2010
March 18, 7PM, Acton Library
Author Jelle Zeilinga de Boer will discuss his new book Stories in Stone: How Geology Influenced Connecticut History and Culture.  Wesleyan University Professor Emeritus de Boer’s book describes how early settlers discovered and exploited the lower Connecticut valley’s natural resources.
Professor de Boer co-authored Earthquakes in Human History (Princeton, 2005) and Volcanoes in History, (Princeton, 2002).  He has had a long career in the field of earth and environmental science, teaching at the University of Utrecht and then at Wesleyan where he retired holding the title of Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Science and Professor of Earth and Environmental Science.  Zeilinga de Boer’s work (mainly on research done at Delphi in Greece) has been cited by the Discovery Channel, History Channel, Terra X (Germany), and Noorderlicht (Netherlands).  In addition, he has acted as a consultant for foreign governments as well as for the United Nations-working on projects in Benin, Costa Rica, Greece, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, and the Philippines.

April  14, 7PM, Acton Library

Winning on the Water: How the Union Navy Closed Dixie’s Doors and Helped Win the Civil War

Dave Smith, a frequent speaker on Civil War history, is a retired communications executive and a long time student of the Civil War as well as a great-grandson of Civil War veterans.  He is also author of the Hartford Civil War Roundtable’s monthly trivia quiz.