Instructor Bio: Gordon Sellon is an economist who spent 30 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, retiring as senior vice president and director of research. He also taught economics at KU, the University of Michigan, Grinnell College and Oklahoma City University. Gordon has degrees in economics from Harvard College and the University of Michigan. 

Let's dive into our First Ladies' lives with a short biography of each. We will discuss how active - or not - the ladies were in Washington politics, from Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and Mrs. Reagan. We won't leave out those who chose to stay home either, like Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Truman and others!

Instructor bio: Russ Hutchins teaches U.S. history, Western civilization, economics, business, philosophy and business management at Friends University. He is a retired public-school administrator and educator.

Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping enslavement in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. We'll explore his life in enslavement, look at his autobiographies and other writings, and conclude with his life in Washington, D.C. as an elder statesman.

Instructor bio: Paul Post, a native Kansan, received a bachelor's degree in history from Kansas State University and a law degree in 1974 from the University of Kansas Law School. Now retired from practicing law, he is a member of the Shawnee County Historical Society and an amateur beekeeper. He has authored essays on the history of SBA Hill/former Menninger Campus in Topeka, Topeka's Bates Family, The Fred Harvey Company and Duke Ellington.

For a significant majority of Americans, the '50s were good times. The Baby Boom, prosperity and rising homeownership fueled more fun than in previous and subsequent decades. Do you remember "Howdy Doody," poodle skirts, S&H Green Stamps, the McGuire Sisters and big cars with chrome and tail fins? We'll look back on these things and more when covering topics such as suburbanization, television, cars, movies, music, fads, fashions, foods, beverages, toys, games and print media. We'll also touch on social critiques and worries like polio. We'll compare our memories to documents, film clips and music.

Instructor bio: Carl Graves, Ph.D., holds a master's degree in U.S. history from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Harvard. He taught at the university and community college levels and at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill School.

Join us to get to know the history of Quindaro, now part of Kansas City, Kansas, from its origins as a stop on the Underground Railroad, through its apex as a bustling town of freed slaves and suffragettes. We'll discover how Quindaro served as a shining example of the quest for freedom in an age of oppression. We'll also explore Quindaro's place in national and Kansas history, as well as its continuing legacy today.

Instructor bio: Aaron Margolis received his doctorate in history from the University of Texas at El Paso where he concentrated on Latin American and borderlands history. He is currently an associate professor of history at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Instructor Bio: Abby Magariel is the educator/curator of the Michael Klein Collection at The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah in Overland Park. Before joining the world of Jewish education and museums, she was an educator at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka and the education director at the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence.

It might be "the best part of waking up" -- but how much do you really know about your morning cup o' joe? We'll dive into coffee's specific geography and how geopolitics, civil unrest, the economy and climate change affect its worldwide distribution. We'll also hear about the multi-step process to turn those magical beans into your morning bliss. As a bonus: savor a cup of PT's Coffee, brewed fresh on site by their head roaster!

Optional:

Nov. 6

10 - 11:30 a.m.

In-Person

PT's Coffee (Topeka)

Meet us at PT's Coffee in Topeka for a one-hour tour of their facility. You'll see the roasting process in action, then enjoy a special tasting! You'll also receive a bag of coffee - straight from the batch roasted during our visit - to take home. Limited to 30 participants.

Instructor Bio: Brent Piepergerdes is the chief operating officer for PT's Coffee Roasting Co. In his 15 years in specialty coffee, Brent has developed longstanding relationships throughout the global supply chain, from producers to exporters, importers to roasters, and retailers to end consumers. As a green coffee buyer working in multiple countries of origin, he brings unique expertise to topics of direct trade and sustainability. Brent holds a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Kansas and has taught more than a dozen courses for Washburn University, Haskell Indian Nations University and KU.

We'll travel across the pond to explore Scotland's physical and human geography. We'll get to know its four physiographic regions highlighted by an astounding geologic history and development of natural resources. Next, we'll study the contributions of key ethnic groups - Picts, Scots, Norse and Angles - to Scotland's cultural history, particularly language and how Scotland evolved with England in often violent ways. These actions led to today's highly dynamic political geography with its emotionally charged, contentious issue of independence. Lastly, we'll compare the vastly different origins and cultural characters of Scotland's two great cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, separated by only 40 miles.

