Lancaster Region

Beginning with a short consideration of the nature of poetry, this course will introduce students to the lives and writings of such poets as Phillis Wheatly, Francis E. W. Harper, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou as they expressed in poetry the experiences of black people in America -- their sorrows, joys, despairs, hopes, frustrations, and triumphs.

A free 1-hour session to help participants join a Zoom meeting and learn how to navigate and use key features. We encourage everyone who plans on registering for the Spring term to attend one of the sessions. This course does not count towards your total number of selected courses. To sign up, please call the Pathways Institute office.

A free 1-hour session to help participants join a Zoom meeting and learn how to navigate and use key features. We encourage everyone who plans on registering for the Spring term to attend one of the sessions. This course does not count towards your total number of selected courses. To sign up, please call the Pathways Institute office.

Beginning around one hundred years ago, three strong African personalities had such an impact that the churches they began continue to this day. William Wadé Harris in the Ivory Coast (1915), Simon Kimbangu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1921), and Johane Marange in Zimbabwe (1932) had visions for starting churches that had virtually no missionary involvement. Why were they so successful? What can we learn from them, both positively and negatively?

The formation of the powerful Hollywood studios turned Hollywood into a worldwide phenomenon. These “factories” included rosters of extremely talented actors, directors, writers, cinematographers, and a whole host of other creative departments that churned out so many wonderful films. During the Golden Era that spanned the late 1920s until the late 1940s, each studio developed its own specific “personality” or style. We will look at each of the major studios: MGM, Paramount, Warner Brothers, RKO, 20th Century Fox, and the minor ones: Columbia, Universal and United Artists. We will watch scenes from many of their great films. We will also learn how they started to lose their grip on the industry that they created.

Whether you’re a native or a newcomer, Pennsylvania’s history offers you a rich smorgasbord of people, events, and ideas. This three-part course hits all the highlights of the Keystone story –  from William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” and the Revolutionary War, through the political turmoil and industrial growth of the 1800s, to the perils and progress that shared the spotlight in the 20th century. Along the way, we’ll explore some icons of Pennsylvania culture, including the Amish, the polka, and the pretzel. You’ll also learn about the best museums and historic sites in the state, where you can experience Pennsylvania’s dramatic and colorful past for yourself.

This course will have four sessions: Session 1. (March 5) An Escaped Slave and a President for White Men (Frederick Douglas on Abraham Lincoln).Session 2. (March 12) A Reactionary President and a Radical Republican Congress (Andrew Johnson 1865-1869 and the 14th and15th Amendments)Session 3. (March 19) An Affirming President disarmed by Corruption — the Shadow Darkens (Grant, Hayes & Tilden)Session 4. (March 26) The WilmingtonMassacre1898 — the triumph of Jim Crow, the end of the Republican Dream for Black Americans.     

Beginning with a short consideration of the nature of poetry, this course will introduce students to the lives and writings of such poets as Phillis Wheatly, Francis E. W. Harper, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou as they expressed in poetry the experiences of black people in America -- their sorrows, joys, despairs, hopes, frustrations, and triumphs.

The British Empire once held a quarter of the world’s land and people under its sway. At the center of this imperial colossus lay the seething, vibrant city of London. Founded as a humble Roman army camp, London grew over the centuries to become a world-class capital of commercial, intellectual, and artistic life. This program takes you on a lively tour through London’s dramatic past and delightful present – from the Black Death and the Blitz to the British Museum and Buckingham Palace. You’ll also meet some of the city’s most famous residents, including George Frideric Handel, Sherlock Holmes, and Charlie Chaplin.

This lecture will enable listeners to understand the many ways in which the American people transformed during the course of the Second World War. In addition to building a mighty arsenal - including army, navy, and air force to fight a global war - they transformed their thinking about their role in the world. Moving from isolationism to global leadership in a few short years, the American people had to reinvent their national identity and develop a new relationship to the wider world.