Newberry SeminarsSUMMER 2017

Registration opens April 25. The early registration deadline is May 19. Classes begin May 30. Register online at

www.newberry.org/adult-education-seminars or call (312) 255-3700. Check out our series of one-day seminars,

so summer vacation won’t interfere with your education!

Chicago Interest

Public Art and Public Life in ChicagoTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm May 30 - August 8 (class will not meet July 4)

In celebration of Chicago’s official “Year of Public Art,” this seminar will explore the city’s murals, commemorative statues, architectural sculpture, commercial decorations, and park designs through a series of walking tours. We will pay special attention to the role of public art in shaping the civic, national, and ethnic identities of its audiences, and we will consider the role of public art in promoting tourism, commerce, and political agendas. Ten sessions, $270.

Diane Dillon is Director of Exhibitions and Major Projects at the Newberry. She holds a PhD in the history of art from Yale University.

Peering Behind the Curtain of Chicago TheaterWednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm June 7 - July 26

In this discussion-based seminar, we will examine what makes Chicago a leader in American theater through conversations with its practitioners. Each week, with a Chicago play as our text, guest actors, directors, playwrights, critics, and other theater artists will explain their role in bringing a play to life. Such legends of the Chicago theater as director Jonathan Wilson, Tony Award-winning actress Deanna Dunegan, Chicago Tribune critic Kerry Reid, Steppenwolf ’s Even Hatfield, and playwrights Jon Steinhagen and Scott Waldman will join us. Eight sessions, $200.

Todd Bauer holds an MA in liberal studies from Northwestern University and is a playwright and director whose work has been staged in Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York.

After Capone: Post-Prohibition Chicago Saloon CultureThursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm June 22 - July 13

In this seminar, we will examine the ways in which Prohibition and its aftermath changed Chicago’s public drinking culture. Chicagoans continued to negotiate their identities and create communities in bars and other “third places.” Saloon-keeper aldermen like Coughlin and Kenna faded into history, though Paddy Bauler hung on; ethnic neighborhood bars returned, but new bar genres evolved (the singles bar, the gay bar, the sports bar) as Chicago’s industrial economy peaked and then faded. We will also schedule post-seminar outings to contemporary bars that illuminate our conversation. Four sessions, $120.

Bill Savage teaches Chicago history, literature, and culture at Northwestern University; he has led Newberry seminars since 1992 and worked as a bartender for over 30 years.

Music

Eight Operas That Changed the WorldWednesdays, 2 - 4 pm May 31 - July 19

Each week in this seminar, we will focus on one opera and examine its impact on musical trends and global culture. We will also discuss musical and vocal techniques related to each. The following operas will be covered: Claudio Monteverdi, L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea – 1643); Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata (The Marriage of Figaro, or The Day of Madness – 1786); Giuseppe Verdi, Rigoletto (1851); Richard Wagner, Tristan und Isolde (1865); Modest Mussorgsky, Boris Godunov (1874); Georges Bizet, Carmen (1875); Richard Strauss, Salome (1905); and Alban Berg, Wozzeck (1925). Eight sessions, $240.

John Gibbons teaches piano, composition, music theory, and a variety of music appreciation classes for adults, and he holds a PhD in music composition from the University of Chicago. John is a long-time instructor at the University of Chicago Graham School.

McVicker’s Theatre, Chicago, 1867.

Jazz: A Listener’s GuideWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm May 31 - July 19

Gain a deeper understanding of America’s original music with this multimedia course. Learn about the great musicians of the jazz tradition, explore the music’s fascinating social history, and discover Chicago’s unique contributions to the art form. We will study the development of early jazz in New Orleans, the Swing Era, bebop, fusion, and more. No previous familiarity with the idiom is necessary. Eight sessions, $240.

Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried holds three degrees in music and has appeared on 27 recordings as bassist and guitarist, including award-winning jazz albums of his own compositions. He has played with Bobby McFerrin, Roscoe Mitchell, Fred Anderson, John Medeski, and many other jazz greats.

Woodwinds: The Instruments and Their MusicThursdays, 2 - 4 pm June 1 - July 20

The woodwinds – f lute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, and their many relatives – have a history going back to the Old Stone Age. Since the time of J. S. Bach, they have appeared in chamber music, orchestral music, and in a rich solo repertoire. In the twentieth century, clarinets and saxophones have been prominent in swing and jazz. We will consider the historical and technical context for each instrument and hear their music played by artists of past and present. Eight sessions, $240.

Guy Marco, who received his PhD from the University of Chicago, has taught in 11 universities and written or edited more than 50 books. He has led Newberry seminars since 1996.

The Violin: Its History, Music Masterpieces, and PerformersTuesdays, 2 - 4 pm June 6 - August 1 (class will not meet July 4)

There are many fascinating aspects of the violin to study: the history of the instrument; the secrets of its great luthiers who crafted instruments considered to be the summit of artistry; legendary violinists from the past and rock stars of the present like Heifetz, Stern, Perlman, and Pine; and the rich repertoire inspired by the violin. In this seminar, we will explore the violin’s history, listen to great music it has inspired in diverse styles, and compare recordings of celebrated violinists, past and present, performing these works. We will study works by J. S.Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Paganini, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky, plus orchestra works by Rimsky-Korsakov and R. Strauss, featuring violin solos for the concertmaster. A listening assignment for the first class will be sent upon registration. Eight sessions, $240.

