Pilgrimages on the Western Front of World War I: From the End of the War to Contemporary Practices
Caverne du Dragon Museum and Chateau-Thierry, France, October 19-20, 2023
At this international conference focused on the history of pilgrimages to World War I sites, Dr. Finkelstein presented her research on the Gold Star pilgrimages to a group of interdisciplinary scholars. Held on the Western Front itself, the conference included field trips to local museums and historic sites that remain part of Western Front pilgrimages even today.
Learn more about the conference here.
Experiencing War Memorials: Feeling, Place, and Public Memory
The University of Alabama, February 23-24, 2023
Dr. Finkelstein presented a paper and chaired a panel at this conference being jointly hosted by the University of Alabama and the University of South Alabama’s Center for the Study of War & Memory.
Learn more here.
The National WWII Museum
September 25, 2022 (virtual program)
In honor of Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, Dr. Finkelstein did a virtual “Meet the Author” event with The National WWII Museum to discuss her book, Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945. Her remarks explored the history of Gold Star mothers and widows as well as the ways that the women of World War I paved the way for the next generation of women who served in World War II.
Recording available here.
Arlington Central Library, Arlington, Virginia
Wednesday May 25, 2022, 6:30-7:30 pm in the Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
Dr. Finkelstein discussed her book, “Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917 – 1945.” She share the history of the pioneering American women who commemorated World War I through action-based memorial projects and who advocated for women to be recognized for their wartime service.
Learn more here: arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/8906253
Great War Symposium: “Lesser-Known Stories of the Great War: Women, Minorities, Civilians, and the Untold”
Co-hosted by the George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War and the First Division Museum
May 13, 2022 at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL
National Museum of Health and Medicine Science Café
Tuesday April 26, 2022, 6:00-7:00 pm ET (virtual)
The National Museum of Health and Medicine invited Dr. Finkelstein to be a guest speaker at their April 2022 Science Café program. She discussed her new book, Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945, for which she conducted extensive research in the museum’s collections.
Watch the recording here.
Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, Virginia
April 5, 2022, 7:00 pm
The Fairfax County Public Library’s Patrick Henry Branch invited Dr. Finkelstein to present a book talk about Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945.
Learn more here: librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/8721620
The National WWI Museum and Memorial
Sunday March 6, 2022, 3:00 pm ET/2:00pm CT (virtual)
The National WWI Museum and Memorial invited Dr. Finkelstein to participate in their “WWI Changed Us” lecture series. In her talk, titled “WWI Changed Us: Women and Remembrance,” she explained how American women defined service and sacrifice in the WWI era and tried to use their unconventional approach to memorialization to shift how the U.S. approached commemoration and veterans’ issues.
Watch the recording here.
Arlington County Government Women’s Leadership Group
February 24, 2022 (private virtual event)
Dr. Finkelstein spoke to employees with the Arlington County Government Women’s Leadership Group about lessons that can be learned from the unrecognized female veterans of World War I.
American Legion Post 270 Distinguished Speaker Program
Tuesday January 25, 2022 (virtual)
American Legion Post 270 invited Dr. Finkelstein to discuss her new book as part of their Distinguished Speaker Program.
University of Maryland Nathan and Jeanette Miller Center for Historical Studies
Thursday December 9, 2021 at 12 noon ET (virtual)
Dr. Finkelstein returned to the University of Maryland Department of History, where she earned her doctorate, to give a presentation at the Nathan and Jeanette Miller Center for Historical Studies. She discussed her new book, Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945.
Learn more here: history.umd.edu/events/miller-center-women-commemorating-wwi-allison-s-finkelstein
Evanston History Center: Under the Buffalo (Virtual) Lecture Series
Thursday September 30, 2021 at 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT (virtual)
On September 30, 2021, Dr. Finkelstein gave a virtual lecture for the Evanston History Center as part of their Under the Buffalo (Virtual) Lecture Series. She discussed her new book, Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945.
University of Alabama Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Monday September 20, 2021 at 12 noon CT (private virtual event)
On September 20, 2021, Dr. Finkelstein was a guest speaker for the University of Alabama Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s course “Talking About Books.” She shared her new book, Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945.
