Below is a list of currently available topics. Check back regularly to see updates to this selection. If you have any questions regarding these presentations, please contact me at karen@karenfortin.com.
HISTORICAL TOPICS (For General Audiences)
Children of the Orphan Trains
From the mid-1800s through the 1920s, approximately 250,000 children were “placed out” under a system that has come to be known as the orphan trains. They were sent primarily from Eastern cities to rural areas throughout the country as laborers on farms and in businesses and households. This is the story of how and why this system developed and what happened to some of these children.
Dreams and Desperation: Ernest Hemingway’s Family in Pinellas County, Florida
Ernest Hemingway was not the first member of his family to spend time in Florida. His parents, Clarence and Grace Hall Hemingway, wintered in Pinellas County throughout much of the 1920s. During this period, Clarence became caught up in the Florida land boom of the era and, like so many others, was left nearly destitute when it went bust. This presentation explores the ups and downs of the Hemingway family’s time in Pinellas County and how it later contributed to Clarence’s suicide in December 1928.
George’s Journey Back Home
The chance find of a set of military ID tags on a Florida beach revealed the story of World War I veteran George Harry Kountz of Cincinnati, Ohio. This is the story of how the tags were found, how George was identified, George's life and military service in both World War I and World War II, and the return of the tags to the family.
Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 NEW
In the early morning hours of September 8, 1900, Galveston, Texas, was struck by a hurricane that is still considered to be the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. The city was swallowed by a massive flood surge that flattened buildings and left thousands of people dead in its wake. Learn about the events of the deadly storm and how it resulted in major changes to how storms are predicted and tracked today.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Flood of 1889 NEW
On Friday, May 31, 1889, as an unprecedented amount of rain continued to fall, an earthen dam maintaining a lake at a hunting and fishing resort east of Pittsburgh gave way, releasing billions of gallons of water that rushed downhill toward the borough of Johnstown, wiping out multiple communities along the way. In the wake of the flood that killed more than 2,000 people and cost millions in damages, it became clear that the tragedy had mainly been the result of decisions made by the resort owners and could have been prevented.
Raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, 1704
Just before dawn on February 29, 1704, a large group of French soldiers and their Native American allies attacked the outlying English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts. The tragedy at Deerfield sent shockwaves throughout New England. We’ll explore what took place and how the story of Deerfield fits into the context of New England history.
The California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush saw hundreds of thousands of hopeful prospectors flocking to California from around the United States and from around the world. Although a few gained incredible riches, the fevered dreams of most were dashed to pieces. The story of these “forty-niners” made an indelible mark on California, the country, and American culture.
The Real Race Around the World in 80 Days NEW
In 1889, as a publicity stunt for rival publications, two women journalists sought to prove Jules Verne’s fictional prediction that it was possible to travel around the world in 80 days. Both attempted to beat the other back to New York City in 80 days or less by travelling in opposite directions. Their race took them through the far corners of the world, battling storms and train delays, and even led to a meeting with Jules Verne. Did they succeed and who won the race?
The Roaring Twenties: From Boom to Bust NEW
The 1920s was an extremely eventful decade in American history. It saw the start of prohibition, the passing of the 19th Amendment, the advent of talking pictures, the rise of organized crime, the introduction of flappers and the jazz age, and the tragedy of the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. Learn about these events and more as we time travel through the 1920s.
The Sinking of the Titanic
The sinking of the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage in April 1912 has become an indelible part of history. However, why and how it happened is a matter of debate. This presentation explores the facts and the legend surrounding this supposedly “unsinkable” ship and explores the stories of some of the passengers who were aboard.
The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918
Once a passing footnote in history, the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 gained new recognition and examination following the 100th anniversary in 2018, followed shortly after by the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. This program will talk about the history of the pandemic and its devastating effects on the United States.
The Story of Ellis Island
Although Ellis Island was an active immigration station for only 62 years, it processed more than 12 million people and became a lasting symbol of American immigration. This is the story of how Ellis Island came to be, who walked through its doors, what they experienced, and how the island’s role changed over time.
The Story of the Mayflower
We all learned about the voyage of the Mayflower in 1620 and the founding of Plymouth Colony in school but who were these people, what did they believe, why did they come to New England, what was the voyage like, and what happened when they arrived? This presentation explores these topics and more.
The Story of Thanksgiving – We all know the story of the first Thanksgiving and how our country came to celebrate this holiday. Or do we? Learn about what it was like at that first feast in 1621, when did it become a national holiday, how have observances changed over the centuries, and more about this uniquely American holiday.
