Box 2

The Speaker's Millennium Lecture program was established in 2000 by then Speaker of the House, Matthew J. Ryan. The House partners with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council to host the event. It is a "gift to Pennsylvanian's who enjoy history, music and the humanities." Speakers include James McPherson (2000), who reflected on Abraham Lincoln's message for the new millennium, Studs Terkel (2001), who explored national life from the Great Depression to the present and discussed the need to overcome historical amnesia, Henry Louis Gates (2002), who spoke on integrating the African American experience into American history, Anna Quindlen (2003), who talked about how reading changed her life, David McCullough (2004), who spoke on the value of American history and its personal impact on him, John Updike (2007), who spoke on the legacy of President James Buchanan, the only Pennsylvanian to become president of the United States, Frank McCourt (2008) who reflected on how McCourt's growth as an individual and as a writer was influenced by his experiences with childhood poverty and immigration. The holdings include tickets, programs, photographs, videotapes and DVDs.