many records survive—this seminar will show you how to find them. We will also explore how to use alternate sources to discover their lives beyond birth and death dates. Four sessions. $170.

Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG(SM),* author of the Guide to Hanover Military Records, 1514-1866 on Microfilm at the Family History Library, specializes in German genealogical research. She regularly speaks for genealogical societies and conferences. She has recorded two Ancestry Academy courses.

Genetic Genealogy: GEDmatch—A Power Tool for Autosomal DNA AnalysisSaturdays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm November 4 - November 11

This seminar provides a hands-on, in-depth exploration of the many tools available via the free-third party website GEDmatch. The tools substantially increase the user’s ability to derive meaningful information from autosomal DNA test results. This is a hands-on course using the participant’s own DNA test results. Requires participants to bring their own laptop. Two sessions. $130.

Karen Stanbary, CG (SM),* is a professional gene-alogist trained in advanced genealogical methodologies and the use of DNA analysis in complex genealogical problem-solving.

Genome Mate Pro: Hands-on LabSaturdays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm November 18 - December 2, (class will not meet on November 25)

Genome Mate Pro is powerful organizational and analysis software to use with autosomal DNA results to solve genealogical problems. This is a hands-on lab for adult learners who have completed the Beginning Genetic Genealogy course with Karen Stanbary at the Newberry Library. Two sessions. $130.

Karen Stanbary, CG (SM),* is a professional genealogist trained in advanced genealogical methodologies and the use of DNA analysis in complex genealogical problem-solving.

*The words Certified Genealogist are a registered certification mark, and the designation CG, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by Board-certified genealogists after periodic competency evaluation.

History and Social Sciences

The Origins of the First World WarSection A: Tuesdays, 1 - 3 pm Section B: Tuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 12 - November 14

This course will explore both the long and short term causes of the First World War. Among the topics to be treated will be the emergence of rival alliance blocs; the naval arms race between Britain and Germany; imperial rivalries in Africa and Asia; the gradual disintegration of such multi-ethnic states as Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire; the growth of nationalism, especially in the Balkans; the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; and the “July Crisis.” For the first class, please read Part I, chapter 1 of Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914. Ten sessions. $285.

Frank A. Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history and secondary fields in modern German and Spanish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.

“The Crime of the Ages,” John T. McCutcheon, 1914.

The Vietnam War’s Many VoicesThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 14 - November 30 (class will not meet November 9)

The United States military forces left Vietnam 44 years ago, and in this seminar we will look back to reexamine the conf lict. Using historical articles, novels, memoirs, poetry, photos, music, and videos, we will fully explore the history, impact, and meaning of the Vietnam War from a number of different perspectives. We will begin with the historical context for the war and the United States’ involvement, then examine war experiences from both the American and the North Vietnamese perspective, and finally look at those who participated in the war and the War’s impact today. For the first class, please read, chapters 3 and 4 of Vietnam: A History, by Stanley Karnow. Ten sessions. $285.

Tom Irvine is the Chief Information Officer from The Chicago Community Trust and passionate about understanding history and what it can teach us.

The Rise of the British Empire, 1600-1900Saturdays, 10 am - noon September 16 - December 2 (class will not meet September 30)

In treating the rise of the “empire on which the sun never set,” we will consider such topics as the colonization of the Americas, narratives of European captivity by native peoples, the causes of the rebellion of the thirteen colonies, Captain Cook’s explorations in the Pacific, the penal colony of Botany Bay, the anti-slavery movement, the Great Mutiny (or Rebellion) of 1857 in India, the Opium Wars in China, the New Imperialism, and the “scramble for Africa.” Please read part one of The Rise and Fall of the British Empire by Lawrence James, and the introduction of Captives: Britain, Empire, and the World, 1600-1850 by Linda Colley, before the first class meeting. Ten sessions. $285.

Frank A. Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.

What Is Freedom?Saturdays, 1 - 3 pm September 16 - November 18

This seminar aims to deeply enrich students by equipping them to transcend the common unexamined notions of freedom as a legal system, great wealth, or the fulfillment of every wish. We will examine this question through close reading and discussion of immortal works that present original insights into freedom through philosophy, psychology, political science, and literature. For the first class, please read “Dinner with Trimalchio” from the Satyricon. Ten sessions. $285.

