Lew Wallace Study Resumes In-Person Lecture Series

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum strives to provide programming that relates not only to Lew Wallace, but also to the Museum’s current exhibit. The 2022 exhibit “This Just In” highlights new additions to the collections of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum. The autumn Dr. Howard Miller Lecture Series ties in to that theme.

On Thursday, Sept. 15, Jessie MacLeod, an associate curator at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, will present “The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association: 162 Years of Collecting George Washington” at 7 p.m. Today, the organization boasts a rich collection that tells the story of George Washington as general, president, and private citizen. This lecture will explore the MVLA’s collecting practices and priorities, highlighting significant acquisitions from the 19th century to today.

On Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m., Suzanne Hahn, Vice President, Archives and Library at the Indiana Historical Society, will discuss “The Collections of the Indiana Historical Society.” Since 1830, The Indiana Historical Society has been collecting and preserving Indiana’s unique stories; bringing Hoosiers together in remembering and sharing the past—including Lew and Susan Wallace. Suzanne will discuss not only how the Society has grown and refined its collection, but also new collecting initiatives that will inspire future Hoosiers. The next day, The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum will sponsor a field trip to the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis. Spots will be limited and reservations are required.

On Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., Kathleen Langone will present “Finding Amalia Kussner.” Kussner was a miniature portrait artist and a “darling” of the Gilded Age who became one of the most sought-after artists of that time. Amalia’s career would include painting many of the premier families of New York, European and Russian royalty, and more. This program highlights how just one artifact can trigger amazing research about someone forgotten to history. The talk will cover the full story of her life, starting with her early years in Terre Haute, her incredible rise to fame in New York in the 1890s, and her final years in Europe after 1900. Attendees will see images of a wide variety of her work, both from museums and a private collection.

In the final lecture of 2022 on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Peter Hatch will present “Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello.” Hatch, the Director of Gardens & Grounds Emeritus for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, was responsible for maintenance, interpretation, and restoration of the 2,400-acre landscape at Monticello from 1977 to 2012. Thomas Jefferson wrote that “the greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.” Restored in 1984, the garden and the Jefferson legacy continue to inspire the farm to table movement today. The talk will incorporate collecting issues at Monticello with stories of plants dying, seed collecting compromised by naughty harvesters, varieties not being true to name, and more.

All lectures will be held at Whitlock Hall in St. John’s Episcopal Church (212 S. Green Street). Museum staff encourages visitors and lecture attendees to wear masks and maintain six feet social distancing. The lectures are all free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested. For more information, contact Larry Paarlberg at (765) 362-5769 or [email protected]. A full listing of Study events is online at https://www.ben-hur.com/events/.

About GLWSM

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is deeply committed to the protection and preservation of Lew Wallace’s legacy now and for generations to come. The museum is located on Wallace’s home site in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and is where he wrote Ben-Hur. His unique and personal Study, built in the 1890s, is a National Historic Landmark and the home of the world’s largest collection of General Wallace’s personal memorabilia. For more information, please visit the museum website: www.ben-hur.com.