Willa Cather moved to Nebraska at age 9, hated it, and only grew to value the West once she relocated to a big city and began to write. We will survey her great novels, from My Ántonia to Death Comes for the Archbishop. Cather’s vision of the frontier is revelatory: polyglot, musical, shimmering with culture.

Clefs, time signature, key signature, major and minor scales, chords, rhythms, intervals, accidentals, and enharmonic tones: we will examine these and many other foundational music concepts to help participants develop their musical knowledge and increase their listening pleasure.

It is ironic that war has inspired so much beautiful music. Marches, patriotic songs, sentimental ballads, concert works, victory pieces, laments, protest songs, and Broadway musicals have emerged from wartime. This seminar focuses on American music written during the Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.

We will delve into the history of women in twentieth-century America, with a backwards glance to the Victorian Era. We will study the history of women’s roles in the public and private spheres, as well as essential issues in women’s history, including the history of feminism, birth control, suffrage, civil rights, and sexual violence.

The Newberry Library’s resources will be a source for inspiration, information, conversation, and playfulness in this generative workshop. We will use visual art, historical texts, and ephemera to listen, experiment with form, and create new work. Along the way we will attend to the craft of poetry, learning tricks and tips from published pieces.

Characters, plot, imagery, suspense, and conflict are just some of the elements of creative writing. This supportive yet challenging workshop, a continuation of the popular Elements of Creative Writing seminar, is open to writers at all levels, whether or not they have taken the previous course.

To enhance enjoyment of Jane Austen’s novels, this course will survey English society in the late Georgian period.

The Genealogy and Local History staff will introduce novices to the basics of research at an informal orientation. After the session, you are welcome to begin your research. A reference librarian will be available to provide suggestions and assistance. Reservations not required.

Through a combination of lecture and discussion we will examine the rich period of European theatre from the mid-twentieth century to the present.

Chamber music often is perceived as stuffy, high-brow, and distinct from symphonic music. In fact, most compositions for small ensemble (trios, quartets, quintets, etc.) are easily accessible for the average concertgoer. The chamber music genre is a microcosm of symphonic style and form with the added attribute of intimacy.

The war that ended involuntary servitude in the United States also introduced military conscription. Participants in this seminar, the second in a series marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, will discuss how emancipation, conscription, and African-American military service transformed the cause of the Union and the course of the war.

We will read Julio Cortázar’s celebrated novel 62: A Model Kit with the aid of his short stories. Each class session will begin with a different story that will guide our discussion toward a unique set of questions as we explore Cortázar’s longer work.

Gertrude Stein once said, “It is not what France gave you but what it did not take away from you that was important.” We will read and discuss fictional and autobiographical writings of American writers in Paris.

“From Russia with Love” charts the breathtaking ascent of classical music in Russia. Beginning with the reign of Catherine the Great and continuing onward to Glinka, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich, we will explore the incredible rise and the fall of Russian classical music from 1762 to 1975.

The values of liberty and equality are deeply rooted in American political culture and our tradition of political thought. Yet these values seem inevitably to conflict; we can have one only by limiting or regulating the other. We will consider whether this conflict can be resolved, and attempt to develop a philosophical understanding of freedom and equality.

Willa Cather moved to Nebraska at age 9, hated it, and only grew to value the West once she relocated to a big city and began to write. We will survey her great novels, from My Ántonia to Death Comes for the Archbishop. Cather’s vision of the frontier is revelatory: polyglot, musical, shimmering with culture.

Clefs, time signature, key signature, major and minor scales, chords, rhythms, intervals, accidentals, and enharmonic tones: we will examine these and many other foundational music concepts to help participants develop their musical knowledge and increase their listening pleasure.

It is ironic that war has inspired so much beautiful music. Marches, patriotic songs, sentimental ballads, concert works, victory pieces, laments, protest songs, and Broadway musicals have emerged from wartime. This seminar focuses on American music written during the Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.

We will delve into the history of women in twentieth-century America, with a backwards glance to the Victorian Era. We will study the history of women’s roles in the public and private spheres, as well as essential issues in women’s history, including the history of feminism, birth control, suffrage, civil rights, and sexual violence.

The Newberry Library’s resources will be a source for inspiration, information, conversation, and playfulness in this generative workshop. We will use visual art, historical texts, and ephemera to listen, experiment with form, and create new work. Along the way we will attend to the craft of poetry, learning tricks and tips from published pieces.

Opinion about the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life has a long history in Western thought. Since at least the fifth century BCE, the debate has engaged a surprising number of philosophers, theologians, literary figures, and scientists.

The Chicago Calligraphy Collective was founded in 1976 to promote the study, practice, and appreciation of calligraphy in all its historical and present-day applications.

Through a combination of lecture and discussion we will examine the rich period of European theatre from the mid-twentieth century to the present.

