The Newlin Speaker Series

Thursday, September 24th at 7pm

Newlin Speaker Series: Book Talk with Dr. Paul Kahan

Join us for a lively discussion of Philadelphia, A Narrative History, written by Dr. Paul Kahan. The book presents a comprehensive portrait of the city, from the region’s original Lenape inhabitants to the diverse Philadelphians of the twenty-first century. From Independence Hall to Eastern State Penitentiary, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross to Cecil B. Moore and Cherelle Parker, Kahan explores how Philadelphia has always been defined by ethnic, religious, and racial diversity. This diversity, however, often resulted in conflict. Those two themes— diversity and conflict— have shaped Philadelphia’s development and remain visible in the city’s culture, society, and even its geography.

Dr. Paul Kahan is a leading expert on U.S. political, economic, and diplomatic history, with a particular interest in the half-century between Andrew Jackson’s election to the presidency in 1828 and the so-called end of Reconstruction in 1877. He earned his Ph.D. in U.S. history from Temple University, an M.A. in Modern American History & Literature from Drew University, and B.A. degrees in history and English from Alfred University. Dr. Kahan has published several books, including Eastern State Penitentiary: A History, Amiable Scoundrel: Simon Cameron, Lincoln’s Scandalous Secretary of War, The Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant: Preserving the Civil War’s Legacy,” and The Bank War: Andrew Jackson, Nicholas Biddle, and the Fight for American Finance.

Signed copies of the book will be for sale during the talk. Call 610-459-2359 or purchase tickets online.

Thursday, October 29th at 7pm

The Newlin Speaker Series: Screening of For the Common Good

$10/person, free for members.

Ministers, healers, merchants, interpreters, diarists, an inventor, a fur trader, a wharf owner…
when Mickey Herr went digging in the local archives searching for the stories of Colonial
Pennsylvania women, she discovered more than she ever imagined. Her research became the
catalyst for a project of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, “For the Common Good: The Women Who Shaped Our
Nation,” a nine-part docuseries featuring women who made important contributions to the
founding of America.

Mickey will share a curated selection of her favorite stories, along with two parts of the
docu-series. In honor of the season, we will ponder the costs of being accused of witchcraft and
the dangers of working as a healer.

Mickey Herr, a writer and public historian, serves as executive producer of “For the Common
Good.” She shares a “writer’s photography” and other inspirations at mickeyherr.com and on

Instagram @mickeyherr8155.

Call 610-459-2359 or click here to register.
Learn more about the Common Good project: https://www.nscdapa.org/common-good