Instructor bio: Tom Schmiedeler is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University where he taught a variety of geographycourses including Kansas Geography, Geography of Europe and World Regional Geography. He was the director of Washburn's Center for Kansas Studies. He has master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Kansas and has published widely on historical geography topics, particularly frontier urban planning.

Madeleine Albright blazed a path as a career diplomat. Over three weeks, we'll delve into Albright's personal life, from her 1937 birth in Prague, Czechoslovakia, to living in Great Britain during World War II and relocating to the United States afterward. We'll track her diplomatic rise, culminating in serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. Secretary of State. Lastly, we'll scrutinize Albright's unique diplomatic tactic of using jewelry to convey messages - either subtly or explicitly. We'll look at one of the 200 brooches she wore to important meetings.

Instructor bio: Anita Tebbe is a retired professor in the legal studies department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a law degree. Anita is a Kansas-licensed attorney and has more than 40 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels.

Instructor bio: James Gaither, Th.D., holds a master's degree in philosophy from KU and a doctorate from Holos University Graduate Seminary. For over 25 years he has taught courses on the history of Western thought, world religions, metaphysics and ethics and is currently "semi-retired." 

Long-time Osher instructor Marlene Katz once again brings history to life in her unique classes centering famouswomen throughout history. This semester, Marlene shares the story of legendary entertainer and philanthropist Sarah Cannon, better known as Minnie Pearl, through a combination of biographical facts and engaging storytelling.

Instructor bio: Marlene Katz, a University of Missouri graduate, was an adjunct professor at UMKC, where she taught English and literature. Marlene has a 28-year teaching career and has been involved in storytelling for 20 years. Women in history is her specialty and Marlene has performed in a five-state area and has lectured for various groups, often in costume and speech of the character she is portraying.

In the search for originality, some artists push the envelope too far and pay the price or use it for self-promotion. In Broadway and Hollywood today, political correctness and sensibilities on race, consent and sexuality have called for revisionism. Is it really a step forward? Should our cultural heritage be rewritten to avoid issues of domestic violence, gender roles, religion and prejudice? Buckle up for a course full of scandals, anecdotes and stories and the instructor's own experience in the music business!

Instructor bio: Emanuel Abramovits is a mechanical engineer with an MBA and has been a concert promoter since 2000, directly involved in many events by international artists, like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, Kenny G and many more. He designed and staged many original orchestral events, including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres.

Join us for a joyful exploration of three multi-talented musical geniuses!

In a career that has spanned more than seven decades and "in a galaxy far, far away," John Williams has written some of the most beloved film scores in history. He has delighted audiences as a world-renowned composer, conductor and pianist.

Next, we'll learn about Yo-Yo Ma's upbringing, his appreciation for the music of different cultures and the importance of preserving these musical traditions, as well as the music and artistry of the world's foremost cellist and music ambassador.

Lastly, British vocalist, songwriter, composer and bass player, Sir Paul McCartney's work with The Beatles elevated popular music into a commercially viable art form. His list of hit songs includes "Yesterday," "Something," "Hey Jude" and many more. McCartney is also one of the most popular solo performers of all time.

Instructor bio: Jean Hein recently moved to Kansas from South Carolina, where she was director and recorder performer with Columbia Baroque as well as a clarinetist. She currently teaches online recorder classes for seniors. Jean has served on the board of Early Music America. She holds music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University.

"And God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the Earth and subdue it." This course examines our efforts to subdue the Earth in North America. From removing the forests east of the Mississippi River for giant monoculture farms to having perfect suburban lawns, which attract deer and geese, subduing the Earth has been a constant battle. In the West we will learn "water flows uphill to money." One in nine Americans depend on water from the Colorado River. But with the current 20+ year drought, significant changes in water usage will be necessary. 

Instructor Bio: Thomas Luellen recently retired after 31 years in hospital administration and 14 years as an adjunct instructor at Washburn University. He has a master's degree in geography from the University of Kansas. His personal interests have always been his native state and its history.

Join us for a deep dive into the "one-hit wonders" of U.S. presidents! This course will spotlight those presidents elected for one term and those who filled out an unexpired term and were elected to only one term. We'll scrutinize their domestic and foreign policies along with issues with Congress and the Courts.

Instructor bio: Russ Hutchins teaches U.S. history, Western civilization, economics, business, philosophy and business management at Friends University. He is a retired public-school administrator and educator.