Chamber music often is perceived as stuffy, high-brow, and distinct from symphonic music. In fact, most compositions for small ensemble (trios, quartets, quintets, etc.) are easily accessible for the average concertgoer. The chamber music genre is a microcosm of symphonic style and form with the added attribute of intimacy.

In exploring the life of Napoleon and the history of France during his times, this course will consider the legacy of the legendary ruler.

Middlemarch addresses the most fundamental human questions: what do we need in a relationship? Is great ambition unfulfilled worth more than modest goals achieved? How much of life do we control and how much is a product of chance?

How does one approach James Joyce’s Ulysses? Reading this masterpiece is both like and unlike reading other novels. Through close reading and discussion of the text we will explore its major themes and concepts, navigate its calm and turbulent sections, and enjoy our travel through the landscape of this amazing book. Participants will emerge from the seminar stronger readers.

The personal essay thrives today because of its versatility of both subject and form. It can be funny, serious, scolding, or meditative. It can take the shape of a memoir or character sketch; book review or commentary; blog post or travel essay. In this writing workshop, we will practice writing the personal essay, then present drafts of our work for helpful feedback.

Compact Shelving Project

John Brady, Director of Reader Services and Bibliographer of Americana

We will focus on the complex relationships among the realities of art making in Renaissance Italy, the theories advanced by critics and artists, and the mythologizing of artists and their creative processes.

We will explore personal and political dimensions of “the American century” as described by some of the nation’s best writers: James Baldwin, Joan Didion, Annie Dillard, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Joyce Carol Oates, Alice Walker, Tom Wolfe, and many more.

Clefs, time signature, key signature, major and minor scales, chords, rhythms, intervals, accidentals, and enharmonic tones: we will examine these and many other foundational music concepts to help participants develop their musical knowledge and increase their listening pleasure.

It is ironic that war has inspired so much beautiful music. Marches, patriotic songs, sentimental ballads, concert works, victory pieces, laments, protest songs, and Broadway musicals have emerged from wartime. This seminar focuses on American music written during the Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.

We will delve into the history of women in twentieth-century America, with a backwards glance to the Victorian Era. We will study the history of women’s roles in the public and private spheres, as well as essential issues in women’s history, including the history of feminism, birth control, suffrage, civil rights, and sexual violence.

Characters, plot, imagery, suspense, and conflict are just some of the elements of creative writing. This supportive yet challenging workshop, a continuation of the popular Elements of Creative Writing seminar, is open to writers at all levels, whether or not they have taken the previous course.

To enhance enjoyment of Jane Austen’s novels, this course will survey English society in the late Georgian period.

Whether you’re a beginner or simply looking for formal fundamentals training, try these seminars, tailored to meet your research needs. Take all six or just those that interest you most.

Through a combination of lecture and discussion we will examine the rich period of European theatre from the mid-twentieth century to the present.

Chamber music often is perceived as stuffy, high-brow, and distinct from symphonic music. In fact, most compositions for small ensemble (trios, quartets, quintets, etc.) are easily accessible for the average concertgoer. The chamber music genre is a microcosm of symphonic style and form with the added attribute of intimacy.

In exploring the life of Napoleon and the history of France during his times, this course will consider the legacy of the legendary ruler.

Middlemarch addresses the most fundamental human questions: what do we need in a relationship? Is great ambition unfulfilled worth more than modest goals achieved? How much of life do we control and how much is a product of chance?

How does one approach James Joyce’s Ulysses? Reading this masterpiece is both like and unlike reading other novels. Through close reading and discussion of the text we will explore its major themes and concepts, navigate its calm and turbulent sections, and enjoy our travel through the landscape of this amazing book. Participants will emerge from the seminar stronger readers.

The personal essay thrives today because of its versatility of both subject and form. It can be funny, serious, scolding, or meditative. It can take the shape of a memoir or character sketch; book review or commentary; blog post or travel essay. In this writing workshop, we will practice writing the personal essay, then present drafts of our work for helpful feedback.

“From Russia with Love” charts the breathtaking ascent of classical music in Russia. Beginning with the reign of Catherine the Great and continuing onward to Glinka, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich, we will explore the incredible rise and the fall of Russian classical music from 1762 to 1975.

The values of liberty and equality are deeply rooted in American political culture and our tradition of political thought. Yet these values seem inevitably to conflict; we can have one only by limiting or regulating the other. We will consider whether this conflict can be resolved, and attempt to develop a philosophical understanding of freedom and equality.

Willa Cather moved to Nebraska at age 9, hated it, and only grew to value the West once she relocated to a big city and began to write. We will survey her great novels, from My Ántonia to Death Comes for the Archbishop. Cather’s vision of the frontier is revelatory: polyglot, musical, shimmering with culture.

