OHA Announces Follow-up to World War I Reading and Discussion Program

The Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) is pleased to offer a second installment of “Our World Remade: World War I,” a reading and discussion series developed and sponsored by Humanities New York. “With its thematic focus, this reading and discussion program offers an unusual twist on the standard book group format by making time for thinking deeply about one idea, over time, from a variety of perspectives,” says Sara Ogger, executive director of Humanities New York. Something special happens when we talk about what we read with others in our community. Humanities New York’s Adult Reading & Discussion programs are designed to foster active reading and thinking, incorporating texts that serve as catalysts for civic engagement, cultural understanding, and personal reflection. Adult Reading & Discussion programs are held in communities across New York State.

At the Onondaga Historical Museum, located at 321 Montgomery Street in downtown Syracuse, participants will come together over the course of four (4) sessions to discuss a variety of thematically linked texts with Robert J. Searing, Curator of history for OHA Participants in “Our World Remade” will explore the complexities of  World War I, and how  in the years that followed, survivors, authors, and historians struggled to come to terms with the carnage, the terrors of the battlefield, and the sociological and political upheaval caused by the conflict. World War I marked a turning point in warfare and weaponry, from the months-long battles like Verdun and the destruction wrought by new technologies, to the dehumanizing effects of the war on civilians and especially the soldiers at the front.

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The centennial of the United States entering World War I in 1917 has created a renewed interest in the “war to end all wars.” 2018 marks the centennial of the armistice on 11/11/1918.  At our museum in downtown Syracuse, OHA has dedicated its  Murray-Sales gallery to a large exhibit highlighting the contributions of the people of Onondaga County to the war effort.  We are proud to announce that we have been awarded a grant from Humanities of New York to hold a reading and discussion group in the museum.  The dates for these 4 sessions are 2/27, 3/20, 4/24, and 5/22 at 6:15 pm.  The sessions will run between 1 and 2 hours.

Led by OHA Curator of history Robert J. Searing, these four informal, monthly sessions will focus on selected readings including primary sources and larger monographs that deal with various aspects of the war, from the battlefield to the home-front and how the Great War fundamentally altered the course of warfare, geo-politics, and the lives of ordinary people across the world.  All of our discussion meetings will take place inside the OHA’s World War I exhibit, which includes a wide variety of 3-D objects including uniforms and helmets and other artifacts from our collections, in addition to an incredible array of photographs and wartime images from Syracuse.

The program is free and open to the public, although pre-registration is required. For more information about the series dates and acquiring books, please contact Robert J. Searing at (315)428-1864 ext. 319 or robert.searing@cnyhistory.org

For more information about “Our World Remade,” visit www.humanitiesny.org.

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Onondaga Historical Association exists to inspire people’s understanding that the history we share as a community is the foundation for our future together.  Our purpose is to educate and encourage the exploration, appreciation, and utilization of the past in order to add value throughout our community and bring the great stories of Onondaga County’s history to a worldwide audience.  To do so, we offer engaging exhibits, publications, products, and programs; we pursue partnerships with other organizations; and we develop and care for definitive collections related to local history.  We are an association of heritage-related museums, research and educational centers, historic sites, and retail stores in Onondaga County, New York.

Humanities New York is a private, non-profit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, receiving federal, state, city, and private funding. It provides leadership and support across the state’s intellectual and cultural sectors through grants, programs, networking, and advocacy, in order to encourage critical thinking and cultural understanding in the public arena.

www.humanitiesny.org

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of either Humanities New York or the National Endowment for the Humanities.