History & Politics   

Explore the living conditions, jobs, household activities, food, transportation, communication, and leisure activities in Colonial York. Discover how cultural diversity shaped life in the colonial era, by exploring the synthesis in the colonies to that in York County. A comment at one of initial presentations sums up the talk, “Interesting details that I had no idea about, which sandwiched the fun stuffing in the middle.”

The funeral train carrying the remains of the slain President Abraham Lincoln passed through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on April 21–22, 1865, on its way to New York City and again on April 28 as it headed west from Buffalo to Cleveland and passed through the Erie region. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians passed by the coffin as Lincoln lay in state in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Massive, untold numbers of residents watched the funeral train slowly steam past their farms, small towns, communities, and whistle stops. Many left personal reminiscences.

Book reference: A Carnival of Grief: The Lincoln Funeral Train in Pennsylvania by Scott Mingus

“Have you heard of the York Plan?” someone once wrote in a community survey. “That’s us. We pretty much saved the world.”

“Pretty much” may be hard to measure, but this collaboration among industries in York County during the late 1930s and 1940s stood out as a bright spot locally and nationally during an otherwise difficult and complex two-front World War II. The York Plan was about the people of York County—in suits, work boots, and scarves—rising to meet a challenge. It earned a place among the county’s most notable moments on the national stage, alongside the adoption of the Articles of Confederation.

Jim McClure will share the story of the York Plan, when industries across the county pooled manpower and machinery to secure defense contracts that made a meaningful impact during World War II.

Examine the early days of Hollywood and how the rise of Nazis and the Holocaust were portrayed.

This course will discuss the United States Navy's Admiral Nimitz' island-hopping campaign across the Pacific in World War II, from the Doolittle Raid to Okinawa. Discussion will include campaigns in the Solomons, Gilberts, Carolines, Marianas, and finally Okinawa.

This course will discuss the United States Navy's Admiral Nimitz' island-hopping campaign across the Pacific in World War II, from the Doolittle Raid to Okinawa. Discussion will include campaigns in the Solomons, Gilberts, Carolines, Marianas, and finally Okinawa.

This course highlights the work of American artists collectively known as the Red Rose Girls. They lived and worked together for many years, challenging the gender norms of the early 1900s by remaining single and supporting themselves with their artwork. Violet Oakley went on to paint many of the murals in the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg, many done before women had the right to vote. This program shows how these talented and educated women provided for themselves and each other during a time when it was expected that women would marry and have children.

There are many articles and books about the Red Rose Girls that would provide some insight into this topic. Violet Oakley's murals can also be seen in person at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

This course is hosted by OLLI at Colorado State University (CSU). Participants will be "in course" via Zoom with members of OLLI at CSU.

On November 3, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 35 in the Senate will be up for reelection. Hundreds of local and state offices and issues will also be decided. Turnout in presidential elections is around 60%; in midterms, it is barely 40%. This midterm may be more consequential than any recent election. In this course, participants will examine national issues and consider how they rank by party affiliation, generation, and region. The class will review some of the more reliable forecasts and conduct its own online, in-class polling of issues and outcomes. Participants will also forecast House and Senate results by party.

Updated: This session will now run from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Experience what it was like to attend one-room schools in York County through stories of teachers and students who attended them. The number of one-room schools in York County grew as the population grew and peaked in 1920 with 354 schoolhouses in use, each one utilizing a single teacher for all eight grades. The introduction of multi-room schoolhouses and school district consolidation resulted in rapid closing of these schools. The last York County one-room schoolhouse closed in 1961.

Penn State boasts a proud (some say #Unrivaled) tradition of success in college football, and this course covers it all. Participants will become familiar with the full Penn State football chronology from its inception to the present, learning about key moments, figures, and games that shaped its unique character while also understanding its place in the broader history of the sport. Enhance your enjoyment of every game and season by deepening your appreciation of the program’s ongoing story.

