Texas Oil Boom: The “Gusher Age” - 1890s through 1920s
Tuesdays, 2:00 - 3:30 pm - Sep 5, 12, 19, 26
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
This course, taught by Michael Parrish, will provide an overview of the exploration, discovery, and production of petroleum in Texas from the earliest years through the huge strikes of the early 20th century along with the founding of major oil companies, refineries, and petrochemical operations. The most abundant and efficient source of energy ever known, oil launched Texas forward into unprecedented growth, prosperity, and greater heroic mythology, while also creating vexing power struggles, corruption, violence, socioeconomic upheaval, and political controversies.
BIO: Michael Parrish is the Bowers Professor of American History at Baylor. He specializes in Texas History, the Civil War & Reconstruction, Religion & War, and Sports in American History. In earlier years he was a research archivist at the LBJ Library and taught in the UT-Austin History Department. His most recent book is Doris Miller, Pearl Harbor, and the Birth of the Civil Rights Movement (Texas A&M University Press).
EMAIL: Michael_Parrish@baylor.edu
Advances in Historical Archaeology Centered Around College Campuses
Wednesdays, 10:00 - 11:30 am - Sep 6, 13, 20, 27
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
This historical archaeology course will feature studies on (or near) a college campus. It will focus on three sites: 1) the neighborhood that surrounded the Baylor campus before urban renewal; 2) a dig at the Salado College site; and 3) the nomination of the Baylor University male and female campuses in Independence TX to the National Register of Historic Places. Archaeologist Carol Macaulay will unfold the stories and the science.
BIO: Carol Macaulay holds a BS in History and Geography from the University of Texas at Austin and obtained her MA in Anthropology from Texas A&M University. As a member of the Anthropology Department for 18 years, she taught a number of archaeology courses, her favorites being Historical Archaeology and the Baylor University Archaeological Field School held each summer in central Texas. Now retired, she is in the process of publishing reports on those field schools as well as assisting in archaeological projects in Texas and New Mexico.
EMAIL: Carol_Macaulay@baylor.edu
Bob Anne’s Book Club: “Texas, Our Texas!”
Wednesdays, 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Sep 6, 20, Oct 4, 18
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
What could be better than Bob Anne Senter and four books about Texas? Hallie Crawford Stillwell’s memoir, I’ll Gather My Geese, starts in 1897 with great pioneer stories. Next is A Small Town in Texas by Glenn Dromgoole from the 50s and 60s in the town of Sour Lake, followed by two books on sports teams: Covering Home by Ruth Ryan (wife of baseball star Nolan Ryan) and Horns, Hogs & Nixon Coming by Terry Frei. Finally, God Save Texas by Texan Lawrence Wright: “A Journey into the Soul of the Lone Star State.”
BIO: Bob Anne Senter was born in Amarillo, Texas, and graduated from Baylor University. She was an executive secretary at Republic National Bank in Dallas before she married, and later worked as a secretary for the Superintendent of the Methodist Home, volunteered in several areas, served on the Midway School Board for 9 years, and was President of the Baylor Alumni Association. Later she took a part-time position as Director of Travel for the BAA that led to representing Lifelong Learning. She retired in 2016.
EMAIL: bobanne_senter@baylor.edu
Caregiving 101: Loving and Caring for Older Adults
Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30 am - Sep 7, 14, 21, 28
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
Caregiving is no easy experience. This 24/7 responsibility often comes without proper knowledge or preparation. This course taught by Natalee Oliver will help maneuver through this maze. What does it mean to be a caregiver, how can you do it successfully, and how can you ask for help? Don’t become the “hidden patient” by neglecting your own mental and physical needs. Learn guilt-free strategies to provide the best care for your loved one.
BIO: Natalee Oliver holds a DSW (Doctor of Social Work) from Tulane University, MSG (Master of Science in Gerontology) from Baylor, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) from Baylor, LNFA (Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator), and BBA (bachelor’s in business administration) from Baylor. She is a full-time professor at MCC in Long-Term Care Administration. She has served those 65+ in many different types of jobs including therapy, nursing homes, assisted living facility, marketing for Alzheimer’s facility, care manager, social worker, and home health.
EMAIL: noliver@mclennan.edu
Contemporary Israel: From Antiquity to Modernity
Thursdays, 1:30 - 3:00 pm - Sep 7, 14, 21, 28
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
It is impossible to accurately navigate the complex Middle East without understanding its Jewish roots and Jewish historical attachment to the land. In this course Bill Baker brings a lifetime of first-hand Middle East residency and scholarship to this volatile region. The course examines early Hebrew ethnogenesis, 1400 years of intermittent self-rule, diaspora, persecution, reconstitution, statehood, the Palestinian narrative, Arab-Israeli wars, and Israel’s new existential threat: Iran.
