In 2026, BWW is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by inviting prominent authors to speak to us about the craft of writing and researching their books covering different periods of American history. Each author offers new perspectives and insights on what happened, how and why. We are grateful for this exciting lineup of speakers. All talks will be presented at Barrington’s White House. Mark your calendars!
Scott Ellsworth, Sunday, April 12
Scott Ellsworth is author of “Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America.” Doors open at 1:00pm.
Was John Wilkes Booth working with the Confederate Secret Service? Who made up the diverse coalition that helped win the war? The book has been described by one of our BWW members as: “A real page turner. It reads like a novel.”
Currently a teacher at the University of Michigan, Scott Ellsworth’s career includes working as a historian at the Smithsonian Institution, writing for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, as well as authoring four other books.
Patrick Griffin, Saturday, June 13
Patrick Griffin is author of “American Leviathan: Empire, Nation, and Revolutionary Frontier.” Doors open at 9:00am.
What did the American Revolution fundamentally change between individuals and their relationship to society? How was America’s frontier West shaped during its most formative period? Learn what your favorite cowboy movie may have gotten wrong.
Griffin is a Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame and author of four other popular history books.
Pamela Toler, Sunday, November 8
Pamela Toler is author of “The Dragon From Chicago:The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany.” Doors open at 1:00pm.
Toler tells the remarkable story of The Chicago Tribune’s Berlin bureau chief, Sigrid Schultz, who was one of the first reporters to warn of Hitler’s rise and the dangers of Nazism. Where did she get the courage to stand up against Hitler and tell the truth about what was happening in Germany leading up to and during WWII?
Holding a PhD in History from the University of Chicago, Toler is the author of ten popular history books. She asks her readers to look at the world today with a slightly different lens.
As mentioned above, all talks will be held at Barrington’s White House. There’s no need for BWW members to register but please let your Program Chair know if you plan to attend and if you have questions you’d like the author to address. A public event will follow each BWW talk and members are welcome to attend at no cost.
Feel free to share this post and invite friends and family and other guests to the author public event. Guests can learn more and purchase tickets through this link: https://www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/events/