Penn State boasts a proud (some say #Unrivaled) tradition of success in college football, and this course covers it all. Participants will become familiar with the full Penn State football chronology from its inception to the present, learning about key moments, figures, and games that shaped its unique character while also understanding its place in the broader history of the sport. Enhance your enjoyment of every game and season by deepening your appreciation of the program’s ongoing story.

NOTE: The course date is rescheduled to October 15, 10:00 - 11:30 am.

What is mindfulness, and what does it have to do with democracy? How can practicing mindful democracy help us to build connection and beloved community, even when we disagree? What is the difference between deliberation and debate, and why does this difference matter? What are some practical steps that each of us can take to build a more caring, compassionate world? Building from Jeremy's recently published book On Mindful Democracy, these are the questions we will take up in our time together.

NOTE: The course date is rescheduled to October 15, 10:00 - 11:30 am.

What is mindfulness, and what does it have to do with democracy? How can practicing mindful democracy help us to build connection and beloved community, even when we disagree? What is the difference between deliberation and debate, and why does this difference matter? What are some practical steps that each of us can take to build a more caring, compassionate world? Building from Jeremy's recently published book On Mindful Democracy, these are the questions we will take up in our time together.

Learn about the history and purpose of the State Library of Pennsylvania. As a statewide resource center and law library, the State Library provides residents with Pennsylvania state and US government documents, print materials, a digitized collection, online reference services, and automated resources. The Rare Collections Library includes the Provincial Assembly Collection, a collection of pre-1865 Pennsylvania imprints, rare books, maps, manuscripts, and the largest collection of Pennsylvania newspapers in the world.

This course will examine the original ancient Greek Hippocratic Oath along with subsequent oaths taken by medical practitioners, including The Oath of Maimonides and the 1948 and 2017 Declarations of Geneva. Through interactive discussion, we'll examine the historical circumstances and ethical perspectives that shaped each oath, along with the rationale behind the updates made from one oath to the next. Participants will compare these various oaths with each other while also considering additional updates or changes that should be made to current medical oaths and ethics.

This course will examine the original ancient Greek Hippocratic Oath along with subsequent oaths taken by medical practitioners, including The Oath of Maimonides and the 1948 and 2017 Declarations of Geneva. Through interactive discussion, we'll examine the historical circumstances and ethical perspectives that shaped each oath, along with the rationale behind the updates made from one oath to the next. Participants will compare these various oaths with each other while also considering additional updates or changes that should be made to current medical oaths and ethics.

In October of 1755, a group of Lenape warriors murdered and kidnapped members of several families in Central Pennsylvania. This event and General Braddock's defeat were two of the opening salvos in the Seven Years' War. The tale of how three young women survived their ordeal became buried under three centuries of stories promoting political, religious, racial, and misogynistic prejudice.

In October of 1755, a group of Lenape warriors murdered and kidnapped members of several families in Central Pennsylvania. This event and General Braddock's defeat were two of the opening salvos in the Seven Years' War. The tale of how three young women survived their ordeal became buried under three centuries of stories promoting political, religious, racial, and misogynistic prejudice.

This two-session course covers the early history of Vietnam (and Ho Chi Minh) and its colonial period under France. We will then examine Viet Minh involvement in World War II, the French Indochina War leading to the defeat of the French forces, the division of Vietnam into North-South, South Vietnamese politics, the Gulf of Tonkin situation, and US involvement leading up to United States Marines landing in 1965. We will conclude with an extensive discussion of the Vietnam War, including strategy by US, South Vietnamese, Viet Cong, and North Vietnamese forces leading to the eventual collapse of South Vietnam in 1975. There will also be a discussion of anti-war protests in the US and American POWs. This will be an interactive course soliciting questions and comments.

In observance of the United States' 250th birthday, this course will discuss the 13 colonies' seven-year struggle for independence from Great Britain.

In observance of the United States' 250th birthday, this course will discuss the 13 colonies' seven-year struggle for independence from Great Britain.