Bruce Gans taught at the City Colleges where he created Great Books Curricula that earned major grants from the NEH and US Department of Education and has been featured in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

How Stupid Are We? A Study of Ignorance in AmericaTuesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm September 19 - October 24

In 2016, Oxford Dictionaries designated “post-truth” as the word of the year. The term refers to a political phenomenon—“a general characteristic of our age”—regarding attitudes toward truth, conspiracies, anti-intellectualism, and ignorance. On the last, this seminar explores an edited collection on “agnotology,” the philosophical and scientific study of ignorance. The historical essays therein cover “post-truth” trends in censorship, climate change, philosophy, the female orgasm, abortifacients, archaeology, racism, risk management, and smoking. Please read the preface and Chapter 1 of Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance. Six sessions. $190.

Tim Lacy holds a PhD in US history. His published work covers anti-intellectualism, great books, education, cultural politics, the history of thought, and the philosophy of history

Joan of Arc: A Singular LifeThursdays, 2 - 4 pm September 21 - October 26

For almost 600 years, people have marveled at the prowess of Joan of Arc, the 17-year-old who, with no experience, led French troops in driving the English from Orleans. How did she turn the tide of what history would call the Hundred Years War? How, too, could a young woman with no schooling respond with sophisticated simplicity to clerics determined to label her a witch? In this seminar we will consider that intriguing, heart-breaking story through the eyes of historians as well as playwrights, composers, novelists, visual artists, and ordinary citizens. For the first class, please read pp. 15-29 and 228-234 of Jeanne d’Arc by Régine Pernoud. Six sessions. $210.

Susanne Dumbleton holds a PhD in literature (medieval) from the University at Albany and is Professor Emeritus and Former Dean at DePaul University. Her research focuses on women in leadership for social change.

U.S. Treasury Department poster, 1914.

A History of CookbooksWednesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 27 - October 18

In this seminar, we will explore the exciting history of cookbooks in Europe from 1300 to 1900. Focusing on primary sources, we will discuss many aspects of the cookbook including the creation of the physical object; authors, readers, and cooks; ingredients and kitchen technologies; and the meal. Readings for the first session will be distributed digitally upon registration. Four sessions. $170.

Sarah Peters Kernan, independent culinary historian, holds a PhD in medieval history from Ohio State University.

Getting to the Truth in HistoryWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 27 - November 15

What is history and why is it so contested? How can history help us navigate through the brambles of half-truths and “alternative facts” of today’s world? This course will pull back the curtain on the historian’s craft and explain how we can grapple with questions of how the past is understood and remembered. Topics include the idea of truth in history, politics, and ideology in writing history, the similarity and difference of the past and the present, questions of interpretation and meaning, uncovering secrets and untruths, resurrecting memory, and history’s restorative power. Readings for the first session will be distributed digitally in advance. Eight sessions. $250.

Brooke Heagerty holds a PhD in history. Her current project is on the power of history and memory.

Literature and Theater

A Serial Reading of Daniel DerondaTuesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 12 - November 7

Daniel Deronda, George Eliot’s f inal novel, is ambitious, challenging, and astonishingly multi-dimensional. Eliot’s tale weaves together a provocative examination of marriage and personal aspiration with a meditation on Jewishness in Victorian Britain. This seminar invites participants to immerse themselves in the world of the novel by reading it in consecutive parts, as originally published. Sessions will focus on elements of art, music, religion, philosophy, and history as they arise in the novel. For the first session, please read only Chapter One. Do not read the book’s introduction or the “character list.” Nine sessions. $275.

Steven J. Venturino, PhD, the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism, has led seminars at the Newberry Library and taught at Loyola University Chicago.

Shakespeare: Three KingsTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 12 - November 7

What does Shakespeare say about the inf luence of families on leaders, the balance of a leader’s personal goals with advice from intimate advisors and how elements beyond the control of humans affect the successful leadership of a country? We will read, view video performances of, and discuss three of Shakespeare’s plays, King John, King Lear, and Henry VIII to discover the universal truths in the public and private lives of absolute power. For the f irst session, please read Acts 1 and 2 of King John. Nine sessions. $275.