HISTORICAL TOPICS (For General Audiences)
Children of the Orphan Trains
From the mid-1800s through the 1920s, approximately 250,000 children were “placed out” under a system that has come to be known as the orphan trains. They were sent primarily from Eastern cities to rural areas throughout the country as laborers on farms and in businesses and households. This is the story of how and why this system developed and what happened to some of these children.
Dreams and Desperation: Ernest Hemingway’s Family in Pinellas County, Florida
Ernest Hemingway was not the first member of his family to spend time in Florida. His parents, Clarence and Grace Hall Hemingway, wintered in Pinellas County throughout much of the 1920s. During this period, Clarence became caught up in the Florida land boom of the era and, like so many others, was left nearly destitute when it went bust. This presentation explores the ups and downs of the Hemingway family’s time in Pinellas County and how it later contributed to Clarence’s suicide in December 1928.
George’s Journey Back Home
The chance find of a set of military ID tags on a Florida beach revealed the story of World War I veteran George Harry Kountz of Cincinnati, Ohio. This is the story of how the tags were found, how George was identified, George's life and military service in both World War I and World War II, and the return of the tags to the family.
Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 NEW
In the early morning hours of September 8, 1900, Galveston, Texas, was struck by a hurricane that is still considered to be the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. The city was swallowed by a massive flood surge that flattened buildings and left thousands of people dead in its wake. Learn about the events of the deadly storm and how it resulted in major changes to how storms are predicted and tracked today.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Flood of 1889 NEW
On Friday, May 31, 1889, as an unprecedented amount of rain continued to fall, an earthen dam maintaining a lake at a hunting and fishing resort east of Pittsburgh gave way, releasing billions of gallons of water that rushed downhill toward the borough of Johnstown, wiping out multiple communities along the way. In the wake of the flood that killed more than 2,000 people and cost millions in damages, it became clear that the tragedy had mainly been the result of decisions made by the resort owners and could have been prevented.
Raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, 1704
Just before dawn on February 29, 1704, a large group of French soldiers and their Native American allies attacked the outlying English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts. The tragedy at Deerfield sent shockwaves throughout New England. We’ll explore what took place and how the story of Deerfield fits into the context of New England history.
The California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush saw hundreds of thousands of hopeful prospectors flocking to California from around the United States and from around the world. Although a few gained incredible riches, the fevered dreams of most were dashed to pieces. The story of these “forty-niners” made an indelible mark on California, the country, and American culture.
The Real Race Around the World in 80 Days NEW
In 1889, as a publicity stunt for rival publications, two women journalists sought to prove Jules Verne’s fictional prediction that it was possible to travel around the world in 80 days. Both attempted to beat the other back to New York City in 80 days or less by travelling in opposite directions. Their race took them through the far corners of the world, battling storms and train delays, and even led to a meeting with Jules Verne. Did they succeed and who won the race?
The Roaring Twenties: From Boom to Bust NEW
The 1920s was an extremely eventful decade in American history. It saw the start of prohibition, the passing of the 19th Amendment, the advent of talking pictures, the rise of organized crime, the introduction of flappers and the jazz age, and the tragedy of the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. Learn about these events and more as we time travel through the 1920s.
The Sinking of the Titanic
The sinking of the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage in April 1912 has become an indelible part of history. However, why and how it happened is a matter of debate. This presentation explores the facts and the legend surrounding this supposedly “unsinkable” ship and explores the stories of some of the passengers who were aboard.
The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918
Once a passing footnote in history, the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 gained new recognition and examination following the 100th anniversary in 2018, followed shortly after by the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. This program will talk about the history of the pandemic and its devastating effects on the United States.
The Story of Ellis Island
Although Ellis Island was an active immigration station for only 62 years, it processed more than 12 million people and became a lasting symbol of American immigration. This is the story of how Ellis Island came to be, who walked through its doors, what they experienced, and how the island’s role changed over time.
The Story of the Mayflower
We all learned about the voyage of the Mayflower in 1620 and the founding of Plymouth Colony in school but who were these people, what did they believe, why did they come to New England, what was the voyage like, and what happened when they arrived? This presentation explores these topics and more.
The Story of Thanksgiving – We all know the story of the first Thanksgiving and how our country came to celebrate this holiday. Or do we? Learn about what it was like at that first feast in 1621, when did it become a national holiday, how have observances changed over the centuries, and more about this uniquely American holiday.