Instructor bio: Kristen Baum is the director of Monarch Watch, senior scientist with the Kansas Biological Survey and professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. Her research focuses on the effects of land use and management practices, and weather extremes on monarchs, native bees and other pollinators.

Osher members are invited to attend a special event at Brandon Woods about President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. This event is free to Osher members as a gift from our partner, Brandon Woods at Alvamar. Refreshments will be provided by Brandon Woods at Alvamar. Seating is limited. You can register for either a 10am or 2pm event.

Brandon Woods at Alvamar- 1501 Inverness Dr., Lawrence KS 66047

No admission fee, but reservations are required by completing the Osher registration form.

Let's travel back in time to share the experiences of women who made Kansas Territory their home from 1854 - 1861. Regardless of their political sentiments, women in Bleeding Kansas shared sorrow and grief equally as the territory roiled with turmoil. From the staunch abolitionist Sara Robinson to a young woman robbed of her fiancé, we'll look at the compelling human dramas that took center stage as Kansas decided if she would be a free or slave state.

Instructor bio: Michelle M. Martin is a Michigander by birth and a Kansan and Oklahoman by choice. Martin earned her doctorate in history at the University of New Mexico. Her research probes interracial marriage, gender, race and power in the Mvskoke Nation in Indian Territory from 1870 - 1897.

The Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio Rivers and the Great Lakes are rich in history, tall tales and music. Come learn how canal boats, steamboats, tugs, barges and Great Lakes freighters played a major role in U.S. territorial and economic expansion. We'll cover the Steamboat Arabia, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and more. The grandson of a Great Lakes sailor, our instructor has visited the Great Lakes and rivers covered in the class and will share his photos plus films of vessels and a wide range of exciting music and stories.

Instructor bio: Carl Graves, Ph.D., holds a master's degree in U.S. history from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from Harvard. He taught at the university and community college levels and at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill School.

Instructor Bio: Sarah Rosenson holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's in Jewish studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law, then taught classes on ethics, philosophy and world religions at a private high school. She currently teaches adults both in-person and online, including several Osher classes. 

Rock music during the 1967 - 1969 countercultural era started with the Summer of Love and ended tragically just two years later. We'll explore cultural and political events of the time from the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, through the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, and ending at the Altamont Speedway Festival. While Monterey introduced the world to many soon-to-be famous performers, Woodstock gave its name to a generation, and Altamont brought the era of love and trust to a sad end. Join the conversation as we recall this seminal time in American history.

Instructor bio: Steve Lopes, A.E., B.A., M.A., M. Ed., was an educator for 15 years prior to 30 years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching rock 'n' roll history and sharing it with KU Osher participants.

Among the many legends of lost cities and vanished ancient civilizations none has captured the popular imagination quite like the lost continent of Atlantis. First described in a tale told more than 2,000 years ago, Atlantis has been "found" many times since. Was it a real place or just an allegory? Can modern archeological methods and satellite imagery lend credence to the legend? Join us to look at the leading theories of its whereabouts and for the tales of those intrepid sleuths who believe they have solved the mystery.

Instructor Bio: David Mannering earned a master's degree in philosophy and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Kansas. After retiring, he rekindled his interest in the ancient civilizations bordering the Mediterranean and has taken several trips to visit ruins in its vicinity.

Change is both the greatest threat and the greatest path to happiness in life. This class presents a model for understanding why change can be so difficult. Most importantly, we'll discuss specific strategies and nuts and bolts techniques for overcoming the challenge of change to make it your ally in life.

Instructor bio: Bob Williams holds a doctorate in developmental psychology and curriculum, and master's degrees in counseling, educational psychology and ancient history. He is a semi-retired professor of psychology at Maple Woods Community College where he has taught psychology and history for 38 years. He is the co-author of three books dealing with life span development, relationships and creativity. Bob developed a system for teaching creative thinking ("Unleashing the Right Side of the Brain"), which has been used by business and educational organizations. He also designs games and has produced a number of simulations. His most recent game, "In a Lifetime," allows players to make decisions and see the effects as they experience a very realistic simulation of life and change.