John Nygro is a lecturer, actor, and musician in the Chicago area with a thirty-year career in the arts whose talks have been heard at universities, libraries and on radio.

Sleuthing Goes GlobalTuesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm September 12 - November 7 (class will not meet October 10)

Since its beginning in the Anglo-American world, mystery fiction has diversif ied and spread across the globe. Many English-language authors now feature protagonists of color, or set their mysteries in locations beyond the borders of the U.S. and England, with local detectives at the helm. We will explore how these global detectives offer readers escapist stories, toying with the familiar and the unfamiliar, and serve as vehicles for social critique. Please read The House without a Key by Earl Derr Biggers for the first session. Eight sessions. $210.

Elzbieta Foeller-Pituch is the Assistant Director of the Chabraja Center for Historical Studies at Northwestern University, where she also teaches literature classes.

Yesterday’s Dystopian TomorrowsWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 13 - November 15

There’s a lot to fear about the future, and from these fears arise dystopian visions. The literature of the twentieth century took a critical lens to major innovations such as genetic engineering (Brave New World), government invasions of privacy and abuse of technology (1984), religious fundamentalism (The Handmaid’s Tale), and a xenophobic world without children (The Children of Men). We’ll discuss authors’ visions at they relate to and encompass their fears for the world of tomorrow. Perhaps you’ll decide that winter in Chicago isn’t so bad after all. Ten sessions. $285.

Jim Hecimovich is a PhD candidate in English at the University of Chicago. He has taught at the Newberry numerous times, including courses on historical fiction, Don Quixote, the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, magical realism, and Don DeLillo’s novels.

Isaac Babel, Odessa, and the Russian RevolutionSaturdays, 10 am - noon September 16 - November 18

We will read Isaac Babel’s lush, modernist Odessa Stories and Red Cavalry, in a outstanding new translation by Boris Dralyuk, which retains the intensity and vitality of the original. Examining Odessa gangsters and the soldiers in the Red Cavalry through the eyes of a Jewish intellectual, Babel portrays a world of passion, turmoil, and violence that fascinates and terrif ies him. Readings will be supplemented by biographical, critical, and historical information, as well as episodes from several f ilms—including the new documentary Finding Babel—provided by the instructor. Please read pages 127-185 in Odessa Stories for the first meeting. Ten sessions. $285.

Julia Kriventsova Denne studied literature at St. Petersburg University, Russia and teaches Russian literature in the Chicago area.

Italy, World War II, and the NovelTuesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 19 - October 24

This six week seminar explores the chaos of World War II Italy and the literary movement that sprang from it: Neorealism. The new novel dealt with the politics of the time and portrayed in intimate terms the grim reality of daily Italian life under fascist oppression. We will read and discuss four significant novels and their impact at home and abroad. Please read Chapters 1-3 of Christ Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi for the first class. Six sessions. $210.

Constance Markey holds a PhD in Italian literature and has taught and published extensively. She is retired from DePaul University where she was Head of the Italian Section.

Survey of European Drama: From the Worker to the WitThursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm September 21 - November 9

In this lecture and discussion-based seminar, we will examine the rich period of European theatre from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. From the drawing room comedies of Wilde and Coward to the innovations of Synge, Ibsen, and Priestley, we will explore the major themes and movements in European drama. The seminar will also consider the inf luence of the political plays of Shaw and Strindberg discussing how these works function as social commentary as well as artistic achievements. Please read The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov for the first meeting. Eight sessions. $210.

Todd Bauer holds an MA in liberal studies from Northwestern University is a playwright and director whose work has been performed in Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C.

First-Person LiteratureTuesdays, 2 - 3:30 pm October 3 - November 28 (class will not meet November 21)

This seminar will focus on memoirs and personal essays of literary titans. We’ll read from the following authors: Tobias Wolff, Russell Baker, Elie Wiesel, Elizabeth Alexander, Aleksander Hemon, Maya Angelou, and Trevor Noah. Each of the authors recollects powerful and poignant experiences in writing that are compelling, informative, and testimonies to the human spirit. We’ll discuss the authors’ varied backgrounds, styles, and themes, as well as the moral questions they raise. Finally, we will view online segments of readings by and/or interviews with the authors. Please read chapters 1 through 6 AND chapter 11 of Russell Baker’s Growing Up. Eight sessions. $210.

