Desert Rats, River Runners, and Canyon Crawlers: Four Arizona Explorers with Gregory McNamee

Cochise College Downtown Center 2600 E Wilcox Dr, Sierra Vista

Francisco Garcés, a Franciscan friar, arrived in what is now Arizona in 1768. Assigned to the church at San Xavier del Bac south of present-day Tucson, he traveled widely throughout Arizona and California, charting overland routes that later travelers would follow. Near where Garcés would meet his death in 1781, an American soldier named Joseph […]

FREE

The Evolution of an Icon–The History of Arizona Highways Magazine with Win Holden

McFarland State Historic Park 24 W. Ruggles St, Florence, AZ, United States

The first issue of Arizona Highways magazine was published in April, 1925. In this presentation, former publisher Win Holden will share the fascinating story of how a brochure produced by the Arizona Highway Department evolved into one of the most respected and revered publications in the world. With annual economic impact of over $65 million, […]

FREE

Flying Through Arizona: The Story of the First National Women’s Air Race with Natalie J. Stewart-Smith

Pebblecreek Tuscany Falls Ballroom 16262 Clubhouse Drive, Goodyear, AZ, United States

In 1929, the first national women’s air race from Santa Monica, CA to Cleveland, OH passed through Arizona. Stopping in Yuma, Phoenix, and Douglas, the intrepid fliers solidified their determination and sisterhood along these Arizona waypoints. Who were these aviators? What were their planes like in 1929? What challenges did they encounter along the way? […]

FREE

Jerome-Too Stubborn to Die-How the Town Survived Numerous “Near-Death” Experiences with Jay Mark

Coolidge Public Library 160 W. Central Avenue, Coolidge, AZ, United States

Numerous fires, landslides, floods, labor strikes, polluted air, epidemics, Depression, recessions, financial collapse, one adversity after another. Any one of these might spell the end of a lesser community. But, in Arizona, one town survived these “near-death” experiences, and more; yet managed to survive. Some might even say, “thrive.” This presentation looks at the numerous […]

FREE

Immigration and the American Dream: “We the People” Today and Tomorrow with

Florence Community Library 778 N. Main St., Florence, AZ, United States

The ongoing crisis at the US-Mexico border has fueled often ugly arguments about US immigration policy. The arguments are not new. Nor are their basic questions. The US has long touted itself as a land of immigrants, but repeatedly closed doors belie its boast. For its policies and practices have hardly been consistently welcoming. Almost […]

FREE

Metalsmith Matriarchs: Makers, Memory, and Reciprocity with Nanibaa Beck

Heroes Regional Park Library- Yucca Meeting Room 6075 N 83rd Avenue, Glendale

Nanibaa Beck addresses the ways Native women metal smith integrate indigenous knowledge, practice and tradition into their craft. She focuses on four to five metal smiths with a rotation in place, person, and style. This presentation and Nanibaa’s work demonstrate the connection of Native artists to Arizona and beyond as a place and identity. This […]

FREE

Deconstructing the Taco: The History and Lore of a Beloved Food with Gregory McNamee

La Siena 909 E Northern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, United States

The foods of Arizona speak to the many cultures, native and newcomer, that make up our state. Consider the taco, that favorite treat, a staple of Mexican and Mexican American cooking and an old standby on an Arizonan’s plate. The corn in the tortilla comes from Mexico, the cheese from the Sahara, the lettuce from […]

FREE

Paper Sons and the Road to Citizenship, 1882-1965 with Li Yang

Virtual AZ, United States

A “paper son” is a term used for young Chinese immigrants coming to the United States prior to 1943 who claimed to be a son of a citizen but were, in fact, sons on paper only. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to curb Chinese immigration to the U.S. The passage of this […]

FREE

Coming Home to a Place You’ve Never Been Before–Immigration, Refugee, Resettlement, Citizenship with Rodo Sofranac

San Tan Library- Bronze Room 31505 N Schnepf Rd, San Tan Valley, AZ, United States

The discussions of immigration, refugee resettlement, and citizenship are louder and more heated than ever. While the politics get noisier and the policies are mired, what about the people? This talk focuses on the personal stories of immigration. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and share their experiences as a new settler and/or native […]

FREE

Saviors and Saints on the Arizona Frontier with Jan Cleere

Cochise College Downtown Center 2600 E Wilcox Dr, Sierra Vista

Health care in early Arizona was hardly reliable and frequently nonexistent. Often, settlers were on their own when tragedy struck with women taking on the responsibility for the well-being of their families. And if women were considered incapable of earning the title “Doctor,” they could certainly save souls. Meet a handful of women who influenced […]

FREE

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