Historian, blogger, and author Gil Troy, speaking at the Organization of American Historians 2009 meeting, talks about his experiences as a historian blogging during the 2008 presidential election. He discusses his views on the role historians should play when contributing or responding to the media, providing studied, nonpredictive information and analysis, even in the face of demands for sound bites and snap judgments.

Historian and chair of the Division of Politics and Reform at the National Museum of American History, Harry Rubenstein, beginning a talk at the Organization of American Historians 2009 meeting, mentions the challenges of being a historian during the 2008 presidential election.

Wendy Wick Reaves looks at two self-portraits by the artist Isabel Bishop (1902-1988), who focused on portraying women in the New York urban environment she worked in.

Donald L. Miller, along with a range of other historians and presenters, overviews contemporary U.S. history, from 1972 to 2000, briefly touching on the Cold War and its end, economic ups and downs, and the rise of AIDS and of personal computers. The presentation ends with a discussion on interpreting events as they happen, and on the difficulties of remembering history and engaging with the present in a media age.

From the Maine Humanities Council website:

"Thomas J. Brown is Associate Professor of History at the University of South Carolina, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Institute for Southern Studies. He is a Distinguished Lecturer with the Organization of American Historians. In this lecture, Brown examined the ways in which debates over regionalism, race relations and governmental power have influenced how America has remembered Abraham Lincoln, particularly in public monuments."

The National Portrait Gallery's Warren Perry tells the story of a portrait of author and photographer Eudora Welty (1909-2001).

National Portrait Gallery senior historian Sid Hart discusses Ronald Reagan's reputation as a "great communicator."

In 37 short video clips, ranging in length from 31 seconds to over two minutes, scholars Susan Allee, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Ricardo Lagos, David Kennedy, and P. Terrence Hopmann look at the history of the U.N., the United States' relationship with it, and issues the U.N. is involved in today. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The United Nations: Challenges and Change, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

In 47 short video clips, ranging in length from 43 seconds to over three minutes, 11 different scholars examine changes for the U.S. in the recent past and issues facing the country today, including the end of the Cold War, environmental concerns, international relations, terrorism and WMDs, and trade. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The U.S. Role in a Changing World, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

In 45 short video clips, ranging in length from 53 seconds to over three minutes, scholars Jo-Ann Hart, Shala Haeri, Farzaneh Milani, Mariam Habibi, Joseph Cirincione, and Linda Miller look at Iranian history over the 20th and 21st centuries, focusing on events that led up to the 1979 Revolution, the Revolution and the Iran Hostage Crisis, and the effects of those events on Iran today. The clips examine how the U.S. was involved in all of these events. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum Iran Through the Looking Glass: History, Reform, and Revolution, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.