Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Courses

History

Courses & Events

Beyond the Trenches: World War I Fronts in Italy, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Africa

You may be familiar with the World War I battles on the Western Front, where France and Great Britain (and later the U.S.) fought Germany in the trenches. But there was a reason it was called a World War. We will explore battles that were fought on other fronts, involving Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary and African colonies. We'll also discuss the Polar Bear Expedition: What were U.S. troops doing in Siberia? Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger is a retired government lawyer who has found an avocation teaching courses on disability law, citizenship, comedy and James Bond, among other topics.

November 10, 2026 to December 1, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

German Settlements & Culture in Kansas

German is the most prevalent language after English and Spanish spoken at home in 77 counties in Kansas. Since 1854, thousands of German-speaking immigrants have sought better lives here, including Pennsylvania Dutch, Volga Germans, Mennonites, Austrians and Swiss. German churches dot the prairie, and some rural Kansans still speak a dialect of German. Instructor Bio: William Keel, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of German at the University of Kansas, having taught the history and culture of German settlements in Kansas and Missouri.

August 19, 2026 to September 2, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person

The JFK Assassination: 63 Years Later

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 1963 during 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. He has interviewed hundreds of individuals connected with the case and 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."

October 13-27, 2026, Santa Marta Retirement Community

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Prime Minister Winston Churchill is well-regarded across the world for his long-reigning influence in British Parliament, but did you know he had ties to Missouri and the Kansas City area? Delve into the professional and personal life of Churchill and discover this famous Brit's unique impact in the Midwest. 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.

August 18, 2026 to September 1, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

"Hamilton" and the Last Two Decades on Broadway

"Hamilton" (2015) by Lin-Manuel Miranda is remarkable for its score, statement about race, appeal to people from both sides of the political spectrum, and its ability to tell us about history and how we perceive it. We'll explore "Hamilton" and discuss other recent Broadway shows, including "Wicked," "Come from Away" and "Dear Evan Hansen." Instructor Bio: Paul Laird is professor emeritus of musicology who taught at the University of Kansas for 30 years. He is has published widely on the American musical theater and taught dozens of Osher courses over the last three decades.

December 1-15, 2026, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person

50 Vice Presidents of the USA

This class brings our vice presidents out of their presidents' shadows. We'll get to know each VP with a short biography, other facts and trivia, and how they were elected or selected. Instructor Russ Hutchins will also cover vice presidential achievements and how the office developed over the years. 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.

September 10-24, 2026, Online

A Golden Age: China in the Tang

No dynasty in Chinese history has been as highly regarded as the Tang (618-906). After four centuries of dynasticupheaval and cultural transformation - not least the Buddhist "conquest" - the age of the Tang emperors (and oneempress!) marked a high point in society, culture and the arts, including poetry, sculpture, painting and architecture.Rich tombs, Buddhist relic deposits and cave-chapels, ceramics, calligraphy and painting all enriched the culture ofthis "golden age." Modern archaeology, in turn, has made these treasures accessible. Instructor Bio: Robert Thorp taught at Princeton and Washington University in St. Louis for 25 years followed by a second careeras a tour lecturer in China and Japan. His publications include "Chinese Art and Culture" (2001), "China in the EarlyBronze Age" (2006) and "Visiting Historic Beijing" (2008). He has visited China more than 50 times.

August 18, 2026 to September 1, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Faces of the Third Reich: Soldiers, Women and the Dictator Himself

Explore the human dimension of Nazi Germany through the stories of those who lived, shaped and were shaped by this totalitarian system. Historian Anette Isaacs illuminates the complexities of ideology, power and personal choices through exploration of the following topics: Hitler's soldiers in America, the hidden history of German POWs; the anatomy of a dictator, the private life, illnesses and early years of Adolf Hitler; and the women of the Third Reich.Instructor Bio: German born and raised, Anette Isaacs is a historian and public educator who has presented hundreds of programs on more than 40 topics (all pertaining to her native country's history, politics and culture) all over the United States. She holds master's degrees in American studies, political science and history, and recently served as the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida International University in Miami.

November 10-24, 2026, Online

Geography of the British Northern Isles: Orkney, Shetland & Outer Hebrides

Have you ever wanted to play the game of Ba', walk the Ring of Broghdar, sit in a Black House, smell a peat fire, speak Orcadian or sail Scapa Flow? If the answer is yes, come aboard the ferry departing from the Scottish mainland on Nov. 3 for Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. We will explore the physical, economic and cultural geography of these fantastic islands. After an introduction to the geography of Highland Scotland, we will discuss topics such as archaeology (why Orkney is the "Egypt of the North"), land tenure (clans, crofts and clearances), ecology (the machair) and economies (sheep and oil) of each of the three island groups. Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University.

November 3-17, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

History of Modern Latin America

Discover the dramatic forces that shaped contemporary Latin America. This three-session course explores the region's journey from colonial aftermaths to global powerhouse status. We will analyze the political struggles, cultural triumphs and social movements that define the modern landscape. This class is perfect for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of our global neighbors. 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.