Stephanie Ettelson, known for her preconcert lectures and adult classes in all areas of classical music for more than four decades, brings a unique perspective to “The Art of Listening” as a violinist, music educator, and critic.

The Genius of StravinskyThursdays, 2 - 4 pm June 8 - August 3 (class will not meet July 20)

With The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky laid the groundwork for the harmony, rhythm, melody, and musical form of the twentieth century. Stravinsky’s approach to musical composition was one of constant renewal. Every element of his work was distinctive; among them, rhythm was the most striking ingredient, and his novel structures were widely imitated. His instrumentation was inf luential, and while his use of harmony and form were challenging, he thought of melody as the “most essential” element. This class will study his genius. Eight sessions, $240.

Stephen Kleiman holds an MA in music composition, and he is a conductor and frequent lecturer in the Chicagoland area. His compositions have been performed internationally. This is his ninth year teaching at the Newberry.

Reinventing Musical Theater From Hair to HamiltonThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 8 - July 27

The sound and attitude of rock, pop, and hip-hop have helped reinvent and reinvigorate American musical theater. This seminar will focus on eight shows that shook up the world of Broadway and brought in new audiences, starting with the brash and raucous songs of Hair and finishing with the bold, rich, and rap-infused score of Hamilton. Other seminal works we will examine include Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Tommy, Rent, Spring Awakening, and American Idiot. Eight sessions, $240.

Douglas Post is an award-winning playwright, composer, and lyricist whose works have been produced around the world. He has taught at Northwestern University, DePaul University, and Victory Gardens Theater. He currently serves on the faculty at Chicago Dramatists.

Blitzing the Leitmotifs of Richard Wagner’s Ring CycleSaturday, 10 am - 4 pm, with lunch break July 8

This one-day immersion course is a comprehensive, lightning-quick introduction to the psychological implications and the musical development of the leitmotifs of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The characters, objects, events, and emotions that the leitmotifs represent will be presented in a clear and concise manner, following the order in which they appear in each of the operas of The Ring of the Nibelungen. We will uncover and discuss the identities and intent of the major leitmotifs. One session, $120.

Motivated by firsthand experiences of attending numerous Ring Cycle performances, including three at the Bayreuth Festival, David Pituch has developed a deep understanding of and appreciation for this great music drama. He has given numerous lecture/discussions on the music of Richard Wagner.

Arts and Literature

Essentials of Spanish: An Introductory CourseTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm May 30 - July 25 (class will not meet July 4)

Are you looking for a Spanish class with the right mix of language, culture, and conversation? Here is your chance to gain some Spanish essentials of not only what to say, but why and when to say it, and a chance to enjoy relaxed presentations of real-life language focused on real-life needs. This class is open to both beginners and non-beginners wishing to review. Prior to the first class, please look through Communicating in Spanish to be able to say at the first class how many lessons you will be comfortable covering each class period. Eight sessions, $240.

Susan Pezzino, a Spanish-English bilingual and designated United States Fulbright Master Teacher, holds an MA in applied linguistics and works as a professional language teacher and multimedia curriculum designer in Chicago.

Vincent van Gogh: Artist and LegendThursdays, 2 - 4 pm June 1 - July 6

This seminar reconsiders the art of Vincent van Gogh in light of recent research, including a comprehensive online edition of his letters and a monumental biography. What is the relationship between van Gogh’s words, life, and work, and how can we excavate the art from the myth? The course will address this complex web through consideration and discussion of the paintings, the letters, and subsequent interpretations of the artist. For the f irst class, participants should read pages ix-xxxi and 75-93 in The Letters of Vincent van Gogh, Penguin edition. Six sessions, $200.

Margaret Farr is an independent art historian with a PhD in art history, specializing in art from 1800 to the present. She has worked at the Art Institute of Chicago for over 18 years and has also taught at several colleges and universities.

Three Touchstones of Twentieth-Century American ArtThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 1 - June 15

The twentieth century was an era of great innovation, experimentation, passion, and personal expression in American art. It was a time when artistic trends were derived from such disparate inf luences as archaism and modernism, natural and urban life, and internationalism and localism in the unique world artists inhabited here in the United States. All of these inf luences were filtered through the hyper-subjective eyes of the artists themselves as new styles emerged. In this course, we will look consecutively at three touchstones of American art that demonstrate the vigor and diversity of expression achieved during this era: the Ashcan School, Abstract Expressionism, and the art of Isamu Noguchi. Three sessions, $120.

Judy Pomeranz, art critic and advisor, has written and lectured extensively on art history topics. She has delivered lectures at the Smithsonian Institution and has given tours of museum exhibitions around the country. She is also the published author of two novels and many short stories.

