Ford Hall Forum Documents
The section includes digitized season programs, newsletters, and booklets that document the history of the Ford Hall Forum .
For a full list of the collection, including non-digitized items, browse the Ford Hall Forum Collection Finding Aid
-
Ford Hall Forum lecture program, undated
Ford Hall Forum
Ford Hall Forum advertising program from unknown date, explains purpose of forum, lists past speakers, and describes tiered membership program. Photographs of Jesse Jackson, Henry A. Kissinger, Corazon Aquino, Martin Luther King, Jr., Margaret Mead, Elie Wiesel, Robert Frost, and Eleanor Roosevelt featured.
-
Ford Hall Forum membership brochure, undated
Ford Hall Forum
Ford Hall Forum advertising program from unknown date, explains purpose of forum, lists past speakers, and describes tiered membership program.
-
Ford Hall Youth Forum program advertising "I Hate War!"
Ford Hall Forum
Flyer for Ford Hall Youth Forum lecture with Montana Congressman Jerry J. O'Connell, held at Ashburton Place at Bowdoin Street, on Sunday, April 24th, likely in 1938. Noted that it is the annual senior-junior night, and all Ford Hall members are invited. Transcription: "If war breaks out, can the United States stay out of it? If the United States goes to war what will I do? These questions are uppermost in the minds of the youth of the country today. Rearmament, collective action or isolation, battle ships or coastal fortifications, are topics to be heard every day. The Youth Forum is proud to present Congressman Jerry O'Connell speaking on this vital topic. Elected to the Montana Legislature when only 21, he is today, at the age of 29, a national figure. His resolute progressive views, and the capacity to fight for these views, places him in the forefront as a leader of the progressive youth of the country. The timeliness and importance of the topic, the appropriateness of the speaker, and the interest of the audience, marks this meeting as an outstanding event of the Youth Forum season."
-
Ford Hall Youth Forum program advertising "Syphilis: Our Oldest Public Enemy," undated
Ford Hall Forum
Flyer for Ford Hall Youth Forum lecture with Dr. M.A. Nelson, held at Ashburton Place at Bowdoin Street, on Wednesday, November 17th, unknown year. Transcription: "Concerning ourselves with more colorful problems, we have been allowing a dangerous enemy to make gigantic inroads. Syphilis, long nurtured by hypocrisy and false morality, has become one of the most prevalent diseases in the country. Today, one out of every ten citizens is its victim. The Youth Forum takes this opportunity of presenting a discussion of the social and economic, as well as medical, aspects of this disease. Dr. M. A. Nelson, outstanding authority on this subject, is a member of the faculties of Harvard, Tufts, and Simmons. Youthful, alert, and forceful, he has earned an enviable reputation as a speaker on syphilis. Dr. Nelson's presentation will be non-medical"
-
Photograph of Bill Murray at the Ford Hall Forum's First Amendment Award celebration, 2012
Michael Clarke
Photograph of Bill Murray onstage at the 2012 First Amendment Award celebration honoring James Downey.
-
Transcript of Sarah Vowell discussion of "Assassination Vacation at Ford Hall Forum, 4/20/2005
Sarah Vowell and Ford Hall Forum
Transcript of an audio address delivered at the Ford Hall Forum by author Sarah Vowell, titled "Assassination Vacation."
-
Photograph of Hanan Ashrawi Event, 1995
Black and white photograph of Ford Hall Forum lecture featuring Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian legislator, activist, and scholar, on May 18, 1995. Ashrawi's talk was entitled "The Side of Peace: A Personal Account"
-
David Duke Protest Flyer, 1991
International Committee Against Racism (InCAR)
Flyer advertising a protest against David Duke's lecture at the Ford Hall forum on Thursday, March 28, 1991. Protest organized by the International Committee Against Racism (InCAR) and the Progressive Labor Party. Black and white image of KKK members, one of which is holding their head, with caption below photo: "Klansmen get what they deserve from hundreds of workers and students organized by InCAR." Transcription of flyer's text: "David Duke, "former" head of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and currently a Louisiana State Senator, will be attempting to speak on Thursday the 28th. Duke is a racist who attempts to blame the economic problems workers face on black workers and immigrants. Duke helps the rich rulers of the U.S. "divide and conquer the working class so that they can continue with the cutbacks and layoffs. The depression and lousy conditions affect all working people. lnCAR believes in multi-racial unity in order to fight racism and fight back against the cutbacks and unemployment. We say "no free speech for fascists". We have tangled with DuKKKe before - what he and the KKK fear most is the organized strength of thousands of workers and students -- asian, latin, black and white -- determined to stop them. Please join us and bring everyone you know."
-
Transcript of the 1986 Ford Hall Forum featuring Betty Ford and Ann Richards
Betty Ford
Transcript of a forum featuring Former First Lady Betty Ford who shares experiences from her battle with drug and alcohol addiction. Speaking frankly about her own recovery, Mrs. Ford emphasizes the role that families can play in the "joy of recovery." Ann Richards offers practical advice for substance abusers and shares personal experiences about alcoholism.