Throughout American history the military has played a significant role in our country's development. Come walk through history as we examine some of America's most significant battles, both victories and defeats. We'll survey a series of military actions from the Revolution to the Korean War charting those conflicts, lessons learned and those lessons forgotten. We'll first focus on the victories and defeats incurred during the American Revolution and the War of 1812 when America fought against the world's premier military power, Great Britain. In Week 2 we'll investigate the Civil War and America's first experience with the "Total War" concept. We'll spend the last class discussing America's climb to become the world's foremost military power during its early 20th-century conflicts.

Instructor bio: Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the retired director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from Kansas State University and has published numerous articles on military history.

Let's jump into the political and social climate of the early 1960s and the circumstances involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. Over three weeks we'll consider the major theories as to who was likely behind the assassination. You'll see numerous photographs which were not available to the public in 1963during the course, too. We'll conclude with an in-depth examination of an eyewitness - who was ignored by the federal government - who observed a man shoot at the president from behind a picket fence.

Instructor bio: Brian Edwards has researched the Kennedy assassination for five decades. During that time, he has interviewed hundreds of individuals connected with the case. He has given numerous presentations on the assassination throughout the United States. Brian co-authored three books on the assassination: "Beyond the Fence Line: The Eyewitness Account of Ed Hoffman and the Murder of President John Kennedy" (2008), "Blueprint for Murder" (2020) and "Admitted Assassin" (2024). In 2019, he collaborated with and appeared in Oliver Stone's four-hour documentary on the assassination, "JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass."

Some of the most important leaders in Kansas City lived on this block. We'll learn about the lives and work of these remarkable men and women, including Hugh Oliver Cook, principal of Lincoln High School; Anna Jones, prominent civil rights leader and suffragette; John E. Perry, founder of Wheatley Provident Hospital; Chester Franklin, founder of the Kansas City Call, and Lucile Bluford, the Call's longtime editor. In addition to discovering these folks, we'll examine the street itself and the attitudes and policies that impacted its rise and fall. When the first Black residents moved to Montgall, it was integrated. Over the course of the 20th century, the street - and the nation - became more segregated, and the Montgall residents responded in various ways. Jim Crow finally ended in the middle of the 20th century, but other policies replaced it, and with devastating consequences.

Instructor bio: Margie Carr is a fourth-generation Kansan and grew up in the Kansas City area. She knew how to attend only one school, the University of Kansas, which is where she earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Her undergraduate and doctoral degrees are in education while her master's degree is in museum studies, an area she pursued because it sounded calm. Except for the years spent raising her children when she worked as a freelance writer, she was in classrooms working with every age of student from preschool to the graduate level. Today she trains and supervises volunteers who advocate for children in the foster care system. She is the author of "Kansas City's Montgall Avenue: Black Leaders and the Street They Called Home," winner of the George Ehrlich Award for excellence in writing and chosen as a Notable Book of Kansas in 2024.

Get ready to trace the history of the samurai class in Japan, its distinctive weapons, armor, code of behavior, and its part in Japanese history. We'll also look at the samurai in Japanese pop culture, from books to movies (including "The Seven Samurai" and other films), to manga and anime. We'll expand our discussion to non-Japanese books and films about samurai ("Shogun," "The Last Samurai"), re-makes of Japanese samurai films ("The Magnificent Seven," "A Fistful of Dollars") or modern-day people who live by the samurai code ("Ghost Dog," "Le Samourai"), video games with samurai, and how to tell the difference between a samurai and a ninja.

Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who seems to have found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.

Since the 1890s, when Americans began to develop their own traditions in classical music, composers have recognized the dilemma of creating the "American" sound. We'll explore how not only classical musicians, but also Broadway and Hollywood composers, followed parallel paths in creating sounds that have been defined as evocative of these lands and its people. Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, William Grant Still, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Jon Batiste and others will be the protagonists in this lecture, supported with audiovisuals and anecdotes.

Instructor bio: Emanuel Abramovits is a mechanical engineer with an MBA and has been a concert promoter since 2000, directly involved in many events by international artists, like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, Kenny G and many more. He designed and staged many original orchestral events, including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres.

This course will share the reunion of a mother and daughter 66 years after being separated at birth at The Willows Maternity Sanitarium. We will delve into the history of The Willows and dozens of other maternity homes that brought more than 100,000 young women shrouded in secrecy to Kansas City.

Instructor bio: KelLee Parr holds bachelor's degrees in agriculture and education plus a master's degree in adult and occupational education from Kansas State University. He has taught elementary school for many years in Topeka and now writes science curriculum for Nancy Larson Publishers.

