The Brendan Gill Lecture, an annual public event presented at no charge to the larger Bronxville community, is one of many programs the Conservancy offers to increase the awareness of the village’s history and appreciation of its culture. The event honors former Bronxville resident, Brendan Gill, who has been called “the greatest public citizen of our time in the realm of architecture, planning, and historic preservation.”
2019 | Douglas Brinkley
Presidential Historian and Award-winning author Douglas Brinkley presented the Bronxville Historical Conservancy’s 21st annual Brendan Gill Lecture on June 7 at the Bronxville High School auditorium. Brinkley captivated the crowd with stories from his new book, American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race. Published in April by Harper in time for the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing, Brinkley’s book is a NY Times bestseller with critics proclaiming the book an “exciting narrative,” “compelling and comprehensive.” Brinkley’s presentation to a packed house confirmed his talents for scholarship and story telling.
2020 | Jill Lepore
Harvard University Professor and bestselling author Jill Lepore presented the 22nd Annual Gill Lecture at Sarah Lawrence College’s Reisinger Auditorium. Covering American History beginning in 10,000 and moving rapidly to the discovery and founding of America, Lepore used a series of images to show how perspectives on the world evolved as knowledge expanded. Many of the Lepore’s observations confirmed attitudes that seem particular to our current political divide, such as partisanship and immigrant hostility, have been around for a long time. Lepore’s most recent book, IF THEN: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future, will be published in September 2020.
2022 | David Rubenstein
More than 200 people gathered to hear David Rubenstein deliver the 23rd Brendan Gill Lecture on April 29, 2022 in the Barbara Walters Campus Center. President Cristle Collins Judd welcomed the Bronxville Historical Conservancy (BHC) membership and friends to the first greater community gathering at the College since 2019.
BHC Co-Chair William Zambelli, in his welcoming remarks, thanked President Judd, his Co-Chair Erin Saluti as well as members of the Conservancy Board for their efforts in making the event possible before turning the podium overt to Conservancy Co-Founder and Gill Committee Chair Marilynn Hill who introduced Rubenstein. Hill highlighted Rubenstein’s many accomplishments as an investor, best-selling author, television host, and most important, his commitment to historic preservation through his patriotic philanthropy. Rubenstein is an original signer of The Giving Pledge, promising to dedicate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes, much of which is related to American History.
< 1 2
