This summer Henrietta Hankin Branch Library is happy to host local historian, lecturer and teacher emeritus, Roger W. Arthur for Presidential Murders, a 2-part lecture series that begins with “Part 1: Abraham Lincoln” on Monday, July 26th; and finishes up with “Part 2: John F. Kennedy” on Monday, August 2nd. Both programs will be presented virtually on Zoom from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

“These two presidential murders have been thought to have much in common,” explains Mr. Arthur. “Both victims were shot in the head. Both were attacked from behind and on a Friday.   Both were killed in the presence of their wives. One was the first Republican ever elected, while the other was the first Roman Catholic ever elected. Both were elected in a ‘zero’ numbered year. The national shock of these murders stunned the country. Other comparisons between them have been offered but most of those are either false or contrived.”

“With the advance of technology the news of the killings soon spread quickly across the land. One by telegraph,  the other by television. Americans craved more news in both cases. The unknown killer of Kennedy was captured within hours. While the nationally famous killer of Lincoln escaped into the night and stayed at large from nearly two weeks. Both murderers were killed before they came to indictment, trial and conviction. Lincoln’s killer was shot by a soldier on duty. Kennedy’s killer murdered him in cold blood in the presence of the police who were there to protect him.”

Mr. Arthur has been fascinated by American history all of his life. He studied it in college, taught it in school and has traveled the country learning about it first hand. He currently teaches Modern American History at Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, PA. In the evenings in the Spring and Fall, he offers a variety of adult enrichment courses at the Chester County Night School, and from time to time is an instructor at Manor College and the Mainline School Night. He is also a special presenter for libraries, clubs and civic groups. Mr. was nominated to be “American History Teacher of the Year” by the Gilder-Lehrman Institute in 2012. His passion for history—and his desire to share it with others—continues to be a central motif of his life.

Register now for one or both of these thought-provoking, interactive programs that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home! To register for Part 1: Abraham Lincoln, click here. To register for Part 2: John F. Kennedy, click here.

The Chester County Library Business and Career Center helps small business owners and job applicants succeed with top-notch, authoritative information. Our LinkedIn page places free tools, news, and assistance at your fingertips. Follow us for:

• upcoming library programs (Resume Writing, LinkedIn, Entrepreneurship Panels, and more)
• new and highlighted library resources (personalized research and resume consultations, Business Plans Handbook, consumer and industry data, current books and magazines, and more)
• events and offers from local organizations (SCORE, PA CareerLink/United Way Financial Stability Center, chambers, Small Business Development Centers, and more)
• timely news and articles from big names in business and careers (Harvard Business Review, Philadelphia Business Journal, The Muse, Inc, and more)

For more information, email Sam Bardarik, Business and Career Librarian, at sbardarik@ccls.org or schedule a virtual appointment at https://ccls.libcal.com/appointments/sam.

Happy Pride Month!‍🏳‍🌈 Here are some book suggestions to celebrate.

1) Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color by Gilbert Baker, memoir of the late activist who designed the original rainbow Pride flag. Baker chronicles his beginnings as a repressed child of the 1950s and closeted war veteran, and his foray into gay liberation activism, which led to the now iconic flag’s creation.

2) We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation provides a rich visual history of LGBTQ pride, from the underground communities and post-Stonewall Pride protests, to AIDS activism and the present generation of activists continuing to fight for their rights and liberties.

3) Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States by Samantha Allen takes readers across numerous, tight-knit LGBTQ communities in the American South. Allen interviews many queer Southerners about their identities and experiences, providing intersections of race, class and religious spirituality often unseen in mainstream perceptions of the community.

4) Everything You Want to Know About Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask) by Brynne Tannehill serves as a primer for anyone curious about the increasingly visible, often misunderstood transgender community. A trans woman herself, Tannehill dispels misconceptions and myths surrounding trans, non-binary and gender-nonconforming people, while also answering questions often considered uncomfortable or difficult.

5) Queer Love in Color by Jamal Jordan is a photo book that provides a rich tapestry of American LGBTQ couples and families across cultures, races, ethnicities and age groups. Jordan includes interviews with each of his subjects, showing the many forms love in the LGBTQ community can take.

6) The Shared Heart: Portraits and Stories Celebrating Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Young People by Adam Mastoon is a candid photo collection illustrating the various experiences of homosexual and bisexual people in their late teens and early twenties. Each of the youth featured in Mastoon’s collection relay their own stories of coming out and self-acceptance of their sexual identities.