Editor’s note: The following information was received from UW-Whitewater
Politicians, activists, musicians, and every day citizens. Systems, inventions, and tragedies. This spring, we will spend an hour each week, putting the spotlight on changemakers that have made history. From local stories to those that made a global impact, join us as we take a closer look at some fascinating American profiles. Since 1983, faculty experts from UW-Whitewater have been presenting free public lectures on a wide range of topics. Join us this spring as we continue one of UW-W’s most well-known outreach traditions.
Lectures in the Spring 2022 series will be held on Mondays at 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater and are open to the public. No registration required. They will also be streamed live on Facebook. Recordings of lectures will be posted to our website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures in this series and in past series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted online. Check our website and follow us on social media for more information and updates.
The series continues with these lectures:
Forgetting and Remembering the “Spanish” Flu Pandemic
Monday, March 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Presented by Karl Brown, Associate Professor, History
The “Spanish” flu pandemic of 1918-19 went largely ignored by historians and the general public alike until COVID19 struck in March 2019. This talk will describe the WWI-era pandemic, suggest some possible reasons for this historical amnesia, and conclude with a discussion of what lessons we can draw from this previous crisis to aid us in our current one.
Profile of Wisconsin Mass Media History
Monday, March 21 at 3:00 pm
Presented by Brian Schanen, Lecturer, Communication
Wisconsin is known for the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, and Harry Houdini. But Wisconsin has left an indelible mark on media history as well. We will tell the tale of three of those stories. The creation of stop motion photography by H.H. Bennet, that has allowed us to capture those great Packers moments, to the “Motown of Blues” in Grafton Wisconsin, and establishment of the Barnum Circus in Delevan (a root of advertising). The landscape of what we colloquially know as “the media” would look very different if it were not for the efforts in Wisconsin.
The Poison Widow of Whitewater: Mystery, Mayhem, and Murder
Monday, March 28 at 3:00 pm
Presented by Jennifer Motszko, Digital Scholarship & Preservation Archivist
In September 1923, the Whitewater community woke to the stunning news that one of their own had been arrested for attempting to poison her four children. While in custody, Myrtle Schaude confessed to murdering her husband with poison a year earlier. This presentation will explore the murder that rocked our small town, the motive behind the madness, and the sensational court case that captivated the community.
Monday, April 4 at 3:00 pm
Presented by Ashley Barnes-Gilbert, Lecturer, Women’s and Gender Studies
Activist. Lawyer. Episcopal Priest. Author. Multiracial. LGBTQ+. Pauli Murray lived at the intersections of oppression, dedicating their life to fighting for labor rights, racial equity, feminist ideals, and the advancement of social justice for all. This profile will cover their life and their legacy, demonstrating how Murray’s approach to social justice activism serves as an indelible primer for social justice advocates today.
Wendell Willkie and the We Want Willke Campaign
Monday, April 11 at 3:00 pm
Presented by Dick Haven, Professor Emeritus, Communication
He was a businessman who had never run for office. He was a former member of the Democratic Party who didn’t join the Republican Party until one year before the 1940 Presidential election. He was Wendell Willkie: A New York City CEO of an energy holding company and the surprise 1940 Republican presidential nominee.