Revolution: Art in France, 1789-1799Saturday, 10 am - 1 pm June 3

This one-day seminar will explore the visual arts during the French Revolution, a tumultuous moment for the arts as well as for politics and society. Themes include the relationship among “high” art, popular imagery, and propaganda; the inf luence of the Revolution’s chief image-maker, Jacques-Louis David; and the bold new paths struck by artists after the fall of Robespierre. One session, $65.

Jeffrey Nigro is a Research Associate in the Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art and an Adjunct Lecturer at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Young Queen Victoria: What She WoreTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 6 - June 27

Long before she put on widow’s weeds, Queen Victoria played many roles—novice sovereign, eligible bachelorette, bride, and young mother—and for each role she dressed the part. Through art and dress history, this seminar will chart the changes in Queen Victoria’s public image across the first phase of her reign (1837-1850), the time so vividly portrayed in the ITV Studios series Victoria, to reveal that the famously unfashionable queen knew how to dress for success. Four sessions, $160.

Debra N. Mancoff, Newberry Scholar-in-Residence and author of Fashion Muse; Danger! Women Artists at Work; and Icons of Beauty: Art, Culture, and the Image of Women, writes on art, fashion, and culture.

Queen Victoria

1-DAY

Michelangelo: Renaissance GeniusWednesdays, 2 - 4 pm June 7 - July 12

Michelangelo Buonarotti created works of art that continue to inspire and move countless numbers of art lovers. This seminar will explore the full range of Michelangelo’s works in sculpture, painting, architecture, and drawing, to gain a greater understanding of this multifaceted genius. Readings from primary and secondary sources will include one of the earliest biographies of the artist and some of Michelangelo’s own poetry. For the first class, please read “Life of Michelangelo Buonarotti by Ascanio Condivi” (pp. 1-18) in Michelangelo, Life, Letters, and Poetry. Six sessions, $200.

Jeffrey Nigro is a Research Associate in the Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art and an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Museum Education at the Art Institute of Chicago.

History and Social Science

The Spanish Civil WarSection A: Tuesdays, 1 - 3 pm Section B: Tuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm May 30 - July 25 (class will not meet July 4)

The devastating civil war in Spain from 1936 to 1939 foreshadowed the larger conf lict between democracy and fascism during the Second World War. Rooted in long-developing political and social tensions, the war between progressive republican and conservative nationalist forces in Spain quickly became an international cause, attracting foreign volunteers, including George Orwell. We will discuss Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia as well as topics including the bombing of Guernica and the rise to power of Francisco Franco. For the first class meeting, participants should read the Introduction and Chapter One of Paul Preston, The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge. Eight sessions, $240.

Frank A. Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history, and secondary fields in modern German and Spanish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago and has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.

The Culture of Food in Medieval and Renaissance EuropeThursdays, 2 - 4 pm June 1 - June 29

Food was central to everyday life in medieval and Renaissance Europe. In this seminar, we will explore how the culture of food was connected to social status, economics, religion, law, art, literature, and so much more. Focusing on primary sources, many from the Newberry’s collection, we will discuss topics as diverse as theological debates about chocolate, pepper trees guarded by mythical serpents, and cries of Parisian street vendors in a thirteenth-century motet. Five sessions, $170.

Sarah Peters Kernan, independent culinary historian, holds a PhD in medieval history from Ohio State University.

The Irish Struggle for Independence, 1919-1923Saturdays, 10 am - noon June 3 - July 22

In this seminar, we will discuss the tumultuous events that led to the establishment of an independent Ireland, from the aftermath of the Easter Rising of 1916 through the establishment of the Irish Free State. Topics will include the creation of Dáil Éireann, the role of Michael Collins in the War for Independence, the negotiations that led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, splits in the republican movement over the treaty, and the resultant Irish Civil War. For the first class meeting, participants should read Ernie O’Malley, On Another Man’s Wound: A Personal History of Ireland’s War of Independence, chapters one through five. Eight sessions, $240.

Frank A. Biletz received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago, with a primary specialization in modern British and Irish history. He is currently Adjunct Instructor in History at Loyola University Chicago. He has been teaching seminars at the Newberry since 1994.

Feminism and the American FamilyTuesdays, 2 - 3:30 pm June 6 - July 18 (class will not meet July 4)

This seminar will juxtapose poet and radical feminist Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Institution with conservative Phyllis Schlaf ly’s Who Killed the American Family? What can we learn from these politically opposed women about motherhood, family, policy, writing, and activism? How do we understand women’s studies through the perspective of a champion and a critic? How will history remember these women, and does their legacy shed new light on women in America today? For the first class, please read Adrienne Rich, Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution, Foreward through Chapter 3 (pp.11-83), and review handout - A Timeline of Women’s Rights from 1769 to the 2017 Women’s March on Washington (http://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2017-01-20/timeline-the-womens-right). Six sessions, $180.

Susan Lyons focuses her independent scholarship on the intersection of capitalism and humanism. Her MBA and MLA degrees provide varying perspectives on the tensions surrounding feminism. In addition to consulting and civic work, she writes poetry and blogs.

An illustration from Beauty and the Beast, 1875.

