Wellesley Historical Society, in partnership with Wellesley Free Library, is presenting a slate of 5 lectures between October and May. All of the presentations will be held at Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington St.

A History of the American Lighthouse (Thursday, Oct. 27, 7pm)
Local author and historian Eric Jay Dolin will discuss the history of these iconic beacons, which are fixtures along New England’s coastline. Dolin will explore the technology of lighthouses, their role in wartime, and the lives of the men and women who took care of them.

The Loss of the U.S.S. Quincy (Sunday, Nov. 20, 2pm)
In honor of Veteran’s Day, local historian Bob Begin will discuss the history of the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Quincy from her launching in her namesake city during the Great Depression to her fateful role in the Pacific during World War Two. He will also explore the lives of some of the men who served on board her during the war.

The Lowell Mill Girls (Sunday, March 19, 2pm)
In honor of Women’s History Month, local author and historian Doug Steward will discuss the Lowell Mill Girls–young women from New England farms who became the labor force that powered New England’s textile mills in the first half of the nineteenth century. He will also explore the workers’ links to the early American labor and women’s right movements.

The American Home Front in WWI (Sunday, April 2, 2pm)
In honor of the centennial of America’s entry into the Great War, longtime Society board members Nan Morrow and John Dirlam will discuss life at home during WWI. They will base their discussion on the large collection of original United States government posters assembled by Nan’s father during WWI.

Wellesley Then and Now (Thursday, May 4, 7pm)
Kathleen Fahey, curator of the Wellesley Historical Society, will present a brand new version of her comparison of Wellesley today with the much smaller and more rural Wellesley of 100 years ago. She will use a combination of modern photographs and older ones from the Society’s archives to show how the town has changed over the years.

For more information about our programs, please call the Society at (781) 235-6690 or email info@wellesleyhistoricalsociety.org.