BIO: Bill Baker was raised in Nazareth, Israel, the son of Baptist missionaries. He speaks, reads, and writes Arabic and Hebrew natively. After graduating from Baylor University, he served for 27 years in Air Force intelligence. His overseas assignments include military attaché to Tel Aviv, Israel; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Doha, Qatar. Following his military career, he taught Arabic and Middle East Studies at Baylor for 20 years. Bill has authored three books: an Arabic script-writing-workbook, a book on the Arab-Islamic culture, and a book on the Jewish-Israeli narrative.
EMAIL: bill_baker@baylor.edu
The Road to Revolution
Mondays, 2:00 - 4:00 pm - Sep 25, Oct 2 and Oct 9 (3 sessions)
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
In 1763, the American colonies were proud members of the British Empire, but just over a decade later, they broke away and declared independence. What happened? This course taught by Julie Anne Sweet takes an in-depth look at those events to uncover their true history and to provide background and context for the many 250th anniversary commemorations coming in the next few years.
BIO: Julie Anne Sweet is a Professor of History and the Director of the Military Studies program, and she has taught at Baylor for twenty years and is known for her unique teaching style. She specializes in early America, especially the eighteenth century. While her research interests focus on colonial Georgia, her teaching preferences favor anything to do with the American Revolution.
EMAIL: Julie_Sweet@baylor.edu
Photography and American Culture
Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:30 am - Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
Photographers have impacted our American culture for more than 150 years, influencing fashion, sports, and ecology, among other fields, and have pushed public opinion in new directions to change the course of history. This course, taught by Sam Wilson, covers the works and impact of several notable photographers, among them the unique contributions of Ansel Adams, Matthew Brady, Annie Leibovitz, Joe Rosenthal, Dorothea Lange, and Eadweard Muybridge, with a session on Fred Gildersleeve's impact as a Waco photographer.
BIO: Sam Wilson retired from a career as an engineer with Raytheon in 2019. Following retirement, he and his wife, Barbara, moved to Waco to be closer to their two children and two grandchildren. He is a Baylor graduate, class of ’78, as a Physics and Math double major. He’s the former president of Plano Photography Club where he achieved a Master Photographer rating.
EMAIL: sam_wilson@yahoo.com
Every Song Has a Story
Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 pm - Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
This class led by Chris Wommack presents a fun opportunity to take a look at the stories behind the songs that have made country music so popular for generations. Special attention will be paid to the songwriters who, in many instances, made the recording artists famous by presenting them with an unforgettable song. Country music was built as a genre on its ability to tell a story; interested participants may be writing song lyrics to tell their own stories!
BIO: Chris Wommack has been a worship pastor all his adult life. For 12 years, he did music evangelism, leading worship for youth camps and revivals all over the United States. In 2012, he co-wrote “That’s My Cross,” which won first place in the Music City Songwriting Content in Nashville. He continues to work with other songwriters, especially many new to songwriting. He served for many years as Associate Pastor and Worship Leader at First Baptist Woodway.
EMAIL: chriswbu@yahoo.com
SOLD OUT - The Holocaust: The Most Recorded Crime in History (Part 1)
Wednesdays, 4:00 - 5:30 -pm - Oct 4, 11, 18, 25
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
The 20th Century was, by far, the bloodiest century in human history. In the midst of this, many consider the Holocaust, the Nazi-planned extermination of Jews in Europe, to be the climax of mass murder and atrocity in a long history of tragedies. Brad Livingstone will explore the roots of anti-Semitism, the rise of the Nazi Party, the discrimination toward the German Jews, the complex workings of the Nazi concentration camp system, and the eventual murder of 6,000,000 Jews.
BIO: Brad Livingstone received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Oklahoma State while also playing basketball for the Cowboys. He has been an educator at Oaks Christian High School in southern California, served as Dean of Students, Principal and history teacher at Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, VA, and taught at Vanguard in Waco in the mid-1990s, returning in 2017 to continue teaching history at Vanguard with a specialty in WWII.
EMAIL: brad_livingstone@vanguard.org
Natural Wonders of Our World -- and Some You’ve Never Heard Of
Mondays, 10:00 - 11:30 am - October 9, 16, 23, 30
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
This course taught by Larry Smith will explore the world’s natural wonders as well as introduce sites that may be unknown to participants. Approximately 100 known and unknown locations will be covered, helping students to create a “bucket list” for future travel to such designated locations. The sites will also be reviewed as it relates to the future of plants, animals, and geology.
