Lectures in History

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Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II - 1979 Nov 08, 2026

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This U.S. Air Force recruitment film profiles the World War II service of the Tuskegee airmen by interviewing the veterans and showing archival film of their training and combat.

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Behind the Scenes at the White House: The People Who Keep It Running Oct 31, 2026

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What does it take to keep the White House running behind the scenes? American University professor Lina Mann and guest lecturer Sarah Fling explore the people, responsibilities, and day-to-day operations that support life and work at the nation's most famous address. The lecture was recorded at American University in Washington, D.C.

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A Cowboy's Day - 1966 Oct 25, 2026

Show notes

This 1966 U.S. Information Agency film showcased a working cowboy's day on a California ranch. Reel America is an American History TV series featuring 20th-century archival films.

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Women During the Revolutionary War Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

Washington University hosted a series of lectures called "1776: Then and Now." This lecture looked at women's roles when the United States declared independence and fought the Revolutionary War.

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America 250: What Did the World Look Like in 1776? Oct 11, 2026

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What was the natural world like during the American Revolution — and how did it shape the fight for independence? Washington University’s Rachael DeWitt and Hester Blum explore the landscapes, weather, waterways, plants, and animals that were part of everyday life during the Revolutionary War. This lecture is part of Washington University’s “1776: Then and Now” series.

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Vietnam War Espionage Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

University of Wisconsin professor Alfred McCoy explored how espionage played a critical role during the Vietnam War.

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Comparing Federal & State Constitutions Sep 27, 2026

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San Diego State University professor Edward Blum examines the state constitutions created before the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1787. He explores how states approached questions of political power, representation, and individual rights—and how those early experiments in government helped shape the federal Constitution.

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1776 Then and Now - Early American Political Thought Sep 20, 2026

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The Founding Fathers have inspired many writers and politicians, but who inspired the Founding Fathers? Washington University in St. Louis professor Fannie Bialek looked at the people who inspired early American political thought.

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9/11: Air National Guard Pilot Heather Penney Recalls Her Mission Sep 12, 2026

Show notes

This week on Lectures in History — from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the story of one Air National Guard pilot’s experience on September 11th, 2001.

Heather Penney was one of the first F-16 pilots scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base after the terrorist attacks.

She discusses her mission that day, including the possibility that she might have had to bring down United Airlines Flight 93, which had been hijacked by terrorists.

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Thomas Jefferson, the Qur’an and His Study of Islam Sep 05, 2026

Show notes

Washington University hosts its “1776: Then and Now” lecture series. This lecture examines why Thomas Jefferson owned a Qur’an and explores his study of Islam and its influence on his thinking about religion and religious freedom.

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