If you thought August was a great month to visit the Wright Museum’s Tuesday night Lecture Series, you definitely don’t want to miss September. This is the last month our Lecture Series will run this season, so don’t miss out. Find out more at our website and make plans to attend one, or all, of our September lectures. Admission for Lecture Series evenings are $8 for museum members or $12 for non-members.
All lectures begin promptly at 7 p.m. Doors open one hour early.
September 2
Raymond Vachon was a World War II Army Air Corps Flight Engineer and B-24 Top Turret Gunner in the Mediterranean Theater. His diaries tell the gripping story of surviving 50 bombing missions in the war-torn skies of World War II.
Join us on September 2 for a special night with Raymond Vachon’s middle child, Dennis Vachon. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire and a lawyer who served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, Mr. Vachon also served 10 years in the New Hampshire legislature. Dennis Vachon published his father’s diaries, and he will lead us in an exciting night exploring the early days of what would become the United States Air Force.
September 9
Linda Matchett – The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects
Just as the reality of the World War II battlefront wrought notable changes on American culture, the experiences of those at home also significantly shaped the course of the country. Though not touched by physical devastation, as many of America’s European allies, the ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.
Through exploration of artifacts collected from across the nation, Linda Matchett writes about the ordinary people who did extraordinary things in her book The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects. A volunteer docent and archivist at the museum and a former trustee for the Wolfeboro Public Library, Linda Matchett will lead us in an exploration of how ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things and how important it is to remember and learn from the experiences of those at home during war time.
September 16
Led by Beth Forrest, PhD and professor of Liberal Arts and Applied Food Studies at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, this evening promises to be the most delicious of the season.* Dr. Forrest will lead us through the creation of the “other” CIA, which was founded as a vocational institute for returning World War II veterans. We’ll learn how World War II changed the way Americans (and the rest of the world) eat.
If you’re a foodie or love the history of food and its influence on culture, this is definitely an evening you don’t want to miss.
*This is a lecture only. Please plan to eat before or after you attend.
September 23
Reverend David Lindsay – The Four Chaplains of WWII
Our last lecture of the season is the perfect complement to our seasonal exhibit Those Who Cared for Those Who Served, running from September 15 to October 31. Join us and guest lecturer Reverend David Lindsay for a truly touching look at the nearly 9,000 Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Army chaplains who served during World War II. Unarmed, many of these men accompanied troops into combat to offer spiritual and moral support for scared, battle-weary soldiers.
Learn the incredible story of four of these chaplains, aboard the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester as she was struck by a German submarine. Remaining calm, these four men spread out among the frightened, tending the wounded and guiding the disoriented toward safety. This amazing and uplifting story of courage and steadfast faith is the perfect way to end our Lecture Series this year.
We hope you can join us Tuesday nights at the museum!
