History Talks

I am available for book signings and to give talks at libraries, historical societies, fraternal organizations, schools and other groups. Contact me for details or to book an event.

On the Road with the Virginia Presidents (1 hour)
This is an engaging armchair travel presentation about the eight Virginia-born presidents and the sites that shaped their lives. We will travel the state–from Staunton to Charles City and Wytheville to Winchester–to (virtually) visit the homes and historic sites of the Virginia presidents and talk about how historical interpretation at these sites has changed over the years. Attendees will learn a bit about the presidents’ lives, take a peek inside their homes and get ideas for their next history road trip. The talk is about 45 minutes, followed by Q&A and a book signing.

On the Road with the Ohio Presidents (1 hour)
This is an engaging armchair travel presentation about the seven Ohio-born presidents and the historic sites that tell their stories. Attendees will learn a bit about the presidents’ lives; take a peek inside their homes, libraries and museums; and get ideas for their next history road trip. The talk is about 45 minutes, followed by Q&A and a book signing.

Born in the Buckeye State: Stories of the Ohio Presidents (1 hour)
The five decades between the end of the Civil War and the Roaring Twenties saw seven Ohioans elected to the White House. While leading the nation through this pivotal time in American history, the Ohio-born presidents also led private lives with private battles: three died in office and others suffered through political scandals and family trauma. In this engaging talk, I’ll share some of these lesser-known stories from the lives of our nation’s leaders. The talk is about 45 minutes, followed by Q&A and a book signing.

The Harrison Presidents (45 minutes)
There is only one grandfather-grandson presidential pair in US history: William Henry Harrison, 9th president of the US, and Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president of the United States. In this talk, I’ll share stories of the two Harrison presidents and the themes that ran through both of their lives: military service, devotion to family and duty to nation. The talk is about 30 minutes, followed by Q&A and a book signing.

I have given history talks for the following, and more: