April's Lunch & Learn

Lunch & Learn

Co-sponsored by Friends of the Folsom Library

and the Rensselaer Retirees Forum

 

“Granville Hicks: 

The Man, His Books, and the Controversy”

Presenter:  Bob Mayo

Rensselaer Library Director Bob Mayo will give a talk on novelist, literary critic and biographer Granville Hicks (1901-1982), who served as an Assistant Professor of English at Rensselaer from 1929 until his controversial dismissal in 1935. He continued to live in nearby Grafton until the late 1970’s.

The talk is complemented by a Folsom Library exhibit on Hicks. For more information on the exhibit, see http://www.lib.rpi.edu/documents/admin/hicks.pdf

Friday, April 13 
12:00 to 1:00 pm

Folsom Library Fischbach Room

Free! Everyone is welcome!

    Bring your lunch or purchase one at the Library Cafe.

Dessert will be provided.




Just a few of the many books written by Hicks and one written about him.




Adrienne Birchler
Coordinator
Friends of the Folsom Library

All Things Dutch, An Upcoming Lecture on Campus


I just learned that this Friday, March 23, Rensselaer professor Bram van Heuveln is going to talk about his home country Holland.  If you're interested in All Things Dutch, you'll hear about the culture, customs, and "other curious behavior from the Netherlands," along with a few things about our local Dutch history that you may not know, such as the correct pronunciation of Rensselaer!

 
The program is being presented by the Office of International Programs in room 3502 in the Rensselaer Union at 12:00 noon.

I hope to see some of you there!

Adrienne Birchler
Coordinator
Friends of the Folsom Library

Granville Hicks Exhibit

A Granville Hicks exhibit is on display at the Folsom Library. Hicks (1901-1982) was a prominent author, literary critic, and early socialist. He was an Assistant Professor of English at Rensselaer from 1929 to 1935 when his dismissal became a controversy over academic freedom. On display are his books, NYTimes reviews of his books, photos, documents associated with his dismissal and a recording of a portion of the 1946 nationwide radio program, America’s Town Meeting of the Air, featuring Hicks debating with fellow author Charles Jackson on the topic “Would You Rather Live in a Small Town or a Big City?” 

The exhibit was assembled by library director Bob Mayo.  All of the books on exhibit are from Bob's personal collection, but the library has copies for circulation, thanks to the generosity of longtime Friends member Ken Hoffman '73.

Adrienne Birchler

Coordinator

Friends of the Folsom Library