The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly in Monteagle concludes its 142nd consecutive summer season of enrichment on Sunday, Aug. 4, after eight weeks featuring visiting lecturers and performers presenting morning and evening programs open to the public; unless otherwise noted, morning lectures begin at 10:45 a.m. (Warren Chapel) and evening lectures at 7:45 p.m. (Auditorium). Anyone interested in a full schedule of the Monteagle Assembly’s 2024 program is welcome to pick one up at the Assembly Office (tel. 931-924-2286), or to peruse the schedule on the Assembly’s website at <MonteagleSundaySchoolAssembly.org>.

Among the programs this week are lectures on presidential wills and estates, the ways enslavement was depicted by pro-slavery antebellum artists, the Vanderbilt family, and the Wizard of Oz—something for everyone!

University of Alabama associate professor Dr. Rachel Stephens has amassed an impressive CV since graduating from the University of the South with a degree in art history in 2002. After earning a master’s degree in art history from Vanderbilt University and a PhD from the University of Iowa, Stephens held several prestigious fellowships, including stints at the Virginia Historical Society, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Art. Her recent book, “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Concealment of Slavery in Antebellum American Art,” explores the ways in which pro-slavery artists depicted enslaved persons in their art during the antebellum period. In an interview about her book, Stephens said, “so much of the history of enslaved people, and the people themselves was intentionally covered up or written out. This project was a first attempt to uncover the visual record of Southern slavery and understand how the visual arts were utilized in pro-slavery arguments.” She will lecture about her book on Wednesday morning and read from the book in the Writers’ Grove at 2:30 p.m., Friday.

When you start reading about Dr. Elliot Engel’s work, there’s a good chance you’ll think at least some of it is fiction—because how one man has managed to do so much in one lifetime is astounding! Known as Professor Engel, he’s lauded for making history and literature accessible to many through his educational CDs and DVDs, which have been used in classrooms and by individuals around the country for decades. Author of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Stephen Chbosky, said that learning from Professor Engel’s teachings yields impressive results: “when you go to parties, you will seem a lot smarter than you actually are. God knows it worked for me.” He will lecture Thursday evening about “The Vanderbilts: All of them!” and again Friday morning on “L. Frank Baum and The Wizard of Oz.” Chances are good you’ll learn a lot—and laugh a lot, too.

Additional events in the week ahead include the following:

Tuesday, July 30, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel — Joshua Denton lectures on “The Amazing Stories of Our Presidents’ Wills and Estates.”

Tuesday/Thursday, July 30 & Aug. 1, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Cottage #126B—Virginia Curry leads an intermediate knitting workshop. Participants will make a basic hat with faux fur pom. Advance registration required with limited space; $25 activity fee.

Tuesday, July 30, 2:30 p.m., Writers’ Grove—Kirk Battle reads from his book, “These Hallowed Halls,” with a signing to follow. Rain location is Warren Chapel.

Wednesday, July 31, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel—Kirk Battle lectures on Rebuilding the University of the South after the Civil War.

Wednesday, July 31, 1 p.m., Meet at Auditorium—University of the South professor Gerald “Smith” Smith leads a tour of the Sewanee Cemetery, in which participants can see where some of the characters in Kirk Battle’s book, “These Hallowed Halls,” are buried.

Thursday, Aug. 1, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel—the minister of the week, Rev. James B. Cook, lectures on the Mama Ada Story.