Linda Levine (MA in English education, Northwestern University) has taught English and the humanities for several decades, including previous seminars at Newberry.

Grace Paley’s StoriesWednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm October 4 - November 15

A master of the short story, Grace Paley called her own work “a history of everyday life.” With a sharp political edge, Paley portrays relationships —between lovers, friends, and family—with bracing honesty and exquisite precision. Her characters, often the women of immigrant Jewish New York, are always measuring themselves and the world against their ideals, and Paley’s stories are intensely alive with the messy details and emotional urgency of ordinary experience. Please read “Goodbye and Good Luck” (pp. 3 – 13) in Grace Paley, The Collected Stories, for the first class. Seven sessions. $200.

Mike Levine’s most recent Newberry seminar was on Clarice Lispector’s stories. He has a PhD in English from Rice University.

Victorian Gothic: Art, Fashion, and FictionTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm October 10 - November 14

Despite its prim and proper reputation, Victorian Britain had a dark side. In a straight-laced society, the thrill of suspense, of the supernatural, and of just being scared had an irresistible allure. This six-week seminar explores the many and surprising ways that Victorian artists and their audiences reveled in tales of terror, intricate and excessive mourning practices, and mysterious and macabre art and fashion that can still enchant us today. Readings for the first class will be distributed digitally in advance. Six sessions. $210.

Debra N. Mancoff, Newberry Scholar-in-Residence and author of The Face: Our Human History; Fashion Muse; Flora Symbolica: The Pre-Raphaelite Language of Flowers; and Icons of Beauty: Art, Culture, and the Image of Women, writes on art, fashion, and culture.

Star Wars and MythologyThursdays, 6 - 7:30 November 2 - December 7 (class will not meet November 23)

Star Wars remains one of the most timeless, universally beloved stories of all time. One reason these films are so enduring is because they carefully adhere to the patterns of mythological storytelling traditions that have existed for thousands of years. This class will interpret Star Wars through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s comparative mythology, exploring how the films draw on everything from samurai philosophy to Arthurian legend, from Wagner’s Ring Cycle to the Bible. For the first class, please read up to Part II of Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Five sessions. $170.

Harrison Sherrod has been teaching seminars at the Newberry for several years, including courses on Chicago surrealism, metaphysical detectives, the philosophy of anxiety, con artists, and dinner parties gone wrong.

Music

Beyond the Ring Cycle: The Other Operas of Richard WagnerTuesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 12 - October 17

Wagner’s Ring Cycle is without question his most monumental achievement. But starting with his f irst great success, The Flying Dutchman, and ending with Parsifal, he composed a total of six other great operas. These two operas frame the historical development of Wagner’s artistic achievements. The other operas we will discuss include: Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde, and Der Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Our goal is to understand how these other operas f it beyond the Ring. Viewing assignments for the f irst class will be distributed upon registration. Six sessions. $210.

Motivated by firsthand experiences of attending numerous performances of Wagner’s operas, including three seasons at the Bayreuth Festival, David Pituch has developed a deep understanding and appreciation this great German music tradition He has given numerous lectures and discussions on the music of Richard Wagner.

Wonderful Town: Musical Life in New York from from the 1730s to the 1920sThursdays, 2 - 4 pm September 14 - November 2

This is the first of two chronological seminars covering the people, organizations, and events of music in New York City. From its modest beginning of a public concert in 1736, the city has become America’s prime focus of orchestral and chamber music, solo performance, opera, jazz, swing, popular songs, and musical comedy, as well as the music industry itself. In this seminar, we will explore New York’s musical development from 1736 through the 1920s with contemporary and modern recordings of representative works. Eight sessions. $250.

Guy A. Marco (BMus, American Conservatory of Music; PhD, University of Chicago) has taught in 11 universities and written or edited 50 books. He has led Newberry seminars since 1996.

Masterpieces of English Romantic MusicWednesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 20 - November 8

The masterpieces of Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, and Ralph Vaughan Williams display a distinctly British sensibility while emanating universal appeal. We will listen to and discuss nine complete vocal, solo instrumental, and orchestral masterpieces by these British romantic composers to deepen our appreciation of their familiar works and to explore their lesser-known compositions, discovering their transcendent beauty. Eight sessions. $250.