Updated: This session will now run from 12:00 – 1:30 PM on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The Northern Central Railway between Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland, was a major supply route for the Union army during the Civil War and a leading commercial and passenger line for the people of central Pennsylvania. A spur connected York to Wrightsville and Columbia. Another connecting line ran west from Hanover Junction through Hanover to Gettysburg. Author Scott Mingus will discuss the role of the railroad in the war effort and Confederate efforts to destroy its infrastructure, as well as describe Abraham Lincoln's visits to York County.

This course is a lecture and discussion about the Jewish garrison on the island of Elephantine in Egypt during the 6th–4th centuries BCE. We will survey and discuss both the archaeology and texts of this community, whose members built a temple to Yaho (the local form of the biblical name) but also worshiped other deities. No prior knowledge is necessary.

This course is a lecture and discussion about the Jewish garrison on the island of Elephantine in Egypt during the 6th–4th centuries BCE. We will survey and discuss both the archaeology and texts of this community, whose members built a temple to Yaho (the local form of the biblical name) but also worshiped other deities. No prior knowledge is necessary.

Register for all 4 of Jake Graham's courses in Cold War Spy School!

November 2, 1:30–3:00 p.m. — How to Be a Cold War Spy
November 9, 1:30–3:00 p.m. — Cold War Tradecraft
November 16, 1:30–3:00 p.m. — Cold War Communication
November 23, 1:30–3:00 p.m. — Deception

Have you ever imagined living a life of mystery and intrigue as a spy? The year is 1985. Ronald Reagan is president. The United States military and scientific communities are two years into Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) development, and the Soviets are worried they are falling behind. To catch up, they have established a network of “illegals,” sleeper agents living under non-official cover whose purpose is to spy on SDI efforts, collect intelligence, recruit fellow spies, and in some cases, conduct influence operations to manipulate US policy. If you were a spy (for either side), how would you define your persona?

Learn about America's Native heritage. The current states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah were home to advanced cultures that thrived in challenging landscapes long before Europeans arrived. The remains of extensive building projects, roads, and artwork allow us insights into their complex civilizations. We'll explore the rich history of the Southwest inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloan peoples whose descendants still live in the region. Through lots of photos and maps we will travel virtually to protected sites and possibly inspire you to make a physical journey someday.

Learn about America's Native heritage. The current states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah were home to advanced cultures that thrived in challenging landscapes long before Europeans arrived. The remains of extensive building projects, roads, and artwork allow us insights into their complex civilizations. We'll explore the rich history of the Southwest inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloan peoples whose descendants still live in the region. Through lots of photos and maps we will travel virtually to protected sites and possibly inspire you to make a physical journey someday.

Want to learn about the genius that is the Bill of Rights? You will be walked through the text of the amendments, but this is only the starting point. Learn about other ways to approach constitutional interpretation, including originalism, stare decisis, and the "living constitution." Learn about Supreme Court interpretations of the Bill of Rights' provisions. Taught using the Socratic method common in law school, participants will have plenty of opportunity to offer their thoughts.

This course shares tales of a York couple during World War II. On the home front, learn about Esther Barshinger’s work sewing military apparel before shifting to producing Bazooka rocket igniters in York, PA. She left that job to travel to Colorado, where she married Harold Smith just before he shipped out for duty on the European war front. Discover Harold’s work as a map maker before and after VE Day, as he prepared for deployment on a Japanese invasion. Esther (Barshinger) Smith returned home, working at York-Shipley, producing fog machines and rust proofing Army tank parts until VJ Day.

Before Veterans Day, join us in remembering York’s own heroes. This course serves as a tribute to seven African American service members from York County who lost their lives while serving our nation during World War I and World War II—stories of sacrifice that deserve to be known and remembered.

This course explores the techniques, methods and technology employed by intelligence operatives during the Cold War. This course is intended to be taught as the second course in sequence: How to be a Cold War Spy, Cold War Tradecraft, Cold War Communication, and Cold War Deception. It offers a practical, albeit brief, snapshot on the craft of espionage.

