Videos

U.S. Botanic Garden Executive Director Ari Novy talked about the history of the oldest botanic garden in North America, originally proposed by President Washington in a 1796 letter.

Darnella Davis talked about former African slaves of the Cherokee Nation known as Cherokee Freedmen. She explained how the Indians were forced to absorb the freedmen after the Civil War, were forcibly…

Howard Lee was the first African-American elected mayor in a majority-white southern city. Mr. Lee talked about serving as Chapel Hill’s mayor from 1969 to 1975 and explained the challenges he faced during…

Former Secretary of State James Baker talked about leadership and his career with attorney and historian Talmage Boston. Mr. Baker served as secretary of state for President George H.W. Bush, and…

Legal scholar Cara Robertson examined the murder trial of Lizzie Borden in 1893. The case received international attention as Ms. Borden was tried for the murder of her father and…

Professor Stephen Berry talked about coroners in the 19th century South. He discussed the role of a coroner as an agent of the state and talked about the records created from coroner…

Hampden-Sydney College professor Matthew Hulbert looked at depictions of slavery in Hollywood films ranging from “Birth of a Nation” and “Gone with the Wind” to “Django Unchained” and “Free State of…

Filmmaker and author Jon Wilkman discussed his book Screening Reality: How Documentary Filmmakers Reimagined America, which explores the history of American nonfiction films and television…

Historians and university leaders discussed free speech and academic freedom on college campuses, and the responsibility of administrators, faculty and students when sharing ideas. They…

Ric Murphy talked about his book Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia, which profiles the “20 and odd” Africans who arrived in the Jamestown colony in 1619. This group included…

Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992 - with millions of Americans tuning in each night. Stephen Farnsworth examined Carson’s use of political humor and how it shaped the narrative on…

Christopher Bonner spoke with the co-editors of the Journal of the Civil War Era about the his book Remaking the Republic: Black Politics and the Creation of American Citizenship. He…

McCormick Civil War Institute director Jonathan Noyalas talked about how Union veterans of the 1864 Shenandoah campaign attempted to burnish their regimental legacies through writing…

University of North Carolina history Professor William Sturkey provided a history of the Jim Crow South through the lives of Black Americans who lived in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This was…

David Von Drehle and Daniel Okrent talked about historical events in New York City. Mr. Von Drehle is the author of Triangle: The Fire That Changed America, published by Atlantic Monthly Press.…

Journalist Elizabeth Becker recalled the work of three women who were war reporters in Vietnam. This was a virtual event hosted by Columbia University.

Author and journalist Evan Thomas talked about the impact and legacy of U.S. diplomat George Kennan and his “Long Telegram” with Truman Presidential Library director Kurt Graham. On February 22, 1946, U.S.…

Robert Reilly, director of the Westminster Institute and former director of Voice of America, talked about the religious thinking that influenced the Founding Founders. This virtual event…

Journalist Grace Olmstead talked about the consequences of the abandonment of farm towns in the United States, and her own decision to leave the farm town she grew up in. This virtual event…

C-SPAN’s Cities Tour shared stories from American history of people around the country living on the edge of morality.