Professor Mitchell Zuckoff follows the life of Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi (1882-1949), legendary con man who set up the Securities Exchange Company, which promised investors massive returns on their investments based on the buying and trading of international postal reply coupons. The scheme, begun around 1918, collapsed in 1920 after the Boston Post revealed it to the public. The presentation includes slides.

Audio and video options are available.

Professors Wlliam M. Newman and Wilfred E. Holton look at how environmental crises and urban crowding led to the massive project for filling Boston's Back Bay tidal marsh in the 19th century. The presentation includes slides.

The lecture audio can be downloaded separately.

Scholar Nancy Seasholes looks at the history of land creation in Boston over its 375-year history. She focuses on the Central Waterfront area. Her presentation includes slides.

An mp3 of the lecture audio can be downloaded.

A panel discusses the history of Chinese immigration and Chinese Americans and their experiences in Boston from the 1800s onwards.

Scholar Ellen Smith traces the history of Jewish immigrants and the Jewish community in Boston from the colonial era in the 1700s to the present day.

Author Iris Chang follows the history of Chinese immigration in the U.S., the alternating acceptance and tension between Chinese Americans and "mainstream" U.S. society, and Chinese-American experiences in the U.S. Her presentation includes a question-and-answer session.

Historian Nancy S. Seasholes discusses the history of land creation and landfill projects in Boston. She looks at the social forces that led to the demand for new land, including tensions between Irish immigrants and native Bostonians.

Archaeologist Ellen Berkland and curator Elizabeth Carella review the history of Boston Harbor's Rainsford Island since 1636. After a brief overview of recent efforts to manage the island, they review archaeological discoveries pointing to the island's many historical uses, particularly as they relate to Boston's marginalized populations.