John Nygro is a lecturer, actor, and musician in the Chicago area with a thirty-year career in the arts whose talks have been heard at universities, libraries, and on radio.

Leonard Bernstein: His Life, Music, and LegacyThursdays, 2 - 4 pm September 21 - November 9

Leonard Bernstein was one of the most renowned musicians of the twentieth century. This exploration of his career as a conductor, composer, and gifted educator will help light up his life as a vibrant, controversial, and brilliant man of his times. His musical impact is enormous, and his legacy in music composition and in interpretation and performance of classical music continues to be a force for the future. Eight sessions. $250.

Stephen Kleiman holds a BS from The Mannes College of Music and an MM in music composition/conducting from the University of Michigan. He has conducted throughout Europe and the US. His compositions are performed regularly, and he has been teaching at the Newberry since 2008.

The Heroic Beethoven and the Birth of Musical RomanticismWednesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 27 - November 15

Beethoven’s middle period works—known as the “heroic Beethoven”— comprise the single most inf luential repertory in the history of Western music. The “Eroica” symphony, the mighty Fifth, the “Emperor” piano concerto, and other works permanently established the model of artist as hero, artist as liberator, artist as sacrif ice. The Romanticism of Schumann, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Mahler, and the contemporary image of musical genius is unthinkable without Beethoven’s achievement. This course contextualizes these great works and assesses their impact on the course of music history. Eight sessions. $250.

John Gibbons teaches piano, composition, music theory, and a variety of music appreciation classes for adults. He holds a PhD in music composition from the University of Chicago and is a long-time instructor at the University of Chicago Graham School.

Bruce Springsteen, Social Justice, and the Struggle for the American DreamWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm October 11 - November 1

Bruce Springsteen has spent much of his adult life examining the gap between the American Dream and the American reality, between how we hope to live and how we actually do. This course will examine Springsteen and his body of work through the discussion of four broad themes: class, religion, social justice, and community. Four sessions. $170.

June Sawyers has published four books on Bruce Springsteen, including Racing in the Street: the Bruce Springsteen Reader, and has lectured extensively on his work.

Religious Change and PrintIn conjunction with our major exhibit, Religious Change and Print, 1450-1700, we offer these seminars, which examine the period from a variety of perspectives.

Making (and Owning) Books in the Early Modern PeriodSaturdays, 10 am - noon October 21 - November 11

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, a time in which books had enormous impact. But how exactly were books made, and who made them? This seminar will build on the Newberry’s fall exhibition, Religious Change and Print, 1450-1700, and will use the library’s world-class collection on the history of printing to examine the labor and materials that went into making books and other printed materials in the period. Four sessions. $170.

Jill Gage is the Custodian of the John M. Wing Foundation on the History of Printing and Bibliographer for British Literature and History at the Newberry Library, and she curated the Newberry’s 2016 exhibition, Creating Shakespeare. She holds a PhD from the University of London.

A engraving showing printers at work from Nova Reperta, Jahn van der Straet, 1580-1600.

Political Thought in the Reformation EraThursdays, 2 - 4 pm September 14 - October 19

The Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation didn’t just divide Western Christianity along confessional lines. The religious schism also led to fundamental reconsideration of the legitimate source of political power and a subject’s right or duty to resist that power. To coincide with the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation, this seminar will engage participants in discussing the political thinking of leaders such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, St. Robert Bellarmine, and others. For the first class, please read pages 1-37 of Christendom Destroyed. Six sessions. $210.

Joseph Harrington holds an MA in history from the University of Connecticut. He has led numerous Newberry seminars.

Religion and Print Culture in the Early Modern WorldTuesdays, 2 - 4 pm September 21 - November 9

This seminar examines the formative relationship between religion and print in the early modern period. Through lectures, discussions of primary sources, and guided gallery tours of the Newberry’s upcoming major exhibition, Religious Change and Print, 1450-1700, participants will explore how different individuals experienced the tumultuous religious changes of the period and appreciate how religion changed the early modern world through print in ways that continue to shape contemporary thought and society. Readings for the first class will be distributed digitally in advance. Eight sessions. $250.

