2019-2020 Humanities Catalog

Speakers Bureau
History
George Herring
Professor Emeritus
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
859.373.9001 (H)
859.492.0332 (C)
george.herring@uky.edu
Travel: Statewide
Vietnam: A 50 Year Retrospective
The war in Vietnam tore our nation apart like few other events in its history. It divided neighbors, colleagues, and
churches. It divided fathers and sons, even among top U.S. policymakers. It helped trigger cultural wars that have
lasted to the present. It still haunts us even as we commemorate its 50th anniversary. This presentation will seek to
explain why this war was so traumatic and divisive and will examine the way we as a nation have attempted to deal
with these divisions in its aftermath. It will take a special look at the impact of the war on Kentucky and Kentuckians.
Abe Lincoln, Diplomat
Abraham Lincoln is known as a child of the frontier, a brilliant storyteller, writer, debater, a successful small-town
lawyer, a leader of his nation during its most desperate crisis, and a pretty fair amateur military strategist. What is not
so well known is his remarkable success while president as the architect of U.S. foreign policy. Diplomacy was crucial
to the outcome of the Civil War. Intervention by Europe’s great powers or even recognition of the Confederacy
as an independent nation could have spelled disaster for the Union. Lincoln proved an adept crisis manager. This
self-educated backwoodsman matched wits with Europe’s best, and maneuvered skillfully to help forestall European
intervention. This presentation will discuss Lincoln’s role as one of America’s most effective diplomats and propose
that his practical idealism offers a model that might well be applied today.
Equipment needs: Laptop, projector, screen for PowerPoint
Kentucky Culture
Blair Thomas Hess
Exploring Kentucky: Historical Destinations and Natural Wonders
A drive straight across the Bluegrass State takes nearly eight hours. But that would bypass all the worthwhile distractions
between Paw Paw in Pike County and the Kentucky Bend of the Mississippi River in Fulton County. Treasures
like Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home that rests inside a Greek-style temple. From rip-roaring barn dances in
Rabbit Hash to the silent reverence of the monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani, the Commonwealth is chock-full of
timeless landmarks. Kentucky native Blair Thomas Hess is the author of four travel books about Kentucky’s history,
its people, and its natural wonders. This presentation will highlight fun and educational destinations to help Kentuckians
of all ages explore the amazing and irreplaceable things that make the state one of a kind.
Kentucky Writer
Frankfort, KY
859.229.2551
blair.t.hess@gmail.com
Travel: Statewide
Famous Kentucky Flavors: Bourbon, Burgoo, and Benedictine
Kentucky has a rich tradition of good eatin’, with famous classics like fried chicken and bourbon balls as well as
lesser known Bluegrass mainstays like spoonbread, burgoo, and Derby pie. It is also the state where bourbon barrels
outnumber residents — and no, we’re not kidding. This presentation will dish out the rich culinary traditions
of Kentucky and discuss how the culture and history of the state are woven through its bourbon and its food. Blair
Thomas Hess is the author of four travel guides about Kentucky’s history, bourbon, and food, and she will highlight
the best local foods, drinks, festivals, and where you can travel to see where it all started. This presentation will offer
an overview of the state’s history of bourbon and how Kentucky’s culture was shaped by the industry. It will also
discuss all of the state’s culinary claims to fame — the dishes and the masterminds behind them.
Equipment needs: Projector
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