September 16-30, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

Lyda Conley & the Fight to Preserve a Wyandot Cemetery in Kansas

For 50 years, Lyda Conley and her two older sisters, Helena and Ida, protected their Wyandot relative's burials in the Huron Indian Cemetery in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Lyda became the first Indigenous woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court when she took this fight to Washington in 1910. As she pursued this years-long battle, she and her sisters also built a shack ("Fort Conley") in the cemetery and provided around-the-clock surveillance to prevent vandalism and sale of the cemetery's land. In this session, Tai S. Edwards, co-editor of a recent book on Conley, will discuss this inspiring story. We'll engage with Wyandot Nation members' oral histories, see photographs and maps, and learn about the legacies of this ground-breaking fight in the 21st century.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Madeleine Albright: Her Personal and Professional Lives

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.

November 6-20, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Nelly Don: Entrepreneur, Trailblazer & Icon

Nelly Don, the Kansas City dress company founded by Nell Quinlan Donnelly Reed, was the largest women's dress manufacturer's label in America for over 60 years. Learn more about the woman behind the label, including her capture and ransom by gangsters, her connection to Tom Pendergast and how Nell steered her company successfully through both the Great Depression and World War II. Instructor Bio: Marlene Katz, a University of Missouri graduate, was an adjunct professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City, 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. 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.

Thursday, September 17, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

Significant United States First Ladies of the Modern Era

We will look at eight U.S. first ladies who lived in the 20th and 21st centuries. They are not as well-known as some of the other first ladies, but they made impressive contributions to the United States. We will study Lou Hoover, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush. 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 degree in law. Anita is a Kansas-licensed attorney and has more than 40 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels.

November 17, 2026 to December 1, 2026, Santa Marta Retirement Community

The American Civil War West of the Mississippi: 1861-1865

Most histories of the American Civil War concentrate primarily on the campaigns and battles that took place east of the Mississippi. However, the Civil War raged on in the states located west of the Mississippi such as Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and in the New Mexico and Oklahoma territories. This class will focus on those lesser-known campaigns and battles that were nonetheless critical to the preservation of the Union and the eventual defeat of the Confederacy. Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the recently 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.

September 24, 2026 to October 14, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online
November 12, 2026 to December 3, 2026, Brewster Place Cultural Arts Center

The Reformations of Europe From 1350-1661

The reformations of Europe are among the most turbulent, fascinating and impactful events in Western history. Rather than a single event, they represent a series of movements occurring at different times and places. This course will explore key moments and ideas in these reformations, starting with the proto-reformers John Wycliffeand Jan Hus. We will then discuss the reformations led by Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, followed by the Catholic Church's response, known as the Catholic Reformation. Finally, we will examine the tumultuous English Reformation in a more case-study approach. Along the way, we will attempt to uncover how these watershed moments in history affected the lives of everyday people. 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.

November 30, 2026 to December 14, 2026, Online

The Russian Revolution

This class will explore the historical circumstances leading to the tumultuous decline and fall of the Tsarist Regime, and the eventual seizure of the Russian government by the Bolsheviks under Vladmir Lenin. Situating the revolution in historical context, classes will explore the politics and circumstances of the Russian state, the revolutionary ideas of Lenin, and finally, how the first communist state emerged amidst a world in conflict. 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.

November 5-19, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

The Times They Are A-Changin': America in the 1960s and Its Profound Social and Political Impact on Our Country Today

In this highly interactive, interdisciplinary class, we'll listen to some of the most inspiring and provocative songs from the decade, listen to Alan Ginsberg recite his revolutionary poem "Howl," critically review select episodes from the documentary "Making Sense of the 1960s," and analyze a few of the essential documents and literature that define the 1960s. In our candid discussions, we'll study how a decade which began with almost evangelical youthful idealism, just 10 years later culminated in a crushing disillusionment and deep-seated cynicism in a sharply divided America at war with itself. Instructor Bio: Milton S. Katz, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of humanities in the liberal arts department at the Kansas City Art Institute where he has taught courses on America in the 1960s; art, literature and film of the Holocaust; and peace and conflict resolution for 52 years. He authored three books, over two dozen book chapters, articles and essays, and earned several prestigious awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Kansas and Missouri Humanities, and the Fulbright Foundation.

September 2-16, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

Thomas Edison: An American Genius

How did a boy from a small town in Ohio, having very little formal education and attending school for only a few months, become the most prolific inventor of the 19th and early 20th centuries? We'll seek the answer to this question and study the impact that this genius continues to exert on our lives today. 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. 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.

October 13-27, 2026, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person
December 1-15, 2026, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall & Online

Walking the Weary Miles: A Social and Geographic History of the Santa Fe Trail

Join historian Michelle M. Martin for a look at America's first superhighway, the famed Santa Fe Trail. The Santa Fe Trail is a part of Kansas and Western history that brought together people from various socio-economic, cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. Despite the differences between those who traveled on this 19th century superhighway, the trail had a way of making everyone equal. Over two weeks, we'll explore the trail, how and why it developed, and the people who traversed its path. We'll also connect you to historic locations you can visit to learn more about the Santa Fe Trail travel experience. 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.

September 10-17, 2026, Online