BIO: Larry Smith served as National Park Ranger at Badlands National Park and has extensive travel in the USA and the world. He has been a secondary science teacher, taught numerous classes for LLL, given over 500 public presentations, authored over 250 weekly astronomy newspaper articles, is a Certified Seaman and a Texas Certified Nurseryman.
EMAIL: llsmith47@aol.com
Canceled- College Financial Aid for Grandparents -- A Primer
Saturday, 9:00 - 3:00 pm - October 14 (One Day)
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
Are you hoping to help provide your grandchildren with opportunities to obtain a college education? Do you wonder how student financial aid is determined? Meet with Terry Wright as he covers several topics related to this topic, such as the FAFSA, verification, federal aid, scholarships, and student loans. Learn the typical steps that must be followed, such as documentation and timelines. Get tips and recommendations on how to plan ahead to maximize multiple opportunities.
BIO: Terry Wright, MBA, worked as the Systems Analyst in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Baylor for 20 years. His responsibilities included the accuracy of the software packaging rules used in the automated notifications for the Federal Verification Process, and those used in determining eligibility in awarding and the disbursement of Federal, State, and Institutional Aid to Baylor Students. He responded to financial aid surveys and reports to government agencies on behalf of the University, as well providing reports to Baylor departments. He also served as Baylor’s representative on several state financial aid committees.
EMAIL: Terry_Wright@baylor.edu
Taking Another Look at the JFK Assassination in 1963
Tuesdays, 1:30 - 3:00 pm - Oct 24, 31, and Nov 7, 14
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
Join Ashley Cruseturner as he reflects on John F. Kennedy, the handsome and charismatic scion of a wealthy Irish Catholic family who embodied the energy and excitement of a world in transition during the mid-20th Century. Kennedy represented the promise and optimism of post-war affluence. Struck down in Dallas suddenly on November 22, 1963, his assassination shocked the nation and left a hole in our national soul from which we never fully recovered.
BIO: Ashley Cruseturner has taught American history at MCC since 2000. He is a two-time graduate of Baylor University and also did post-graduate work in history at Tulane University. Cruseturner is a student of American political and intellectual history. His interests include the Age of Jackson, the American South, Civil Rights, and the American presidency. He has served as a political commentator for local television and public radio and writes periodically for the Waco Tribune Herald.
EMAIL: acruseturner@mclennan.edu
Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and God
Thursday, October 26 -10:00am
Monday, October 30- 1:00pm
Thursday, November 9- 10:00am
Thursday, November 16- 10:00am
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
What are the significant spiritual influences in a world filled with rapidly changing science and technology? Robert J. Marks unfolds his fascinating research and studies on scientists and their faith, the challenges of artificial intelligence, and the documented stories of near-death experiences. Hear the story Marks co-wrote with William Dembski, For a Greater Purpose about Walter Bradley. He also served as an expert witness in the courtroom and has been a defender of intelligent design.
BIO: Robert J. Marks is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Baylor. He is the Director and Senior Fellow of the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Marks is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He is a John 3:16 Christian.
EMAIL: Robert_Marks@baylor.edu
Waco History 101: Our Community’s Journey to Now
Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Oct 26 and Nov 2, 9, 16
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
This class will be a whirlwind tour through the fascinating history of the place we call home. Whether you are a longtime Wacoan or are new to Central Texas, there have been compelling events, individuals and happenings to learn about from the interesting historical landscape all around us. Instructor Stephen Sloan, Director of Baylor’s Institute for Oral History, produces a podcast about Waco’s known and unknown past and will share his stories in this course.
BIO: Stephen Sloan is a Professor of History and the Director of the Institute for Oral History at Baylor University. His interests in community and public history led him to create the Waco History app and website (www.wacohistory.org) as well as co-create the Waco History Podcast. He frequently speaks, provides tours, and consults on local history programming and exhibits.
EMAIL: Stephen_Sloan@baylor.edu
Handel’s “Messiah”
Wednesdays, 10:00 am - Noon - Nov 1, 8, 15 (3 Sessions)
Location: Mayborn Museum $20 per person
Handel’s “Messiah” is the most popular large choral work ever written, with hundreds of performances each year. David W. Music will guide you through many of the interesting features that make up the work. The course will include listening to various portions of the work and descriptions of the beginnings of oratorio, the Baroque period (in which “Messiah” was written), Handel’s life, and an introduction to some of the composer’s other oratorios. Knowledge of musical notation is not required.
BIO: David W. Music is Professor Emeritus of Music at Baylor University, where he taught 2002-2018. He previously served on the faculties of Southwestern Baptist Seminary and California Baptist College. He has conducted Handel’s “Messiah” three times, sung in a dozen other performances of the work, and written several articles on the oratorio.
EMAIL: David_Music@baylor.edu