The Origins and Adoption of the Bill of RightsWednesdays, 2 - 4 pm June 7 - June 28

This seminar will consider the origins and adoption of the f irst 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as “The Bill of Rights.” Participants will discuss what citizens at the time understood by the “free exercise” of religion, the “right to bear arms,” and other provisions. Participants will also discuss how much “original” meanings should inf luence our understanding of constitutional rights today. Please read chapters 1-3 in Origins of the Bill of Rights by Leonard W. Levy. Four sessions, $160.

Joseph Harrington holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut. He has led numerous Newberry seminars.

Genealogy

Autosomal DNA: The BasicsSaturday, 9 am - 4 pm, with lunch break June 17

This intense, fast-paced, single-day course will guide participants through learning to get the most out of their autosomal DNA test results. Participants will derive the most benefit if they have tested autosomal DNA with at least two of the major testing companies. For the first class, please study Blaine T. Bettinger, The Family Tree Guide to Genetic Genealogy and DNA Testing (Cincinnati, Ohio: Family Tree Books), 2016. One session, $120.

Karen Stanbary, CG (SM), is a professional genealogist trained in advanced genealogical methodologies and the use of DNA analysis in complex genealogical problem-solving. The words Certif ied Genealogist are a registered certification mark, and the designation CG, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by Board-certified genealogists after periodic competency evaluation.

60 Minutes to Better GenealogySaturdays, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm June 17 - July 15 (class will not meet July 1, July 8)

Sometimes 60 minutes of instruction on a focused topic can help you push through a particular question or task in your genealogical research project. Take all 12 sessions, or simply those that most appeal to you.

$20 per session; $70 for a single day; $200 for all three days.

Session 1: Brick Wall Solutions: Internet Genealogy ToolsSaturday, June 17, 9:30 - 10:30 am with Marsha Peterson-Maass

Let’s break through your research brick walls with instruction and case examples focusing on the latest Internet genealogy tools including digitized newspapers, Facebook, online military resources, “hidden repositories,” FamilySearch, and Ancestry’s free tools.

Session 2: FamilySearch Primer Saturday, June 17, 11 am - noon with Caron Primas Brennan

In this 60-minute session, we will review the free FamilySearch.org website and its Family Tree capability.

Session 3: Ancestry.com Primer Saturday, June 17, 1 - 2 pm with Caron Primas Brennan

In this 60-minute seminar we will review the resources on Ancestry.com, both library and subscription versions, and its DNA and Ancestry Trees features.

Session 4: How I Use DNA in My Genealogy ResearchSaturday, June 17, 2:30 - 3:30 pm with Caron Primas Brennan

Interested in DNA testing, but want to know more before you commit? Trying to decide if you should be DNA tested for genealogical purposes? In this session, we will discuss a few case studies to help you decide.

Session 5: Brick Wall Solutions: Forensic TechniquesSaturday, June 24, 9:30 - 10:30 am with Marsha Peterson-Maass

In the second brick walls session, we will focus on forensic genealogy techniques, including analyzing photos’ subject matter and paper, using spreadsheets, and accessing databases.

Session 6: Brick Wall Solutions: Proven Genealogical Methodology Saturday, June 24, 11 am - noon with Marsha Peterson-Maass

Our third brick walls seminar will examine proven genealogical methods and review case studies for crowdsourcing, swapping, FAN technique, genealogy coaching, and more.

Session 7: Adding Context: Social History for Genealogists Saturday, June 24, 1 - 2 pm with Ginger Frere

In this seminar, we will workshop methods for adding depth and greater human interest to your family stories by including the social context in which your relatives lived.

Session 8: How My Grandpappies Made a LivingSaturday, June 24, 2:30 - 3:30 pm with Ginger Frere

Most of us want to “get to know” our ancestors as much as possible and to understand their lives, and working life is not to be neglected. This seminar will discuss how making a living is an important part of who we are and why we do things.

1-DAY

1-DAY

Session 9: Who’s Been Living in My House?Saturday, July 15, 9:30 - 10:30 am with Grace Dumelle

This 60-minute session will go over sources and genealogical techniques for learning about the past owners/residents of your Chicago home. Addresses must be within city limits; no suburbs will be covered.

Session 10: Tools to Dig Deeper: Probate and Inquest Records Saturday, July 15, 11 am - noon with Grace Dumelle

In this seminar, we will use tools to get a fuller picture of whom and what your ancestors left behind with inventories and other court records. Investigate an accidental or criminal death with inquest records.

Session 11: Maps and Land Records Saturday, July 15, 1 - 2 pm with Becky Lowery

Where your ancestors lived tells us much about them. Rural or urban? Neighbors and businesses nearby? Owners or renters? Moving or settled? All this information can help. This seminar will help you uncover facts about your ancestors’ place in the world.

Session 12: Newberry’s ChicagoAncestors.org and Atlas of Historical County BoundariesSaturday, July 15, 2:30 - 3:30 pm with Becky Lowery

In this seminar, we will work with two online resources created by the Newberry Library’s Genealogy and Local History Department that can provide a new dimension to your family and local research: the spatial dimension. We will demonstrate both websites and answer your questions.

