Pennsylvania History Lectures

Our Brown Bag lecture series brings historians, archivists, authors, and community experts to Pennsburg to talk about the stories regional history tends to skip — Pennsylvania German biography, folk culture, agricultural life, immigration, and the people who shaped this landscape long before anyone thought to write it down.

Abstract black curved shapes on a white background, resembling a logo or icon

What the Brown Bag Series Is

Each lecture in the series is a focused presentation built around a specific topic, person, or theme drawn from our collections and the broader record of Pennsylvania German life. Speakers are chosen for their depth of knowledge and their ability to make that knowledge accessible — these are not dry academic presentations. They are conversations between people who know this material well and audiences who want to understand it.

 

Lunch is optional. Curiosity is not.

Upcoming Lectures

Upcoming talks, speaker names, topic summaries, and registration details will appear here as each lecture is confirmed. Each listing includes a direct link to register through our Levitate event platform.

Past Lecture Topics — A Sample of What We Cover

The range of subjects our series has explored gives a sense of what to expect and what may be coming next. Recent and past lectures have included:

 

  • Mountain Mary — the legend, the life, and the historical record behind one of Pennsylvania's most enduring folk figures
  • Pennsylvania German fraktur artists and the illuminated manuscript tradition
  • Local biography and community memory in the Perkiomen Valley
  • Agricultural history and the working life documented in our 1826 Pennsylvania barn
  • Schwenkfelder immigration and the journey from Silesia to southeastern Pennsylvania
  • Folk medicine, material culture, and everyday life among Pennsylvania German families

 

If a topic in this list brought you here, there is a good chance a future lecture — or our research library — can take you further.

Who Speaks at the Brown Bag Series

Our speakers come from a range of backgrounds: academic historians, independent researchers, published authors, archivists, and community experts with deep ties to the subjects they present. What they share is a genuine command of their material and a commitment to making regional history vivid for a general audience.

 

We draw on relationships with historians working across Pennsylvania German studies, genealogical research, folk art scholarship, and Protestant Reformation history. Several past speakers have contributed directly to our collections or collaborated on exhibit development — so the connection between the lecture and the institution runs deeper than a single afternoon.

How to Attend

Most Brown Bag lectures are free and open to the public. Some programs require advance registration, particularly when seating is limited or when the lecture is paired with a collection viewing or guided component.

 

  • Check the upcoming schedule on this page for dates, times, and registration requirements
  • Register through our program registration page or by contacting us directly
  • Lectures are held at Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
  • Light refreshments are sometimes provided — bring your lunch if you like

Stay Current on Lectures and Related Programs

New lectures are added throughout the year. Our News & Updates section publishes articles tied to lecture topics — background reading, collection highlights, and follow-up resources that extend what a single talk can cover. If you attended a lecture and want to go deeper, our research library and archives are open to the public and available by appointment.

Questions About the Lecture Series

  • How much does it cost to attend a Brown Bag lecture?

    Most lectures in the series are free and open to the public. Some programs with limited seating or added components may require advance registration. Check the individual event listing for details.

  • Do I need to bring my own lunch?

    You are welcome to bring a lunch — that is the spirit of the Brown Bag format. Light refreshments are sometimes provided depending on the program. The lecture itself is the main event, and you do not need to bring food to attend.

  • How do I find out when new lectures are scheduled?

    Brown Bags are scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month except for May

    New lectures are posted on this page as they are confirmed each season. You can also follow our News & Updates section, where we publish announcements and background articles tied to upcoming programs.

  • Can I suggest a topic or speaker for a future lecture?

    Yes. We welcome suggestions from the community, particularly from researchers, educators, and descendants with deep knowledge of specific subjects. Reach out through our contact page and tell us what you have in mind.

  • Are past lectures recorded or available online?

    Select past lectures have been recorded. Contact us directly to ask about availability for a specific program. We are also developing expanded digital access to program recordings as part of our broader collections work.