American Heritage: USA 250 events at the JES

The Jefferson Educational Society has new offerings for its winter program.

The Jefferson Educational Society will begin their winter programming with a week of USA 250 events which mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, beginning Feb. 10 with "The Years Bring Enlightenment: The Friendship and Politics of Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson," an event featuring a historical conversation between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams. The play features performers from the American Historical Theatre Steven Edenbo, portraying Thomas Jefferson, and Kim Hanley, as Abigail Adams. 

Hanley also takes on the role of Betsy Ross, the famous Pennsylvanian who made the American flag, as they present "Thomas Jefferson and the Boisterous Sea of Liberty" at noon on Feb. 11, "The American Flag Unfurled" at 7 p.m. Feb. 11, "Remember the Ladies" at noon on Feb. 12, and "All Men are Created Equal at 250: Thomas Jefferson's Perceptual Revolution" at 7 p.m. Feb. 12. 

These events will take place at the JES campus at 3207 State St., Erie, PA. More USA 250 are as follows: 

Feb 16 - "Revisiting the 1976 American Bicentennial: 'It was a Really Big Deal!'" by historian Richard Arthur at 7 p.m. at the JES. 

Feb 17 - "Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the Civil War" by George Deutsch, executive director, emeritus, of the Erie County Historical Society/Hagen History Center, at 7 p.m., in partnership with the Erie Civil War Roundtable 

March 3 - "Exploring the Past and Present of Gerrymandering: How It's Done, Why It's Done, and What's Happening Now" by Dr. Robert Speel, professor of political science at Penn State Behrend, at 7 p.m. at the JES, in partnership with the Brock Institute 

March 9 - "The French Expeditions to Lake Erie: An American Legacy" by Dr. David Frew, JES Scholar-in-Residence, at 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Community Center Library, 1255 Manchester Road, Erie 

March 10 - "Exploring the Legacy of the Historic Eagle Hotel" by historian Richard Arthur at 6 p.m. at the Corry Higher Educational Council, 221 N. Center St., Corry 

March 13 - "From Founders to Frontiers: 250 Years of Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation, a conversation" with Brian Slawin, Ben Franklin Technology Partner Regional Director and Portfolio Manager, in partnership with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, at 1 p.m. at the JES 

March 16 - "Songs That Remember: Oral Traditions and Cultural Resilience in Diasporic Families" by Dr. Shreelina Ghosh, director of the writing program at Gannon University, at 7 p.m. at the JES 

March 17 - From Deck to Deadline: B.S. Oshon's Civil War Naval Experience — How One Man Served in the Union Navy, Reported the War, and Illustrated the Conflict" by Brian Graff, retired geographer/cartographer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at 7 p.m. at the JES 

More information and events can be found at Upcoming Events & Classes - Jefferson Educational Society.