In 1953, the Salvation Army described itself as “the largest voluntary emigration agency” in the world. In the preceding 50 years, it had assisted nearly a quarter of a million people to emigrate from the British Isles to the then-British Dominions across the world. Archivist Ruth Macdonald explores how the organization went from a Christian revival society in East London to a global emigration agency and how migration from Britain was both promoted and contested as a solution to the economic and social welfare issues of the day.

The War of 1812 is among the most misunderstood wars in American history. Historian Richard Bell argues its causes, course, and consequences have long been obscured by the American Revolution and the Civil War. More than the conflict that inspired the national anthem says Bell, it was a defining moment in a young republic, establishing American credibility abroad, securing independence, shaping national identity, entrenching states’ rights, and unleashing imperial ambitions—all at extraordinary human cost.

In an era marked by concerns over tariffs, political polarization, and shifting global alliances, questions about the durability of the U.S. dollar’s international dominance are becoming increasingly urgent. Economist Barry Eichengreen traces the evolution of cross-border money from the earliest coinage of the 7th century B.C.E. to modern cryptocurrencies and emerging central bank digital currencies. Eichengreen examines patterns in the life cycles of international currencies over the past 2,500 years, offering valuable lessons about how currencies rise—and why they fall.

A picture is not only worth a thousand words: It can sometimes inspire a whole invented world. Art historian Heidi Applegate explores the art and artists behind three works of historical fiction by contemporary authors. Gain new perspectives on Johannes Vermeer, Leonardo da Vinci, and Henri Matisse by delving into the novels followed by Applegate’s examination of the factual background along with the fiction. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Explore and enjoy glorious songs from the great American Songbook with stories about their long, often-unexpected lives. Three-time Emmy Award–winning writer and documentary filmmaker Sara Lukinson’s abundant sampling of clips—and lively storytelling—make for two joyful and moving evenings to spend with Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin, along with the artists who keep their songs alive. This session focuses on George and Ira Gershwin

Fra Angelico, born Guido di Pietro, began as a quiet Dominican friar illuminating manuscripts before Medici patronage drew him into Renaissance Florence’s artistic energy. In the 1430s, the new monastery of San Marco became his canvas, where he transformed austere cells into luminous frescoes that blended the divine and the human. Art historian Laura Morelli examines his life, his masterworks at San Marco, and the unique convergence of faith, talent, and support that shaped his enduring devotional style. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Dip your toe into the world of weaving and create a miniature woven tapestry on a small frame loom after you learn techniques to manipulate the yarn to make stripes and shapes and mix colors.

Between 1400 and 1800, the people of Europe, Africa, and the Americas grew more connected by overseas trade and colonization. According to historians Christopher Hodson and Brett Rushforth, accounts of this transformative era have overlooked the reach of the pre-Napoleonic French Empire. Hodson and Rushforth, authors of Beyond the Ocean: France and the Atlantic World from the Crusades to the Age of Revolutions, examine the significant role that France played in the history of the Atlantic world and the ways it shaped France in return.