Join Revolutionary Spaces, the Adams Presidential Center, and GBH Forum Network on Thursday, October 29 at for an engaging conversation exploring the remarkable leadership and enduring contributions of John and Abigail Adams and their relevance to America today. Renowned historians and civic education leaders Dr. Colleen Shogan and Dr. Kurt Graham will come together at the Old South Meeting House for an insightful discussion of the Adams family’s leadership, civic values, and lasting impact on our constitutional democracy.
Dr. Shogan will also introduce In Pursuit: Lessons of American Leadership, an America 250 project featuring essays on leadership lessons from presidents and first ladies, the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Pulitzer Prize-winning historians, military leaders, and other iconic Americans. She will share highlights from the essays focused on the extraordinary leadership of John and Abigail Adams, as well as John Quincy Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams, offering fresh perspectives on how their experiences and leadership lessons continue to resonate today.
This program is free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of the Lowell Institute. Doors will open at 6:00 PM and the program will begin at 6:30 PM. The program is also available virtually and priority registration is available to Revolutionary Spaces members.
Following the program, a recording will be available on Revolutionary Spaces’ GBH Forum Network page.
About the Speakers
Dr. Colleen J. Shogan, currently CEO of In Pursuit, served as the 11th Archivist of the United States, the first woman appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to lead the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). A noted author and political scientist committed to civics education, she prioritized expanding public access to NARA's records and led numerous strategic initiatives to enhance services and make its holdings more accessible, both in person and online, in support of public participation and American democracy. Prior to becoming Archivist, Dr. Shogan held several cultural heritage leadership roles: Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association, positions in the U.S. Senate, and senior executive roles at the Library of Congress and its Congressional Research Service. She was Vice Chair of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United States Capitol Historical Society and the Board of Advisers for Historiq, a company combining technology and archival tools to improve public access.
Dr. Kurt Graham joined the Adams Presidential Center (APC) as its inaugural president on October 15, 2024.Previous to joining the APC, Dr. Graham was the Director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri. As director, he oversaw a $30M renovation of the principal museum exhibits and dramatically expanded the Library’s educational and public programming. He has also directed the McCracken Research Library at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, and the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City.Accessibility at Old South Meeting House
The entrance and Main Hall of the Old South Meeting House are wheelchair accessible. The lower level where the restrooms and museum are located can be accessed via elevator or stairs. Please note: Balcony seating is available but can only be reached by stairs and is not wheelchair accessible and is not accessible to guests with mobility impairments.
If you need to reserve an accessible seat for this program or for questions regarding other reasonable accommodations we can provide, please contact info@revolutionaryspaces.org.