Caron Primas Brennan has been researching her family history since a 6th grade school project got her interested. She is a frequent speaker at local libraries and genealogical societies, a blogger, and a researcher for herself and others. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Grace Dumelle, a professional researcher, speaks throughout the Midwest. She wrote the award-winning book Finding Your Chicago Ancestors.

Ginger Frere, MLIS, is a professional researcher and lecturer, specializing in genealogy and local history, and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Becky Lowery, Reference Librarian at the Newberry, previously served as Map and Data Services Librarian at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has a long-term interest in family history, and has been working on genealogies of her extended family and friends’ families as well. She also has a life-long interest in how to display information in maps to maximize the access of information to users.

Marsha Peterson-Maass is a Forensic Genealogist, author of the Fundamentals of Genealogy® textbook series, and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has taught numerous seminars at Newberry since 2003.

Southern Italian Genealogy: Discovering Your Ancestral Documents in Italy and in the United StatesThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 29 - July 6

Millions of Americans identify themselves as having Italian ancestry, but many are far removed from their European origins. This seminar familiarizes you with the Newberry’s resources in Italian genealogy and provides valuable hands-on research skills with immigration, civil, and ecclesiastical documents pertaining to Italian ancestry. Offered to intermediate and advanced genealogists. No Italian language skill is required. Two sessions, $90.

Bill Cellini Jr., a past seminar instructor at the Newberry, has 28 years of experience translating and interpreting Italian vital records for genealogy. He is also a member of the Italian American Studies Association.

Write Your Family HistorySaturday, 10 - 11:30 am July 8

We genealogists are very good at doing research and collecting many facts about our families. Yet, for a variety of reasons, most of us delay publishing the results of this research. Participants will learn how they can publish their f indings in books that vary from a simple 30 pages to ones that contain detailed biographies and that place their family in historical context. The goal of the class is to enable you to organize your findings and polish them for publication or sharing as soon as possible. Please bring some or all of your family history materials and documents to the class. One session, $45.

Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), and is Past President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. Mike is also the author of the JewishGen website “Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland” and has published articles on genealogy.

Map of Cook and DuPage Counties, 1877.

1-DAY

Liven Up Your Family History with ImagesSaturday, 12:30 - 2 pm July 8

A family history can contain phenomenal research with every event documented and sourced with precision, yet no one is interested in reading it. This is because histories need to have more than just names and dates: they need to be vehicles for “Time Travel,” taking us back to the days when our grandparents and great-grandparents lived and raised their families. Images bring them to life and make the story real. This presentation illustrates how to “liven up” your family history with images of people, places, and events that will make the reader keep f lipping the pages to be drawn back in time. Participants are asked to bring some of their family history materials and documents with them to the class. One session, $45.

Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG), and is Past President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. Mike is also the author of the JewishGen website “Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland” and has published articles on genealogy.

Philosophy and ReligionWhat’s Love Got to Do with It?Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm June 1 - July 6

Fed up with failed relationships that always end in anguish? Ever wonder why you can only appreciate your lover once they’re already gone? Look no further for sage advice on matters of the heart! Using lyric poetry, psychoanalysis, and Hollywood cinema, this course will examine the paradoxes of eros, shattering cliché notions of romance as transcendental and everlasting and leading us to postulate a counter-intuitive theory of “radical love.” For the first class, please read Dante’s La Vita Nuova (which will be scanned and distributed by the instructor). Six sessions, $180.

Harrison Sherrod is a local writer, curator, and educa-tor, as well as the Executive Director of Pentimenti, a production company currently working on a 3D docu-mentary about sculptor H.C. Westermann.

Christianity and the Extraterrestrial Life DebateSaturdays, 9 am - noon June 10 - June 24

Western writing about extraterrestrial intelligent life (EIL) dates to the fifth century BCE, and throughout this voluminous body of work—contributed by philosophers, literary figures, theologians, astronomers, and others—religion is a persistent theme. This condensed seminar will examine Christianity’s response to EIL and the plurality of worlds from St. Augustine’s The City of God (ca. 412-427), through the Enlightenment—when belief in EIL first became widespread—and the rise of modern astronomy. For the first class, please read Michael J. Crowe’s “A History of the Extraterrestrial Life Debate,” Zygon 32 (pp. 147-162; available online at http://m1_sterling.tripod.com/lifeandeverything/Crowe.pdf ). Three sessions, $180.

Lee Minnerly, MA in anthropology, teaches classes at the Newberry on both Old and New World cultural astronomy, early science fiction, and the extraterrestrial life debate. He also volunteers at the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy at Adler Planetarium.

A Signal From Mars, 1900. Sheet music from the Newberry’s Driscoll Collection of American Sheet

1-DAY

I and Thou: Martin Buber’s Philosophy of DialogueTuesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm June 13 - July 25

“I and Thou” contains the essential core of the philosophy behind Martin Buber’s spiritually humanistic worldview. Buber’s great accomplishment was to re-conceptualize the Judeo-Christian religious sensibility by promoting the importance of authentic dialogue. We will explore this short but rich text as a classic contribution to twentieth-century philosophy and theology, making note of its key sources in Jewish, Christian, and existential thought. We shall also consider Buber’s sociopolitical commitments and inf luence. For the f irst session, please read the Introduction (“Martin Buber: A Biographical Portrait”) of Donald J. Moore’s Martin Buber: Prophet of Religious Secularism. Six sessions, $180.