Christopher Fletcher received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago and co-curated Religious Change and Print, 1450-1700 while serving as the Newberry Mellon Major Projects Fellow in 2016-2017.

Writing Workshops

Finding Your Voice, Telling Your StoriesSaturday, 10 am - 4 pm (class will include a 1-hour lunch break) September 23

Whether in private journals, family histories, or published memoirs, telling our personal stories is a transforming experience. When we write down the important events in our lives, we better understand the meaning they have for us. Rachel Naomi Remen says in Kitchen Table Wisdom that “facts bring us to knowledge, but stories lead to wisdom.” In this workshop, we’ll use a series of guided writing prompts to recall and record our significant life stories. We’ll also discuss the various uses for our stories once we have set them down in writing. One session. $130.

Carol LaChapelle is a writer, teacher, and the author of Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories. She has taught writing and journal writing workshops in Chicago for 25 years, including at the Newberry Library.

Fiction 5K: Read 5 Stories, Write 5,000+ WordsWednesdays, 6 - 7:430 pm September 27 - October 25

This workshop is geared towards beginning and continuing fiction writers with an interest in reading and writing short stories. We will study five different literary short stories to understand what makes them work and discuss elements of the fiction writing craft. Each class will include limited writing time and a prompt to spark ideas. Participants will work toward a goal of completing one 5,000-word story by the end of the seminar. The instructor will email a short story to be read for the first session one week before the seminar start date. Five sessions. $170.

Linda Downing Miller’s short stories have appeared or are forthcoming in The Florida Review, Water-Stone Review, Crab Orchard Review, Fiction International, and Fifth Wednesday Journal. She earned an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and is a freelance writer.

See the World, Write the Story: Crafting the Travel EssayThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm September 28 - November 2

The world is becoming smaller and smaller; more people traverse the globe today than ever before. From spending a weekend in a nearby town to f lying clear across to the other side of the world, we move around with relative ease and a great deal of delight (or despair). Writing about our experiences can prolong the excitement and sense of wonder that the journey brought us. We can also, in this way, share it with others. Sometimes our audiences may recognize familiar places and names, other times they may have never been there but will visit, if nothing else, vicariously through our writing. Six sessions. $210.

Badikian-Gartler holds a PhD in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has taught at various institutions of higher learning, including Northwestern University, Loyola University, Roosevelt University, University of Illinois, and Columbia College.

Picture This: Writing Picture Books for ChildrenWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm October 4 - November 15

This workshop focuses on how to create and write a successful children’s picture book that both connects with young readers and succeeds in today’s ever-changing marketplace. Through sharing and discussing participants’ manuscripts, we will highlight the varieties of picture books, structures, crafts, writing processes, and publishing opportunities. Writers of all levels will be offered a supportive, challenging, and encouraging environment. Seven sessions. $230.

Esther Hershenhorn authors award-winning picture books and middle grade fiction, coaches children’s book writers, and recently served on The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Board of Advisors.

Fall 2017 Seminars

Welcome to the Fall 2017 term of the Newberry Adult Education Seminars Program. We are proud to offer a wide variety of informal, non-credit courses designed for adults with busy schedules and inquiring minds, all under the roof of one of the nation’s most renowned humanities research libraries.

Registration opens Tuesday, August 8 at 10 am. The early registration deadline is Friday, September 1 at 4 pm. After this date, registration costs will increase by 10 percent, and classes with fewer than the minimum seven registrants will be canceled. All listed prices in the brochure reflect the early registration cost. The term begins Tuesday, September 12, with classes starting on a rolling basis after that.

Register online at www.newberry.org or call (312) 255-3700.

Seminar registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Many seminars fill quickly; therefore we encourage you to enroll early. Full payment is required at the time of registration, and we cannot pro-rate tuition to compensate for missed classes. Seven registrants are needed to run a class.

We offer a 10 percent discount to: – Associates of the Newberry at the Author level ($100 and above), or– Seniors 65 and over, or– Students (valid student ID required)

Refunds: Requests for refunds must be received in writing. To request a refund, email us at seminars@newberry.org. The Seminars Office retains a 10 percent processing fee.– For single- or two-session seminars, tuition (less the 10 percent processing

fee) is refundable until 24 hours before the seminar begins. – For all seminars longer than two sessions, tuition (less the 10 percent

processing fee) is refundable until 24 hours prior to the second class meeting.

