Sketches from History
Wednesdays, 2:00-3:45 PM   Room: West 216

Gary Lishnoff has arranged programs by different presenters on historical topics, periods, and figures.

January 25 – Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine – The Untold Story
1952 was the peak of the national polio hysteria.  The fears were mostly unwarranted, just like the Red Scare and UFO sightings.  Jonas Salk became a national hero with his polio vaccine and there is a little known back story about the development of this, Salk’s life and some shocking lapses in medical rigor and ethics.  We explore some of the causes of the polio hysteria, as well as controversies about vaccines that last to this day.
Dave Shaffer has designed telescopes, microscopes and camera lenses for over 100 patents in optics spanning over 46 years.  One of his unusual telescopes was on the Cassini spacecraft flight to Saturn and another on the recent flyby of the asteroid Vesta.

February 1 – The Legal History Impacting Racial Equality in America
The road to Civil War, the reconstruction of amendments and the shaping status of African Americans in the last half of the 19th Century.  Charles Hamilton Houston and his efforts to overcome the Plessy and Brown decisions and their implications and aftermath.
Aaron Sanders became an Affirmative Action Officer after participating in several civil rights marches in the sixties.  He enjoys teaching the history of race relations in the U.S.  He holds a BA and an MA in History from North Carolina Central University, as well as an MA in public administration from The University of Nebraska.

February 8 – Glimpsing Ancient Greece
Take a look at the history and culture of classical Greece.  We learn why this warrior people continue to influence us today with their architecture, sculpture, ceramics, drama, poetry and philosophy.  Many examples will be shown, using videos and slides.
Nancy Gluck is a past President of LLI and a frequent facilitator.

February 15 – The Atomic Bomb
Since its inception 67 years ago, few subjects have remained as controversial as the use of atomic weapons.  Triggering both the end of WWII and the beginning of a cold war lasting 40 years, the proliferation and possible use of such weapons has remained a major peril into the 21st century.
Art Gottlieb is a local historian on subjects of political and military history.  He was formerly a professional curator of naval history and Technical Director of Exhibits at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in NYC.  In these roles, he worked extensively with veterans of all services towards the creation of exhibits accurately illustrating the history of 20th century warfare.

February 22 – J.D. Salinger and Post-World War II America
His death last year and the recent publication of a new biography have created renewed interest in the life and writings of J.D. Salinger.  This session will explore the classic Catcher in the Rye, particularly as it reveals Salinger’s influence on and critique of American society following World War II:  its wealth, materialism and extravagance.  The facilitator will use the Little Brown paperback edition of the novel for the discussion.
Judy Hinkle graduated from Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) with a BA in English, earned a MS from the University of Bridgeport and an MLS from Southern CT State University.  She taught English at Brien McMahon High School for 36 years and was English Department Chairman for 25 years.  She has worked as a substitute reference librarian at the Norwalk and Westport Public Libraries and is currently a mentor for the Norwalk Public Schools and a regular participant in the LLI programs.