Great Lives

The Great Lives Lecture Series at UMW returns in 2027, bringing history to life with more top biographers. FREE & PUBLIC. Held at 7:30 p.m. The William B.

on most Tuesdays & Thursdays in Dodd Auditorium, featuring Q&As and book signings. Biography is the most intimate approach to history, and the most entertaining. Crawley Great Lives lecture series at the University of Mary Washington reveals how extraordinary people – some born to privilege and power, others from modest backgrounds – shaped art, literature, science, government, and the human exper

ience. Great Lives lectures are held most Tuesdays and Thursdays during the Spring semester, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Dodd Auditorium on the UMW campus. Lectures are free.

05/28/2026

Recording now streaming 🎬

Missed our lecture on Judy Blume? Author Rachelle Bergstein's February 5th talk is now available to watch on.

Judy Blume's legacy continues to resonate amid today’s growing book-banning crisis, raising timeless questions about what belongs in children’s literature, and why her voice remains as vital as ever. Learn about one of the most profound cultural shifts in modern literature and what a figure who revolutionized what it means to be an author of youth literature.

Watch now: https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/judy-blume/

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice shaped the freedoms we enjoy today and remains an enduring part of our nation’s story.

At Great Lives, we are continually reminded that history is made through courage, service, and sacrifice. Today, we pause to reflect on those who gave everything in defense of others.

We wish our Great Lives community a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day.

05/22/2026

Recording now streaming. 🎬

Missed our lecture on Lorne Michaels? Author Susan Morrison's February 3rd talk is now available to watch on.

Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery.

Watch now: https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/lorne-michaels/

05/20/2026

At Great Lives, history comes to life through engaging lectures, meaningful discussion, and opportunities to connect with speakers and ideas that continue to resonate today. These stories inform, inspire, and leave a lasting impression, just as the people behind them did.

Great Lives returns January 2027.

umw.edu/greatlives

05/17/2026

Share Your Great Lives Suggestions!

We’re in the midst of planning the 2027 Season, and we want YOUR input!

Your ideas help keep this free, community-driven series engaging and inspiring

👉 Submit your suggestions or topic ideas at umw.edu/greatlives/contact

04/30/2026

Recording now streaming. 🎬

Missed our lecture on Aimee Semple McPherson? Author Claire Hoffman's January 22nd talk is now available to watch on demand.

On a spring day in 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson wandered into the Pacific Ocean and vanished. Weeks later she reappeared in the desert, claiming to have been kidnapped. A national media frenzy and months of investigation ensued. Who was this woman?

Watch now: umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/aimee-semple-mcpherson/

04/23/2026

Great Lives is free because of people like these. 💛

We are deeply grateful to every donor whose generosity made the 2026 William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series possible. Every free seat, every open door, and every extraordinary evening of storytelling exists because of their commitment to this community.

A special thank you to our Founding Patron, Mr. John Chappell, whose vision made Great Lives possible from the very beginning.

Great Donors Make Great Lives!

04/21/2026

Recording now streaming. 🎬

Missed our lecture on Paul Revere? Author Kostya Kennedy's January 20th talk is now available to watch on demand. Beyond the midnight ride, discover the full story of one of America's most iconic, and misunderstood, patriots.

Watch now: umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/paul-revere/

04/19/2026

The 2026 Great Lives season is complete, and what a season it was.

From Paul Revere to John Williams, this year brought 16 extraordinary lectures, world-class authors, and the community that makes it all worthwhile.
Great Lives returns in January 2027 for its 24th season.

We can't wait to see you there.

Stay tuned at umw.edu/greatlives. 💛

04/15/2026

Let's look back at the final two lectures of the 2026 Great Lives season, featuring Barbara Jordan and John Williams.

We were pleased to welcome Mary Ellen Curtin, who brought to life the remarkable story of Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman from the South to serve in Congress and one of the most powerful orators in modern American history. Curtin examined how Jordan's twelve years in elected politics left a lasting mark on the nation and redefined what leadership could look like. Thank you to Jack and Marilyn Farrington for sponsoring this lecture.

We also thank Tim Greiving for closing out the season with the first-ever biography of John Williams, the composer whose music has defined cinema for generations, from Star Wars to Schindler's List, and who earned more Oscar nominations than any individual artist in Academy history. Greiving offered a rare look at the private life behind one of the most recognized bodies of work in the world. Thank you to John and Linda Coker for sponsoring this lecture.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for another incredible season of storytelling, conversation, and community. The 2026 Great Lives season is complete and we can't wait to see you next year. Watch recordings and learn more at umw.edu/greatlives.

Address

Dodd Auditorium, University Of Mary
Fredericksburg, VA
22401

Website

http://www.umw.edu/greatlives/

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