The course introduces key terms such as espionage, agent, and human intelligence. It then examines key operational elements including training, communication, movement, talent spotting and recruitment. It concludes with a caution—be wary of who you talk to.

Mikele Stillman brings Alice Roosevelt Longworth—the spirited daughter of Theodore Roosevelt—back to life with humor and charm. From age 17 until her death at 96, Alice was a national celebrity and cultural force, famous for her wit, independence, and headline-making antics. In this engaging program, Alice once again takes center stage, sharing stories from inside and beyond the White House as one of the most unforgettable figures of the Roosevelt era.

The audience will be engaged by a vitally important historical figure still relevant in the present world of ceaseless wars and costs in both blood and treasure. The instructor will encourage participation and critical thinking by asking questions and using verified facts of General Butler's life and his relevance today, citing his documented experience and the hardships he faced while educating the public on the tragedy of world conflict. No requirements but an open mind.

Book reference: War Is a Racket by Smedley Butler

Women have played a significant and often groundbreaking role in the growth and development of Penn State. Take a historic look at the earliest women faculty, staff, and students at Penn State, their contributions, their achievements, and their influence on the nature and structure of the University.

Women have played a significant and often groundbreaking role in the growth and development of Penn State. Take a historic look at the earliest women faculty, staff, and students at Penn State, their contributions, their achievements, and their influence on the nature and structure of the University.

This course explores Cold War spy communications. Designed as a companion to three other courses: How to Be a Cold War Spy, Cold War Tradecraft, and Deception, it offers a brief overview of the encrypted communication methods used during the Cold War.

The course introduces key terms such as cryptography, encryption, key, and decryption. Participants are introduced to the One Time Pad and guided through the process of encoding and decoding a simple message.

It was the crime of the century—the 19th century, that is. On a sweltering August morning in 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts, home. Both were killed with a hatchet, shocking the nation and capturing headlines across the country.

Suspicion quickly fell on Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie—a 32-year-old Sunday school teacher—who soon stood trial for the gruesome murders. But did Lizzie really commit the crime? And if not, who did?

Join us as we explore one of America’s most captivating and enduring murder mysteries. Fun fact: the presenter’s grandfather actually knew Lizzie!

Despite treason charges filed against thirty-some Confederates in high places, including Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, as well as thousands of indictments at the state level, no one in the Civil War hanged for waging war against the United States. The reason why involves a strange, twisting story that begins with the fears that secession would be proven constitutional and that ends in a fresh appreciation for how the framers crafted the Fourteenth Amendment to punish the Rebels.

Despite treason charges filed against thirty-some Confederates in high places, including Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, as well as thousands of indictments at the state level, no one in the Civil War hanged for waging war against the United States. The reason why involves a strange, twisting story that begins with the fears that secession would be proven constitutional and that ends in a fresh appreciation for how the framers crafted the Fourteenth Amendment to punish the Rebels.

This course shares the dramatic and emotional stories of a dozen of the most cherished sacred places in America. These iconic places of worship represent different faiths, different histories, and a range of architectural splendor. Sites include: Old Ship Meeting House in Massachusetts, San Xavier del Bac (“The White Dove of the Desert”) in Tucson, Trinity Church in New York, Beth Sholom Synagogue in Pennsylvania, New Horizon Sanctuary in Atlanta, the Mormon Temple in Utah, the First Baptist Church in Providence, the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, the Cadet Chapel at West Point, and others. Some structures were designed by well-known architects H.H. Richardson, Richard Upton, and Frank Lloyd Wright and feature stained glass windows by masters such as John LaFarge. Video clips from the PBS documentary America’s Houses of Worship will be used to show the history and grandeur of each sacred site.

