Walk Norwich
The William B. Stanley Lecture Series
After Mr. Stanley’s passing in 2009, the Norwich Historical Society’s Board of Directors solicited volunteers to form a committee to determine the most appropriate way to commemorate his passion for promoting Norwich History. The committee determined that it would implement an educational program that will endure for years to come, continuing his work and keeping Bill’s memory alive. The William B. Stanley Lecture Series features an annual lecture relevant to the history of Norwich delivered by an eminent scholar.
FUNDING and DONATION INFORMATION
In order to fund the ongoing lecture series, the Norwich Historical Society is engaged in a campaign to create an endowment the interest from which will be used to present the annual lectures. If you wish make a tax-deductible monetary donation, please send a check to “Norwich Historical Society” at 69 East Town Street, Norwich CT 06360.
About Bill Stanley
William B. “Bill” Stanley was born in Norwich on July 10, 1929. Some of the highlights of his life work include service as a U.S. Marine in the Korean Conflict, stockbroker for Smith-Barney Co., State Senator of the 19th District, member of the Norwich Rotary Club, 1991 Citizen of the Year by the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, leader of the Norwich Downtown Recovery effort following the collapse of the Spaulding Pond Dam in 1963, fundraising for the United Fund in the 1960s, founder of the Water Authority of Southeastern Connecticut, Papal award-recipient from the Vatican, leader in the restoration of Samuel Huntington’s Tomb, Norwich historian, author, husband, father of three children and grandfather.
Committee Members
Bill Champagne (Chair), Michael Aliano, Lottie B. Scott, Karen Cook, and Regan Miner
The William B. Stanley Lecture Series is proud to host Matthew Warshauer, Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University. Professor Warshauer and his graduate Kristin Steeves will present on Norwich statesman, Lafayette Foster, acting Vice President of the United States following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. Connecticut Senator Lafayette S. Foster was a man of remarkable intellect and accomplishment. Recognized by even his political opponents for wit and a generous spirit, he was nonetheless intractable in his belief that slavery was a moral wrong. Foster, however, was no abolitionist. Much Like Abraham Lincoln, Foster stood by the constitutional compromises that had created the Union and protected the peculiar institution. Yet he was opposed to its spread in the West and became an outspoken opponent when the South repealed the Missouri Compromise, insisting “that our domestic policy, on such a question as now agitates our country, is liberty, – liberty and right, not slavery and might. ”Dr. Matthew Warshauer is a Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University. The author of four books, he is a specialist on 19th century political and constitutional history and has written extensively on Andrew Jackson the Early Republic, and on the Connecticut’s role in the American Civil War. Dr. Warshauer currently serves as co-chair of the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission, and is helping to coordinate activities across the state to focus on the importance and lasting legacies of the American Civil War and Connecticut’s involvement in it.