Eugene G. Newman is a long-time Newberry seminars leader. He holds MAs in philosophy and literature, and is currently at work on a book on Martin Buber’s philosophy.

How to Talk About Books You Haven’t ReadSaturday, 10 am - 2 pm July 15

So many books, so little time. Luckily, Pierre Bayard, a professor of French literature and psychoanalyst, has penned a solution: How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read. What sounds like f luffy advice for an uninitiated cocktail party-goer or a beleaguered graduate student is in fact a trenchant exegesis on the nature of reading, memory, interpretation, canonicity, and literary culture. This single-day seminar will offer an analysis of Bayard’s practical and philosophical text. For the f irst class, please read Pierre Bayard’s and Arthur Schnitzler’s Dream Story. Note: alternatively, in the spirit of the course, participants can opt not to read either book and attend the seminar regardless. One session, $80.

Harrison Sherrod is a local writer, curator, and educator, as well as the Executive Director of Pentimenti, a production company currently working on a 3D documentary about sculptor H.C. Westermann.

Literature and Theater

The Literature of Europe’s “Age of Exploration”Wednesdays, 2 - 4 pm June 7 - July 12

This seminar explores how Europe’s “age of exploration” spurred new European conceptions of the human condition. Through Thomas More’s Utopia, Michel de Montaigne’s “On Cannibals,” William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, along with the Newberry’s extensive collection on early modern exploration, we will grapple with the deep ambivalence all these works reveal about European perceptions of what they called “savage” and “civilized” aspects of humanity simultaneously apparent in both colonizer and colonized. For the f irst class, please read Thomas More’s Utopia, Part 1, (Norton Critical Edition). Six sessions, $200.

Stuart Patterson has taught all the works in this course as Associate Professor of Liberal Arts at Shimer College in Chicago.

Shakespeare: Complete Sonnets and PoemsTuesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 6 - July 18 (class will not meet July 4)

Shakespeare’s sonnets are timeless examples of masterful craftsmanship, powerful vulnerability, and the transcendent experiences of love that have endured for four centuries. Participants will read, view video performances of, and discuss Shakespeare’s poetic output. Through an unnamed Fair Youth, a Rival Poet, and a mysterious Dark Lady, as well the characters appearing in his other poems, Shakespeare captures the full experience of a life of love. For the f irst class, please read Sonnets 1-25 and “A Lover’s Complaint.” Six sessions, $200.

John Nygro is a lecturer, actor, and musician in the Chicago area with a 40-year career in the arts. His talks have been heard at universities, various arts organizations, and on radio.

Illustration of The Tempest, from John Boydell’s A Collection of Prints... 1803.

1-DAY

Czech Please: Sex and Satire in Czech FictionWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 7 - July 19

Through close reading and analysis of Milan Kundera’s world bestseller, The Joke, and of Bohumil Hrabal’s best-selling novels, I Served the King of England and Closely Watched Trains, we shall demonstrate how the unique features of Czech literary history intertwine with the equally idiosyncratic outlines of Czech political history. The ways Kundera and Hrabal’s writings became political events are only a few (though a rather convincing few) examples of how literature and politics could become so closely linked in the pressure cooker of a small Central European nation. Seven sessions, $220.

Dagmar Herrmann, a long-time Newberry instructor, is an award-winning translator and independent scholar. She lived and studied in Prague.

Americans in Europe: Short Fiction on the International ThemeWednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm June 7 - June 28

From the Gilded Age to the Jazz Age, Americans f locked to Europe. Stories that emerged from these journeys—from Henry James to F. Scott Fitzgerald—will allow us to explore American attitudes toward the “Old World” and how Americans have defined themselves and their culture through observations of and interactions with other societies. First readings will be sent upon registration. Four sessions, $120.

Elzbieta Foeller-Pituch is the Assistant Director of the Chabraja Center for Historical Studies at Northwestern University, where she also teaches literature classes.

Politics and the English LanguageSaturday, 10 am - 3 pm, with lunch break, June 24

Mired as we are in what have come to be called “post-truth” culture, “alternative facts,” and “Orwellian” language, we might do well to turn to Orwell himself. His essay “Politics and the English Language” has never felt more vital or more discerning. Language shapes politics, just as politics shapes language, and, as Orwell says, “the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.” In this one-day seminar, we’ll explore how both Orwell and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison have sought to expose, and weaken, the link between political orthodoxy and degraded language. Readings for this one-session class will be sent upon registration. One session, $80.

Matt Laufer holds a PhD from Columbia University and has taught literature at Columbia, Barnard College, and various college preparatory schools. He has published articles on Nabokov, Melville, and Woolf.

