Library – Chesapeake Forum

20,000 Years of History from One Oyster Reef in the Choptank River

A sonar mapped oyster reef reveals geologic history of the Chesapeake Bay from 20,000 years ago.

230 Years of Presidential Elections: Washington to Trump, 1788-2018

A virtual magic carpet ride through the past 230 years to see the facts, foibles, and fallacies of U.S. Presidential Elections.

500 Years of Fake News: From False Facts and Fictitious Fallacies to Forgotten Foibles

Tour the past 500 years to see for yourself if “fake news” is a new phenomenon or just “business as usual.”

A Journey through the Developing World

A humorous and not so humorous “one man’s trek” through the most difficult places on the globe.

A Traveler’s Guide to Black Holes

If black holes emit no light and swallow all that surrounds them, how can we know anything about them? Come and explore what we know about black holes and how we know this.

A Woman’s Province? Pensioning Two Eastern Shore Heroines

Anna Ella Carroll and Harriet Tubman are asking for government pensions. You will decide.

Airship 103

Each session is a separate video production accessible to registered participants. Climb aboard Airship 103 and enjoy the flights, the views, and technical and operational aspects unique to blimps.

Art across Cultures

From Tokyo to Istanbul, the Freer Gallery program will transport you across its many rich holdings.

Birds and Birding in our Eastern Shore Backyard

In collaboration with Pickering Creek Audubon Center, three (virtual) classes that focus on Eastern Shore songbirds that grace the Eastern Shore landscape. No birding experience needed.

Birds and Birding on the Eastern Shore: Special Birds in Special Places

Got waterfowl? Want to see some loons and gannets? How about a warbler or two and maybe even an elusive rail? A “yes” to any or all of these questions qualifies you for this course, with no birding experience necessary.

Chesapeake Crabs: The Story of the Bay’s Most Iconic Seafood

Explore the diverse story of Blue Crabs, the Bay’s staple seafood, and their complex adaptation.

Conversation: “What’s Good and Bad About Talbot County”

Compare Talbot County with other Maryland counties to see the differences in education, rates of crime, housing availability, etc.

Conversation: Setting Expectations for Our Youth

COURSE IS NOW OVER. RECORDING IS AVAILABLE. Join a discussion based on excerpts from the films “Stand and Deliver” and “The Ultimate Gift” to explore whether we are setting appropriate expectations for our nation’s next generations.

Decoding the Personal Letters of Union and Confederate Soldiers

Examine Civil War soldiers’ letters home and decode historical memorabilia. Within the "casual" comments, what was really being said?

Doc, I Need a Drink

A Philatelist (stamp collector) looks at National Prohibition and the stamps that paid the tax.

FIGHTING WORDS: How Newspapers Reported the American Civil War from the Polarized Perspectives of North vs South

Using a "magic carpet" of old newspapers, view the Civil War from very different perspectives.

Frederick Douglass: In His Time and In Ours

Professor David W. Blight’s virtual live lecture will draw past and present together by focusing on Frederick Douglass’ key legacies. You are welcome to join a live Q&A following the lecture.

Fun Flight in a P-51 Mustang

Watch the video of “Crazy Horse” P51 from a Skyship 600 Airship and then jump into the Mustang.

Great Decisions 2021 Discussion, Part I

Discuss four of the eight important global topics in the 2021 Great Decisions Briefing Book (included). Look for Part II in the Fall 2021 semester offerings.

Great Maritime Literature

In this new course, we will explore the themes of human freedom and authority in a sampling of maritime literature.

Happy Hour Forum: Tapping into Chesapeake History With Bob Random

You may be wondering about this fellow and why he had it in for the Eastern Shore. You will receive clues to consider one week before the great reveal. Sharpen your wits, grab a beverage, and join us for a most entertaining happy hour class.

Hemingway: An Examination of Selected Short Stories

We will explore the import and tension created by Hemingway’s objective point of view.

How Can You Confront the Future

Change is relentless, accelerating and often frustrating. We will discuss how to ride the technology waves and how to become a smart, joyful consumer.

Introducing Native Plants to your Home Landscape

Learn about native plant solutions to common gardening questions, as well as the many reasons "going native" is so important to the well being of our Chesapeake Bay environment.

Keystone Species in Maryland

Learn what keystone species are and why they are so important to their ecosystems.

Let’s Look at Artificial Intelligence (AI)

An interactive discussion of policies surrounding implementations of AI in America and abroad.

MacBeth, The Scottish Play

Are the Macbeths really Shakespeare’s happiest couple? If you first read the play in high school, come back for a deeper look at one of Shakespeare’s darkest works

My Dearest Friend: The Letters of Abigail and John Adams

We will explore what their intimate letters reveal about this extraordinary marriage.

Normal” Aging and Life Interruptions

Learn how to make the most of the aging process and the challenges of becoming a caregiver.

Prehistoric Human Migration

This is the story of prehistoric human populations, languages, and cultures over 8,000 years.

Sea Turtles and Chesapeake Fishing: Lessons in Sustainability

COURSE IS NOW OVER. RECORDING IS AVAILABLE. Learn what ended the worldwide Caribbean turtle fishery of a century ago and why this is a cautionary note for the sustainability of fishing the Chesapeake.

Taste and Taboo: Food Stories

Those who relish good food and good fiction will enjoy reading and discussing imaginative short stories about the many ways we relate to food and cooking.

That Peculiar Institution” on the Eastern Shore of Maryland: Slavery in 19th Century Life & Literature

Trace the lives and journey of Eastern Shore slaves in the time of Frederick Douglass.

The Many Faces of Fascism Part II

An overview of Neo-fascism in six European countries will bring us to the XXI century.

The Many Faces of Fascism” – Part I

This course will identify the many faces of fascism in different countries while exploring the roots and origins of fascism and its relationship to religion and economics.

The Political Rise of George Washington

Learn how George Washington's successes were hard-won through effort, discipline, and lifelong learning.

The Short End of the Shtick: Reading Flash Fiction

Do you know what flash fiction is? Join us for some lively discussions about evocative short stories and shared insights.

The Trial and Death of Socrates

This course uses easily accessible dialogues by Plato to explore the days prior to and after the trial of Socrates as well as his defense in the face of a death sentence.

What is the Mind?

We will explore answers to these questions: What is the mind? What is wrong with typical answers to this question? Is there a better answer? Why is this important? Join us for a discussion as we explore the mind.

Why is Life?

Join us as we conclude our spring semester course, Why is Life? We'll continue our discussion of the latest findings and theories about the nature of life, its origins on earth, and the universe.

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