Geschke Lecture Series

Each summer, the Atheneum presents a diverse roster of speakers who address the issues of the day as part of our Geschke Lecture Series. The series was established in 2005 with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Geschke Foundation and generous library donors.

2011 Geschke Lecture Series:

Bonnie St. John
Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. , Nantucket High School Auditorium, 10 Surfside Rd.
As an amputee, Olympic skier, Rhodes Scholar, former White House official and successful businesswoman, Bonnie St. John knows a little something about facing challenges. She is the author of “How Strong Women Pray” and “Live Your Joy.”

Ian Frazier
Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. , Nantucket High School Auditorium, 10 Surfside Rd.
Ian Frazier is a staff writer at The New Yorker and has been contributing since 1974. He is also the author of eight books and a collection of humor essays.

David Gregory
Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. , Nantucket High School Auditorium, 10 Surfside Rd.
Gregory is an NBC News correspondent and moderator of the Sunday news show “Meet The Press” and a seasonal resident of Nantucket.

Richard N. Haass
Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. , Nantucket High School Auditorium, 10 Surfside Rd.
Dr. Richard N. Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations and has expertise in U.S. foreign policy; international security; globalization; Asia; Middle East. He is also the author or editor of eleven books on American foreign policy.

Joseph Nye, Jr.
Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. , Great Harbor Yacht Club, Washington St. Ext.
Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Dean Emeritus of the Kennedy School, Harvard University, presents a talk titled “The Future of Power in the 21st Century.’ Dr. Nye has also  served as Deputy to the Undersecretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology and chaired the National Security Council Group on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons as well as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

All lectures have an admission of $25 and tickets will be on sale beginning July 1st at the library or online.

Previous Geschke Lecture Series have included:

  • 2010: Computer technology innovators Chuck Geschke (Adobe) and Bob Metcalfe (3Com); New York Times Columnist and Author Thomas Friedman; Washington Post Columnist and MSNBC Commentator Eugene Robinson; and President of Pew Research Center Andrew Kohut
  • 2009: Pulitzer-Prize-winning biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin; Presidential Advisor David Gergen; CBS News journalist Lesley Stahl; and Carnegie Corporation President Vartan Gregorian.
  • 2008: Print and television journalist Mike Barnicle; former Delaware Governor Pete du Pont; NPR journalist Mara Liasson; Washington Post journalist Robin Wright; PBS journalist Gwen Ifill.
  • 2007: Committee for Economic Development, Charles Kolb; MIT President Dr. Susan Hockfield; Natural Resources Defense Council, Frances Beinecke; Presidential Advisor David Gergen; Project HOPE Dr. John Howe III; Business Week columnists Jack and Suzy Welch.
  • 2006: National Review journalist Jay Nordlinger; NPR President Kevin Klose; New York Times editor Jill Abramson; Jay Rosen of New York University; CBS News journalist Katie Couric; CBS News anchor Lesley Stahl; NBC News anchor Tim Russert; PBS television host David Brancaccio; Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Henninger; Concord Monitor photographer Daniel Habib.
  • 2005: Authors Patricia Ebrey, Nancy Berliner, Jerome Silbergeld, Andrea and Lynde McCormick, Neil Baldwin, David McCullough, Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Father Robert Drinan, and U.S. Senator Bill Frist.