Past Topics
Oakwood & Dayton History
Inside Fifth and Ludlow: Creating a Podcast about Local History
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Fifth and Ludlow by George Drake, Jr., a podcast story of 1920s Dayton, inspired by a mysterious letter found beneath a bathtub.
The Forgotten: Hidden Heroes
Join Johnnie Freeman, author of The Forgotten: Hidden Heroes (Dayton 1913 Flood), for a presentation on some overlooked heroes of Dayton's past.
The Oakwood Street Railway
The 125th anniversary of the conversion of the Oakwood Street Railway conversion from horse to electric on May 16, 1895 is the centerpiece of this interesting exploration of the history of transportation in Oakwood.
Grand Eccentrics: When Dayton Was America's Silicon Valley
Author Mark Bernstein will discussion the various towering figures of Dayton history covered in his book.
The Day Lincoln Spoke in Dayton
Come discover what it was like to hear Abraham Lincoln on his visit to Dayton in 1859. Please join Wright Library and the Oakwood Historical Society at this presentation with Jim Crabtree as Lincoln.
Jack Egan, Dayton Lawyer - A Short History of Dayton's Dark Side from 1899 to 1936
Prominent defense attorney for a bewildering assortment of bank robbers, bootleggers, hit men, con men, and gangsters from 1900 until his death in 1936. Presented by David Greer, Esq.
Railway Transportation and the Rise of the South Dayton Suburbs
How the earliest suburban plats to the south of Dayton developed under the influence of steam and electric-powered railways. Presented by David Schmidt.
Street Names of Dayton
The men and women whose streets bear their name and how they contributed to the history of Dayton. Presented by Angie Hoschouer.
The Classic Architecture of Oakwood
Learn about some of Oakwood's well-preserved homes and public buildings representing the best of 20th century architecture in America. Presented by Mark W. Risley.
Fall 2018 WWII Series
Dayton Code Breakers
Top-secret Navy project during WWII, underway to build a decoding machine, right here in NCR Building 26. Learn about the success of the WAVES and Joseph Desch in this remarkable story. Presented by Jim Charters.
Polonium in the Playhouse
An intriguing story of secret chemical production for the atomic bomb. Learn about how the Talbot Family's "Runnymede Playhouse" in Oakwood served as a top-secret laboratory where the triggering mechanisms for the atomic bombs were developed. The author of the book Polonium in the Playhouse, Linda Carrick Thomas, will be presenting.
The Russian Spy in the Dayton Manhattan Project
Learn about George Koval: American-born spy who gave secrets of the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Presented by Dr. Don Sullenger, who worked at Mound Laboratories from July 1962 until August 1992.