This course in beginning Latin offers something not usually found in introductory level classes—a brief sketch of both the ancient roots and the modern branches of a linguistic family tree.

Western mysticism begins in antiquity and extends into modern times, reaching in John of the Cross perhaps its clearest, most radiant moment. As Jacques Maritain wrote, in John “everything takes on that straining of earth toward heaven, like the figures in a painting by El Greco.” We will read three of his greatest works—The Ascent of Mt.

The trauma of the First World War, combined with the influence of Freudian ideas and other cultural upheavals, dramatically shaped French writers, as well as other European literary voices.

Characters, plot, imagery, suspense, and conflict are just some of the elements of creative writing. This supportive yet challenging workshop, a continuation of the popular Elements of Creative Writing seminar, is open to writers at all levels, whether or not they have taken the previous course.

Join the Chicago Area Women’s History Council as they kick off the oral history component of their project “Documenting Women’s Activism and Leadership in the Chicago Area, 1945 - 2000.” Learn details of the project and how you can participate.

Opinion about the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life has a long history in Western thought. Since at least the fifth century BCE, the debate has engaged a surprising number of philosophers, theologians, literary figures, and scientists.

Shakespeare’s histories deal with fascinating problems: the nature of kingship, violent personal and political conflict, the use and misuse of power. While raising these profound issues, Shakespeare enriches the plays with a gallery of memorable characters, among them Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV, Prince Hal, Hotspur, and the unforgettable Sir John Falstaff.

During his 22 years in office Richard M. Daley physically transformed Chicago. Out went the gritty, worn-down, and post-industrial Midwestern capital. In came a beautiful, sophisticated, and global city. Both business and culture thrived during his tenure.

We will explore social theory by considering the work of a number of classic sociologists, including Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Georg Simmel. In particular we will examine how their work overlapped with anthropology and psychology, and will explore their works’ relationship to the humanities.

The war that ended involuntary servitude in the United States also introduced military conscription. Participants in this seminar, the second in a series marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, will discuss how emancipation, conscription, and African-American military service transformed the cause of the Union and the course of the war.

We will read Julio Cortázar’s celebrated novel 62: A Model Kit with the aid of his short stories. Each class session will begin with a different story that will guide our discussion toward a unique set of questions as we explore Cortázar’s longer work.

Gertrude Stein once said, “It is not what France gave you but what it did not take away from you that was important.” We will read and discuss fictional and autobiographical writings of American writers in Paris.

Becoming a Knight: Visual Evidence in Medieval Books

Julia Walworth, Merton College, University of Oxford

“From Russia with Love” charts the breathtaking ascent of classical music in Russia. Beginning with the reign of Catherine the Great and continuing onward to Glinka, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich, we will explore the incredible rise and the fall of Russian classical music from 1762 to 1975.

The values of liberty and equality are deeply rooted in American political culture and our tradition of political thought. Yet these values seem inevitably to conflict; we can have one only by limiting or regulating the other. We will consider whether this conflict can be resolved, and attempt to develop a philosophical understanding of freedom and equality.

What happens at the end of a lifetime of love?

“It’s there.  Like an old building.  Once it settles it gets stronger.  And before you know it, it’s ugly, but nobody wants to tear it down.  Can’t imagine the block without it.  Your mother takes good care of me.  Always has.
(Beat)
But eventually, even old buildings get torn down.”

Clefs, time signature, key signature, major and minor scales, chords, rhythms, intervals, accidentals, and enharmonic tones: we will examine these and many other foundational music concepts to help participants develop their musical knowledge and increase their listening pleasure.

It is ironic that war has inspired so much beautiful music. Marches, patriotic songs, sentimental ballads, concert works, victory pieces, laments, protest songs, and Broadway musicals have emerged from wartime. This seminar focuses on American music written during the Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.

We will delve into the history of women in twentieth-century America, with a backwards glance to the Victorian Era. We will study the history of women’s roles in the public and private spheres, as well as essential issues in women’s history, including the history of feminism, birth control, suffrage, civil rights, and sexual violence.

The Newberry Library’s resources will be a source for inspiration, information, conversation, and playfulness in this generative workshop. We will use visual art, historical texts, and ephemera to listen, experiment with form, and create new work. Along the way we will attend to the craft of poetry, learning tricks and tips from published pieces.

Why does Tolstoy’s presentation of childhood have such a profound hold on the Russian imagination? How did it become the point of departure for other writers?

We will explore the origins and development of several Chicago parks through a series of walking tours. We will study their evolving landscape designs, goals, and patterns of use, along with their architecture and sculpture.

Opinion about the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life has a long history in Western thought. Since at least the fifth century BCE, the debate has engaged a surprising number of philosophers, theologians, literary figures, and scientists.