As the Semiquincentennial anniversary of America's independence fast approaches, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and PBS Books have joined together to produce “Visions of America: All Stories, All People, All Places,” a digital-first series of videos and virtual conversations that explore our nation with a renewed interest in the places, people and stories that have contributed to the America we live in today.

Hosted by PBS Books and the sixth director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Crosby Kemper leads a video tour through three lesser-known historical sites that  symbolize an aspect of the spirit of our independence, probing what makes each of these so important to our national identity. 

Please join us for the final screening and discussion with local historians and researchers Thursday evenings in July. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended, not required, as a way to help us plan refreshments.

Discovering 18th & Vine in Kansas City

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990 to keep the stories of its players and how they eventually broke the barriers of segregation in Major League Baseball  alive, especially Jackie Robinson. While the conversation will lead with baseball, it will wend towards jazz since the museum also shares its building with the American Jazz Museum.

This discussion will be led by David H. Anthony, III, PhD. Dr. Anthony is Professor Emeritus of African History at UC Santa Cruz. He was born in New York City. He graduated from New York University, and earned his MA and PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught at Coppin State College (now University), The University of Oregon, and since 1988, the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Anthony’s focus on research includes: African and African-American history, art, music, literature and cinema; Eastern and Southern Africa; African languages; Indian Ocean world; African and African American linkages; Islamic civilization; African diaspora studies; World history.