Sherlock Holmes and the Popular ImaginationSaturday, 10 am - 4 pm, with lunch break, June 10

How did Sherlock Holmes become the global f igure of the detective par excellence? We will trace the development of detective fiction and discuss Arthur Conan Doyle’s short stories and his best-known novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles. In addition, we will look at the astonishing and spectacular afterlife of Sherlock Holmes, from his inf luence on science to his eminence in film and TV. For this one-day class, please read “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Boscombe Valley Mystery,” “The Man with the Twisted Lip,” “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle,” “The Adventure of Silver Blaze,” “The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor,” and “The Adventure of the Crooked Man.” One session, $120.

Elzbieta Foeller-Pituch is the Assistant Director of the Chabraja Center for Historical Studies at Northwestern University, where she also teaches literature classes.

The Making of Chekhov’s StoriesSaturdays, 10 am - noon June 10 - July 15 (class will not meet July 1)

In contrast to Tolstoy’s and Dostoevsky’s moral clarity, Chekhov withholds judgment. While Chekhov may seem the most accessible of all Russian authors, his subtlety, understatement, and irony make him an elusive writer. In this seminar, we will focus on close analysis of Chekhov’s short masterpieces; readings will be supplemented by biographical, historical, and critical information, as well as by episodes from notable film adaptations. For the first class, please read “Anna on the Neck,” “Kashtanka,” and “The Grasshopper.” Five sessions, $170.

Julia Kriventsova Denne studied literature at St. Petersburg University, Russia, and teaches Russian literature in the Chicago area.

The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1902.

1-DAY

1-DAY

The Legacy of James BaldwinThursdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 8 - August 3 (class will not meet July 13)

The time is ripe for both Baldwin and the writers who have taken up his torch. We’ll pair Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain and “Notes of a Native Son” with Eula Biss’s Notes from No Man’s Land; and Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time with the fierce fire of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me. In this way, with these brave and lyric writers, we’ll plumb America’s complicated racial heritage. For the first class, please read the first half of Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953). Eight sessions, $240.

Matt Laufer holds a PhD from Columbia University and has taught literature at Columbia, Barnard College, and various college preparatory schools. He has published articles on Nabokov, Melville, and Woolf.

Writing Workshops

Creative JournalingThursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm June 1 - July 20

A personal journal can be many things – a confessional, an historic record, or a practice field to try out new ideas and ways of writing. It can also be a way to maintain a sense of privacy and introspection in a chaotic, tweet-filled world. This seminar will provide exercises and inspiration to develop and maintain a creative journaling habit, and we will investigate readings from famous diarists such as Thomas Merton, Samuel Pepys, and Virginia Woolf. First readings will be distributed upon registration. Eight sessions, $200.

A life-long diarist, Mary Wisniewski is an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune. She is the author of Algren: A Life, a highly-praised biography of Nelson Algren, described by Chicago Magazine as “a captivating book that reads like a novel.”

The City in Nature: Tales From the Urban WildSaturday, 10 am - 4 pm, with lunch break, June 3

This workshop is for people who want to write about their experiences in urban nature, like encounters with park squirrels, migrating birds, and Chicago’s resident coyotes. We will also write about adventures along our waterways, within nature preserves, and in our own backyards. Participants will get guidance in both describing their experiences and making good stories out of them. The workshop is open to new and practicing writers. One session, $120.

Carol LaChapelle is a writer, teacher, and the author of Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories. She has taught writing and journal writing workshops in Chicago for 25 years, including at the Newberry Library.

Ready, Set, Go! : Using Marketing Tools to Revise Your Children’s Book ManuscriptWednesdays, 5:45 - 7:45 pm June 7 - June 28

It’s easy to get lost when revising your manuscript for publishing consideration. But the required accompanying synopsis, pitch, and query letter can serve as your GPS for finding your way through the revision process! Hone these tools in this hands-on workshop to “recalculate” and take control, so you can fine-tune your manuscript. Agent/editor discovery resources are included. Open to children’s book writers of all formats and genres with a manuscript close to submission. Four sessions, $160.

Esther Hershenhorn authors award-winning picture books and middle-grade fiction, coaches children’s-book writers, and recently served on The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Board of Advisors.

1-DAY

Registration opens April 25. The early registration deadline is May 19. Classes begin May 30. Register online at

www.newberry.org/adult-education-seminars or call (312) 255-3700. Check out our series of one-day seminars,

so summer vacation won’t interfere with your education!