Books and Materials: The Newberry Bookstore stocks most required and rec-ommended titles for the seminars. Associates of the Newberry at the Author level ($100 and above) receive a 10 percent discount on all seminar texts. Book and material costs are not included in the tuition price unless otherwise noted.

To register for a seminar please submit this form, along with your payment, to:

Newberry Library, Attn: Seminars, 60 W. Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610

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Total tuition $Take 10% off if you fit one of the criteria below

¨ I am a senior (65 or older). (10% discount) or

¨ I am a student (with a copy of valid ID enclosed). (10% discount) or

¨ I am an Associate of the Newberry Library at the Author level ($100) or above.

Associates at the Author level of $100 or above receive a 10% discount on seminar tuition.

¨ I want to become an Associate now at the $ ______________ level.

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OCTOBERWing Foundation Lecture on the History of the BookPeter Stallybrass, “What Is a Letter?”*Thursday, October 12, 6 pm

Second Saturday in OctoberMusic and Stories for KidsSaturday, October 14, 10 am

Meet the AuthorTom Shachtman, How the French Saved America: Soldiers, Sailors, Diplomats, Louis XVI, and the Success of a Revolution*Tuesday, October 17, 6 pm

Shakespeare Project of Chicago As You Like It Saturday, October 21, 10 am

Meet the AuthorLiesl Olson, Chicago Renaissance: Literature and Art in the Midwest Metropolis* Thursday, October 26, 6 pm

NOVEMBERColonial History LectureNathaniel Philbrick: Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution*Saturday, November 4, 10 am

Meet the AuthorAndrew J. Diamond: Chicago on the Make: Power and Inequality in a Modern City*Wednesday, November 8, 6 pm

Second Saturday in NovemberMusic and Stories for KidsSaturday, November 11, 10 am

DECEMBERMeet the AuthorJohn N. Low, Imprints: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the City of Chicago*Thursday, December 7, 6 pm

Shakespeare Project of ChicagoA Dream of AvonEnjoy hot chocolate and treats while watching this special holiday performanceSaturday, December 16, 10 am

GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY ORIENTATIONUsually held the first Saturday of the month at 9 am: 9/9, 10/7, 11/4, 12/2

Fall 2017 Newberry Public Programs This is a partial list; check www.newberry.org/public-programs for more programs and links to register. Unless otherwise noted, all public programs are free. Programs marked with an asterisk (*) require registration.

EXHIBITIONReligious Change and Print, 1450-1700Opens Thursday, September 14 and runs through December 30

Programs related to Religious Change and Print, 1450-1700

Shakespeare Project of ChicagoShakeshafte, a new play by Rowan WilliamsSaturday, September 16, 10 am

Schola Antiqua early music ensemble, “Early Modern Religious Music”*Tuesday, September 26, 6 pm

Seth Limmer, “Expanding Literary Horizons: Religious Change through Cross-Cultural Contact”* Wednesday, October 4, 5:30 pm

Ed Muir and Kaya Sahin, “Cosmopolitan Early Modern Venice”*Saturday, October 28, 10:30 am

Martin Marty, “Luther and the Reformation: 500 Years of Book-Burning and Book-Learning”* Wednesday, November 1, 6 pm

Conversations at the NewberryBrad Gregory and Mark Noll, “What the Reformation Did and Why It Still Matters”*Tuesday, November 7, 6 pm

John O’Malley, “Jesuits and Change: Spirit, Classroom, and Change”* Tuesday, November 14, 6 pm

Schola Antiqua early music ensemble, “Religious Music Singalong” Saturday, December 9, Time TBD

AUGUST – SEPTEMBERMeet the AuthorPatricia Balton Stratton, The Chicago Picasso: A Point of Departure*Thursday, August 31, 6 pm

Second Saturday in SeptemberMusic and Stories for KidsSaturday, September 9, 10 am

An Eternal Story of Love and Loss: Orpheus and Opera*Cosponsored by the Lyric Opera of ChicagoTuesday, September 19, 6 pm