This course shares the dramatic and emotional stories of a dozen of the most cherished sacred places in America. These iconic places of worship represent different faiths, different histories, and a range of architectural splendor. Sites include: Old Ship Meeting House in Massachusetts, San Xavier del Bac (“The White Dove of the Desert”) in Tucson, Trinity Church in New York, Beth Sholom Synagogue in Pennsylvania, New Horizon Sanctuary in Atlanta, the Mormon Temple in Utah, the First Baptist Church in Providence, the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, the Cadet Chapel at West Point, and others. Some structures were designed by well-known architects H.H. Richardson, Richard Upton, and Frank Lloyd Wright and feature stained glass windows by masters such as John LaFarge. Video clips from the PBS documentary America’s Houses of Worship will be used to show the history and grandeur of each sacred site.

This course explores the terminology, techniques, and methods employed by intelligence agencies to plan and execute deception operations. It introduces the foundational concepts of deception and human cognition and explores man’s vulnerabilities to being deceived. The course discusses deceptive practices used by attackers and defenders, including technical and non-technical means. Deception is the fourth course in the OLLI sequence: How to be a Cold War Spy, Cold War Tradecraft, Cold War Communication, and Deception.

Two presidents named Roosevelt helped shape American politics for much of the 20th century. One was a Republican, the other a Democrat—but behind the scenes, they were family.

Both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt lost their fathers at a young age. In response, the women of the Roosevelt family—across two generations—formed a close-knit and influential support network. Operating in what has been called a “closed-circuit orbit,” they offered guidance, encouragement, and opportunity as Teddy and Franklin rose to prominence.

Their influence mattered. Alice Roosevelt (also known as Mikele Stillmann) brings these remarkable women to life, telling the story of the mothers, wives, aunts, and sisters who helped shape two presidencies—and American history itself.

The Marshall Plan, named after Secretary of State and former Army Chief of Staff George Marshall, was largely responsible for rebuilding war-ravaged Europe after World War II. This course will discuss the details of the plan and its impact on Europe as the world edged into the Cold War.

The Marshall Plan, named after Secretary of State and former Army Chief of Staff George Marshall, was largely responsible for rebuilding war-ravaged Europe after World War II. This course will discuss the details of the plan and its impact on Europe as the world edged into the Cold War.

John Brown’s ill-fated 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry sent a handful of surviving raiders escaping northward along Underground Railroad pathways long traveled by Black freedom-seekers. This illustrated course follows Brown’s son Owen and his companions as they elude capture by scrambling “like hunted beasts” through the wilds of south-central Pennsylvania into Juniata, Huntingdon, and Centre Counties, hoping to reach Bellefonte and find refuge there among “our friends [the] Quakers, being great antislavery people.” Built around Owen Brown’s vivid reminiscences—including his accounts of stealthy visits to Quaker farms in the Kishacoquillas and Halfmoon Valleys—the course draws on historic maps, photographs, illustrations, and other firsthand testimony to recreate the turbulent cultural and geographic landscape of central Pennsylvania and particularly Centre County in the build-up to the Civil War.

John Brown’s ill-fated 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry sent a handful of surviving raiders escaping northward along Underground Railroad pathways long traveled by Black freedom-seekers. This illustrated course follows Brown’s son Owen and his companions as they elude capture by scrambling “like hunted beasts” through the wilds of south-central Pennsylvania into Juniata, Huntingdon, and Centre Counties, hoping to reach Bellefonte and find refuge there among “our friends [the] Quakers, being great antislavery people.” Built around Owen Brown’s vivid reminiscences—including his accounts of stealthy visits to Quaker farms in the Kishacoquillas and Halfmoon Valleys—the course draws on historic maps, photographs, illustrations, and other firsthand testimony to recreate the turbulent cultural and geographic landscape of central Pennsylvania and particularly Centre County in the build-up to the Civil War.

The European hunger for spices coupled with the closure of land routes in the 15th century drove countries to dangerous oceanic voyages. This course tells the story of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailing for the Spanish Crown on the incredible first circumnavigation of the globe.

The European hunger for spices coupled with the closure of land routes in the 15th century drove countries to dangerous oceanic voyages. This course tells the story of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailing for the Spanish Crown on the incredible first circumnavigation of the globe.