Join local historian Jim Blount and author Brandon Miller as they lecture on America’s journey to freedom

Two special guest historians will share their expertise in two separate public lectures scheduled during the weeklong summer institute of Teaching American History to be held July 25 through July 29 on the campus of Miami Hamilton.

Hamiltonian Jim Blount will speak on “The Ignored Revolution: The Ohio Region, 1763-1788, Thursday, July 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 am. On Friday, July 29, from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m., Author Brandon Miller will discuss “Your Dutiful Child: Growing Up In Colonial America.” Both lectures are FREE and open to the public. They will be held in The Harry T. Wilks Conference Center.

The guest lectures culminate a week of seminars focusing on America during the years 1776-1787 when America was forging freedom. About 33 Hamilton City School teachers participate in the institute, which is part of a three-year program made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant, worth $731,631, was awarded to Hamilton City Schools and Miami University Hamilton in 2003 to develop, document, evaluate and disseminate innovative models of professional development for teachers in American history. The objective is to raise student achievement in American history as indicated by increased student scores on the Advanced Placement U.S. History examination and local testing in 5th and 8th grade U.S. History classes.

Faculty from Miami Hamilton and staff from Lane Libraries, which is a partner in the grant, will also present during the week.

For more information, contact 513-785-3277 or log on to www.americasjourney.org.