APRILColonial History Lecture

Andrew Lipman, The Saltwater Frontier: Indians and the Contest for the American Coast

Saturday, April 1, 10 am

Center for Renaissance Studies Dante Lecture

Piero Boitani, What Dante Means to Me: A Critic’s Life with the Comedy”

Tuesday, April 4, 5:30 pm

“America needs a voice like hers”: Gwendolyn Brooks and A Street in Bronzeville (1945)

With Anna Chen, Camille Dungy, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Liesl Olson, Tim Samuelson, Rebirth Poetry Ensemble

Wednesday, April 5, reception 5:30, program 6 pm

Norman Pellegrini Tribute Concert

Thursday, April 6, 5:30 pm

Luther Adams, Zion Hill: Envisioning a Black Future

Wednesday, April 12, 6 pm

Meet the Author

David Silverman, Thundersticks: Firearms and the Violent Transformation of Native America

Saturday, April 22, 12:30 pm

Meet the Author

Jerri Dell, Blood Too Bright: Floyd Dell Remembers Edna St. Vincent Millay

Wednesday, April 26, 6 pm

Free Newberry Consort Performance

Renaissance Frottole Music

Saturday, April 29, 2 pm

MAYChicago Literary Hall of Fame: Ring Lardner

Ron Rapoport, James Lardner, Don DeGrazia, Brian Bernardoni, James Finn Garner, Christina Kahrl, and Fred Mitchell

Thursday, May 4, 6 pm

Shakespeare Project of Chicago

Love’s Labour’s Lost

Saturday May 6, 9:45 am

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame: Fanny Butcher

Liesl Olson, John Bokum, Linda Bubon, Elizabeth Taylor, Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, Toni Nealie, and Emily Victorson

Thursday, May 11, 6 pm

Conversations at the Newberry

A Second Emancipation? The Great Migration Then and Now

James Grossman and Isabel Wilkerson

Wednesday, May 17, 6 pm

Meet the Author

Robin Bachin, Big Bosses: A Working Girl’s Memoir of Jazz Age America

Thursday, May 25, 6 pm

JUNEColonial History Lecture Series

Jane Kamensky, A Revolution in Color: The World of John Singleton Copley

Saturday, June 3, 10 am

Frank Lloyd Wright: Looking Forward and Thinking Back

John Waters, Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy

Thursday, June 8, 6 pm

Make Music Chicago in Washington Square Park

Wednesday, June 21

JULYThe 33rd Annual Newberry Bookfair

Thursday, July 27 – Sunday, July 30

The Bughouse Square Debates

Saturday, July 29, noon – 4 pm

Summer 2017 Newberry Public Programs This is a partial list; check www.newberry.org for more programs. Unless otherwise noted, all public programs are free and no reservations are required.

Summer 2017 Seminars

Welcome to the Summer 2017 term of the Newberry Adult Education Seminars Program. We are proud to offer a wide variety of informal, non-credit courses designed for adults with busy schedules and inquiring minds, all under the roof of one of the nation’s most renowned humanities research libraries. Check out our series of one-day seminars, so summer vacation won’t interfere with your education!

Registration opens Tuesday, April 25, at 10 am. The early registration deadline is Friday, May 19, at 4 pm. After this date, registration costs will increase by 10 percent, and classes with fewer than the minimum seven registrants will be canceled. All listed prices in the brochure reflect the early registration cost. The term begins Tuesday, May 30, with classes starting on a rolling basis after that.

Register online at www.newberry.org or call (312) 255-3700.

Seminar registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Many seminars fill quickly; therefore, we encourage you to enroll early. Full payment is required at the time of registration, and we cannot pro-rate tuition to compensate for missed classes. Seven registrants are needed to run a class.

We offer a 10% discount to: – Associates of the Newberry at the Author level ($100 and above), or– Seniors 65 and over, or– Students (valid student ID required)

Refunds: Requests for refunds must be received in writing. To request a refund, email us at seminars@newberry.org. The Seminars Office retains a 10-percent processing fee.– For single- or two-session seminars, tuition (less the 10-percent processing

fee) is refundable until 24 hours before the seminar begins. – For all seminars longer than two sessions, tuition (less the 10-percent

processing fee) is refundable until 24 hours prior to the second class meeting.

Books and Materials: The Newberry Bookstore stocks most required and rec-ommended titles for the seminars. Associates of the Newberry at the Author level ($100 and above) receive a 10-percent discount on all seminar texts. Book and material costs are not included in the tuition price unless otherwise noted.

SE

MIN

AR

RE

GIS

TR

AT

ION

S

UM

ME

R 2

017

NAME (Mr./ Mrs./ Ms.)

ADDRESS APT.

CITY STATE ZIP

DAY PHONE (required) EVENING PHONE (required)

E-MAIL (required)

¨ Enclosed is a check payable to the Newberry Library in the amount of $ .

¨ Please charge my credit card in the amount of $ .

CARD NUMBER ¡ VISA ¡ MASTERCARD ¡ AMERICAN EXPRESS CVV (3-DIGIT #) EXPIRATION

SIGNATURE

To register for a seminar please submit this form, along with your payment, to:

Newberry Library, Attn: Seminars, 60 W. Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610

SEMINAR TITLE

SEMINAR TITLE

SEMINAR TITLE

Tuition $

Tuition $

Tuition $

Total $

Total tuition $

(over)

Take 10% off if you fit one of the criteria below

¨ I am a senior (65 or older). (10% discount) or

¨ I am a student (with a copy of valid ID enclosed). (10% discount) or

¨ I am an Associate of the Newberry Library at the Author level ($100) or above.

Associates at the Author level of $100 or above receive a 10% discount on seminar tuition.

¨ I want to become an Associate now at the $ ______________ level.

Amount $ Discount