Together we'll explore what early modern Europeans believed about witches and the devil, how these beliefs led to the persecution of thousands across Europe and its colonies, and what these trials tell us about life in early modern Europe. We'll unpack the origins of belief in witchcraft and the devil in Judeo-Christian texts and the development of these beliefs through the medieval period. Then we'll examine specific cases and the laws regarding witchcraft in the major European nations and the American colonies.Content warning: Some material discussed may be disturbing or explicit in nature.

Instructor bio: Cameron C. Engelbrecht holds a master's degree in early modern history from Trinity College Dublin and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Central Missouri. He currently serves as director of faith formation at two Catholic churches in the Kansas City area and lives in Independence, Missouri, with his wife and daughter.

Long-time Osher instructor Marlene Katz once again brings history to life in her unique classes centering famous women throughout history. This semester, Marlene brings the stories of the women connected to the Kansas City mafia to life through a combination of biographical facts and engaging storytelling.

Instructor bio: Marlene Katz, a graduate of the University of Missouri, was an adjunct professor at UMKC, where she taught English and literature. Marlene has a 28-year teaching career and has been involved in storytelling for 20 years. Women in history is her specialty and Marlene has performed in a five-state area and has lectured for various groups, often in costume and speech of the character she is portraying.

• How the world structure is changing from the post-World War II rules-based structure to one of "might makes right."
• How emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence may spark the fourth industrial revolution.
• 80 percent of Americans believe climate change is real, and its impacts are growing. Yet we refuse to change our lifestyle to alleviate the effects. Why do we wait for the free market or the government to solve the problem?

Instructor bio: Charles "Chick" Keller is a retired senior executive and retired professor. He worked 15 years each at Sprint and Black & Veatch in strategic planning and strategic marketing, rising to VP level both times. In 2000, he began a career as a professor in the University of Kansas engineering management program where he taught finance and strategic planning.

The great three-day Battle of Gettysburg has widely been seen as the American Civil War's turning point, the pivot on which the war and the fate of the republic turned. This course will look at the three days of battle at Gettysburg. We'll consider the great (and not so great) leaders, events and decisions that shaped its course, conduct and outcome, as well the larger campaign that carried the war north of the Potomac for the second time in less than a year. We'll also look at the battle's special place in the war's history, as well as that of the individuals and events that shaped its course and results.

Instructor bio: Ethan S. Rafuse received his doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His publications include "Robert E. Lee and the Fall of the Confederacy 1863-1865," essays in "The Chattanooga Campaign" and "The Chickamauga Campaign," and "U.S. Presidents During Wartime."

This two-session course explores the life and works of George Orwell, a pivotal 20th-century writer known for his sharp critiques of totalitarianism, class inequality and political corruption. First, we'll delve into Orwell's life, from his upbringing in British India to his formative experiences in Burma, the Spanish Civil War and World War II. We'll connect these moments, which shaped his political views and literary voice, to his early works, such as "Down and Out in Paris and London" and "The Road to Wigan Pier."

The second session shifts focus to Orwell's most iconic works, "Animal Farm" and "1984." We'll explore their themes of power, propaganda and societal control, discussing their relevance to modern political and digital landscapes. The session also examines Orwell's influential essays, including "Politics and the English Language," and his enduring legacy as a writer and thinker. Through discussions and reflections, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Orwell's contributions to literature and his resonance in contemporary times.

Instructor bio: Vic Peterson is the author of "The Berserkers" (Hawkwood 2022/Recital 2023), set in a fictional Nordic country. He worked as a business executive and now divides his time between Lawrence, Kansas, and Northport, Michigan.

Americans living during World War II have been called the "Greatest Generation." Outstanding military leaders immediately come to mind: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Gen. George S. Patton. This course, however, celebrates the not-so-famous U.S. heroes and heroines of World War II. We'll learn about Black American, Native American and Japanese American soldiers, as well as the Counterintelligence Corps. We'll also honor women's roles as nurses, pilots, factory workers and sustainers of the home front. Lastly, we'll examine how American journalists, the Red Cross and other humanitarian groups, U.S. test pilots, medics and others contributed to the war effort.

Instructor bio: Anita Tebbe is a retired professor in the legal studies department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a law degree. Anita is a Kansas-licensed attorney and has more than 40 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels.