History & Politics   

The event known as the Holocaust has had a wide reaching impact on the current world. Many people are familiar with the Holocaust during WWII, but what specific details make this historical event something that still permeates our world today? How do the events, survivor stories, and demise of the Nazi Party continue to reverberate? This four-session course will discuss the events leading up to the genocide as well as the actions taken to commit this atrocity. Discussions will also center on justice, memorialization, and memory following this tragedy. All are welcome.

Rick will present an overview of the Korean War, the events leading up to it, and the impact on modern Korea, including the current nuclear crisis with North Korea.

Rick will present an overview of the Korean War, the events leading up to it, and the impact on modern Korea, including the current nuclear crisis with North Korea.

This course is hosted by OLLI at Florida International University (FIU). Participants will be “in course” via Zoom with members from OLLI at FIU and several other OLLIs.

Fanny Mendelssohn was a brilliant pianist and composer whose talents were often eclipsed by the constraints of 19th-century society. While her brother Felix achieved fame, Fanny’s extraordinary work remained in the shadows. German historian Anette Isaacs brings her remarkable story to life, uncovering her struggles for recognition, her groundbreaking achievements, and the rich cultural and Jewish heritage that shaped the Mendelssohn family's musical legacy.

The Pennsylvania border county of York and its people stood smack in the middle of things, where south met north, in the Civil War. That war rolled through York County from its tip near the capital of Harrisburg to its forty-mile base at the Mason-Dixon Line. Authors Scott Mingus and Jim McClure will tell compelling stories about York County before, during, and after the war. These include Union soldiers seasoning and staging on county soil, wounded and diseased soldiers being taken care of in a military hospital on York parkland, the terrible days before the Battle of Gettysburg, and more.

The Great Terror of 1937, also known as the Great Purge, was a brutal political campaign led by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to eliminate dissenting members of the Communist Party and anyone else he considered a threat. Included in this destruction was the majority of the senior officer corps of the Red Army. With such an unstable national government and military, how did the weakened USSR defeat Nazi Germany and what was arguably the most powerful army in Europe? Join Weiler and see how Stalin turned almost certain defeat into overwhelming victory.

He gave us Medicare and sent half a million U.S. soldiers to fight in Vietnam. He was a vice president who came into the office of the presidency because of a presidential assassination. Another vice president gave us faith again in the presidency but issued one of the most infamous pardons in history. He was a vice president who came into office because of a president’s resignation. Join us as we examine these two vice presidents who became president under very different circumstances and who still influence us today.

He gave us Medicare and sent half a million U.S. soldiers to fight in Vietnam. He was a vice president who came into the office of the presidency because of a presidential assassination. Another vice president gave us faith again in the presidency but issued one of the most infamous pardons in history. He was a vice president who came into office because of a president’s resignation. Join us as we examine these two vice presidents who became president under very different circumstances and who still influence us today.

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?

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

As the conflict enters its fifth year, the courage, resilience, and creativity exhibited by the Ukrainian people have prevented the invaders from achieving their main goals, despite the huge Russian advantage in manpower and other resources. Ukrainian ingenuity has changed the way in which the war has been fought and the lessons learned are impacting how other nations view their own military strategies and capabilities. Meanwhile, life on the ground for civilians on both sides of the front continues to be very difficult. This course will focus on the most recent developments in the war and on how the Ukrainians are continuing to respond to the many challenges they face.

As the most extensively documented genocide in history—and the most intensively investigated, interrogated and debated—The Holocaust in Europe, 1933–1945, has much to teach us about hatred, demagoguery, impersonal violence, state-sponsored murder on an industrial scale, and ourselves. Each session will consist of a PowerPoint presentation and/or motion picture, followed by lively discussion. Class members may question the instructor at any time and will receive detailed notes via email after each session.

Explore the fascinating history of Memory Lane and the businesses along it that many frequent to this day in Springettsbury Township. It all began with a single straight surveyor’s line in 1806 to divide the 360-acre farm in the estate of Elias Meyer, creating two equally sized properties for his sons. They placed a farm lane along that partition line and named it Elias’ Memory Lane. It remained a gravel farm lane until the late 1940s when Memory Lane was paved. The 1950s witnessed the introduction of factories, stores, and popular restaurants.

Due to a conflict, this course will be offered as a 3 session course;  April 7, 14, and  21. The April 28 class is canceled.

The United States military has been involved in over one hundred campaigns, many of which have been dramatized on film. The Second Indochina War, otherwise known as the Vietnam War, lasted from 1955 to 1975. During that period, nearly three million Americans served, 58,000 died, and thousands were scarred for life. Public support for the war peaked in the mid-1960s but collapsed after the Tet Offensive in early 1968. This course will examine how Hollywood's portrayal of the war and its participants evolved, reflecting Americans' growing disillusionment with a conflict nearly 9,000 miles from its shores.

Between 1780 and 1865, Central Pennsylvania was ground zero in America's first civil rights movement. Thousands of courageous freedom-seekers fled the brutality of slavery south of the Mason-Dixon line and made their way north and east toward a better life. Along the way, they were aided by Quakers and free Black persons, some known to history and others unknown. In this interactive course, participants will explore how this network formed, the stories of those who escaped along it, and how we know about these efforts.

 

Join us to learn about the Codorus Valley, that area between the three main branches of Codorus Creek in southwestern York County—an area that has become a central hub for development in York County and at the same time retains parts of the past. The Codorus Valley was first settled by Germans from the Palatinate region as the land west of the Susquehanna opened to settlement in the 1730s. The area had some of the earliest roads, the first railroads, and some of York County's earliest churches. The Codorus Valley experienced some of the confusion of boundaries of what became known as the Mason-Dixon Line.

Dive into York's past to uncover the hidden stories of significance within the local Black community. Participants will visually explore demolished landmarks and buildings, now paved over, through research centered on Lebanon Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery located in North York. Discover the rich history of prominent Black families, their residences, workplaces, and places of worship, now replaced by city parking lots. Participants are encouraged to review information on our website at friendsoflebanoncemetery.com. A link to books published by the group can be found on the website.

Join Gerry, a former Sentinel, for a history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as he shares the duties and responsibilities of those who guard the Unknowns.

Join Gerry, a former Sentinel, for a history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as he shares the duties and responsibilities of those who guard the Unknowns.

This course will discuss the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), its policies, strategy in the Ukraine War, and interactions with the United States. It will also describe key aspects of the war in Ukraine, the Russian nuclear weapons threats, the impact on the international security community, and the current situation for nuclear threats to the US.

After the successful landing on D-Day, completion of the Battle of Normandy, and liberation of Paris, the Allies turned their attention to liberating the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands. Rick will discuss the push into the Low Countries, including the Battle of the Bulge.

After the successful landing on D-Day, completion of the Battle of Normandy, and liberation of Paris, the Allies turned their attention to liberating the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands. Rick will discuss the push into the Low Countries, including the Battle of the Bulge.

Why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor? What blunders occurred that allowed the attack to be such a surprise? What military mistakes did the Japanese make on the day of the attack? Did the federal government know that Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked? How did the attack affect the conscience of America? How did the military and federal government respond politically to the attack?

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 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.

The Hershey Bears have a long and successful history in the American Hockey League. But, did you know that the Bears were not the only hockey team to call Hershey home? Participants will learn about the history of hockey in Hershey in the 1930s.

Examine the foundation of the Lutheran Church and the action and inaction during the Holocaust. During the presentation, participants will take a close look at the German Christian Church and the Confessing Church.

This course will discuss the current concern about a possible terrorist possession of a nuclear weapon and the mission of the Department of Homeland Security and the Intelligence Community to prevent a terrorist nuclear attack. It will include the possible techniques that terrorists could use to transport a nuclear weapon, types of intelligence, detection capabilities, the technical and operational approaches to intercept a weapon, and conclusions.

Many of us may remember riding the wooden roller coaster at the local amusement park as kids and later taking our kids to Disney World. These playful places tell us a lot about how growing up in America has changed since Coney Island introduced the amusement park around 1900 and Disney created the modern theme park in 1955. Making use of images and original research, the course will explore the history of these parks, how and why they differed, why some failed and others survived, and especially what drew people to these parks. There will be time for questions and shared memories.

Many of us may remember riding the wooden roller coaster at the local amusement park as kids and later taking our kids to Disney World. These playful places tell us a lot about how growing up in America has changed since Coney Island introduced the amusement park around 1900 and Disney created the modern theme park in 1955. Making use of images and original research, the course will explore the history of these parks, how and why they differed, why some failed and others survived, and especially what drew people to these parks. There will be time for questions and shared memories.

This course explores the lives of five noted African Americans of the late 19th and early 20th centuries whose accomplishments deserve to be better known. They include Matthew Henson, the humble explorer widely acknowledged to be the first person to reach the North Pole; Robert Duncanson, the first African American artist to win international acclaim; and Madam C.J. Walker, daughter of former slaves, who built an international hair-care empire and set an inspiring example of philanthropy and social activism.

The history of European settlers in York County is the most told but is by far not the only story told by early settlers and current residents. African Americans, many enslaved in the 1700s and early 1800s, have their own cultural experiences and history. Over the centuries, the stories of York County's white and black communities have intersected, sometimes in peace and other times with conflict. Jim McClure and Dr. Dorothy E. King will collaborate to explain and explore how these stories help make York County, York County.

Learn about Arlington National Cemetery’s amazing history, the inspiring monuments, and the numerous famous—and some not-so-famous—individuals interred at our nation’s most prominent cemetery.

Learn about Arlington National Cemetery’s amazing history, the inspiring monuments, and the numerous famous—and some not-so-famous—individuals interred at our nation’s most prominent cemetery.

This course will discuss the last all-sail vessel constructed by the United States Navy, the USS Constellation. The ship is currently a historic landmark in Baltimore harbor. Discussion will center around her construction, crew, service in the Civil War and on the Anti-Slave Patrol on the African coast, post-war duty, and her restoration 1955–present. The course will be presented by the instructor wearing an appropriate Civil War sailor's uniform.

Explore the historic architecture of the Harrisburg capital area through a walking tour guided by a Historic State Preservation Specialist. The tour's theme is "Developing an Awareness of the Historic Buildings Around You." Starting from the State Museum of Pennslvania, the walking tour will identify the origins of historical buildings and their significance to Pennsylvania and United States history.

Join Dr. Jared Frederick for an engaging lecture on Fort Roberdeau, the Revolutionary War frontier outpost that created a foundation for industrial growth in central Pennsylvania. In this course, Frederick will explore the fort’s unique role in protecting lead mining operations, its connections to Native American history, and the challenges faced by settlers on the edge of the American wilderness. This course expertly brings together military history, local heritage, and dramatic stories of peril that defined the Revolutionary era.

Join Dr. Jared Frederick for an engaging lecture on Fort Roberdeau, the Revolutionary War frontier outpost that created a foundation for industrial growth in central Pennsylvania. In this course, Frederick will explore the fort’s unique role in protecting lead mining operations, its connections to Native American history, and the challenges faced by settlers on the edge of the American wilderness. This course expertly brings together military history, local heritage, and dramatic stories of peril that defined the Revolutionary era.