-
Daniel Schorr First Amendment Award Remarks, 1986
Daniel Schorr
Transcript of remarks made by Daniel Schorr, American journalist, upon receiving the Ford Hall Forum First Amendment Award on May 11, 1986.
-
Transcript of the 1986 Ford Hall Forum featuring David McCullough
David G. MCCullough
Transcript of a forum by David McCullough, the noted historian and host of PBS' "The American Experience," which reveals the warmth and wisdom of one of the least known US Presidents, Harry S. Truman. Using anecdotes, letters and personal histories, McCullough unveils sane surprising insights into the man behind the President.
-
Ford Hall Forum 75 Years of Public Discourse Anniversary Booklet, 1983
Ford Hall Forum
Booklet created for the 75th anniversary of the Ford Hall Forum featuring a history of the Forum.
-
Invitation for Second Annual First Amendment Award, 1982
Ford Hall Forum
Invitation to the second annual Ford Hall Forum First Amendment Award, held Sunday, May 9th, 1982 at Northeastern University. Award honoring Maya Angelou.
-
Letter from Lady Bird Johnson, 1982
Lady Bird Johnson
Letter from former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson to Ford Hall Forum, declining an invitation to speak at the forum. She notes: "Now, as I approach my seventieth birthday, I am trying to slow down my life so as to have time for quiet visits with family and close friends and travel to some of those far away places I've dreamed of for years. It is clear that I simply have all I can handle next fall, and I am sorry."
-
Transcript of the 1982 Ford Hall Forum's First Amendment Award featuring Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Transcript of an audio address delivered by honoree Angelou at the Ford Hall Forum First Amendment Award, titled "The Responsibility to Speak for Freedom’s Sake."
-
Transcript of the 1982 Ford Hall Forum's First Amendment Award featuring Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou and Ford Hall Forum
Transcript of an audio address delivered by honoree Angelou at the Ford Hall Forum First Amendment Award, titled "The Responsibility to Speak for Freedom’s Sake."
-
Poster for 1979-1980 Ford Hall Forum Season, 1979
Ford Hall Forum
Program for the 1978-1979 Ford Hall Forum season to be held at the Alumni Auditorium at Northeastern University. Line up includes David Halberstam, Professor John Kenneth Galbraith, Ralph Nader, Samuel Schwartz, Nicholas Johnson, Midge Costanza, William F. Buckley, Jr., Fred Graham, Professor Arthur R. Miller, Joseph M. Jordan, Judge Samuel E. Zoll, Representative Barney Frank, and Vance Packard.
-
Ford Hall Forum Announcement of 65th Season, 1972
Ford Hall Forum
Pamphlet announcing the opening of the 65th season, 1972-1973, of the Ford Hall Forum. Season line up includes Ramsay Clark, R. Buckminster Fuller, Dr. Margaret Mead, Dr. Isaac Asimov, Ayn Rand, John O. Boone, Dr. Jerome G. Miller, Dr. Max Lerner, Dr. Rollo May, Dr. John R. Silber, Elma Lewis, Roy Wilkins, and J. Kenneth Galbraith. Pamphlet also includes membership information.
-
Transcript of a 1963 Ford Hall Forum Lecture by Malcolm X, "God’s Solution to America’s Race Problem"
Malcolm X. and Ford Hall Forum
Transcript of audio from address delivered at the Ford Hall Forum by Malcolm X on October 6, 1963. Lecture entitled "God's Solution to America's Race Problem."
-
Ford Hall Forum Pamphlet, "Lessons for Democracy", 1940
Ford Hall Forum
Pamphlet advertisement for a Ford Hall Forum lecture on Wednesday, February 21, 1940. Transcription of event description: "The Ford Jall Youth Forum presents five young people, each a native of a country which has recently undergone a radical change of government. They will tell us how, in their opinions, it was possible for such changes to take place. How they believe they might have been averted. And, most important, what program of action they suggest for those American youth who desire to develop and maintain a vital democracy." Speakers include Mr. Chen (Shanghai, China), Mr. Deutsch (Sudetenland), Mrs. Mikkola (Finland), Mr. Sonthoff (Germany), and Mr. Soria (Spain).
-
Ford Hall Forum Announcement of 32nd Season, 1939
Ford Hall Forum
Pamphlet announcing the opening of the 32nd season, 1939-1940, of the Ford Hall Forum. "Advance Announcement" printed on front cover. Season line up includes Vincent Sheean, Rabbi Joshua Loth Liebman, William Patrick Hitler, Stephen S. Wise, Ernest Dimnet, Herbert Agar, Professor Mortiz J. Bonn, Max Lerner, Louis Fischer, Hamilton Fish, Norman Thomas, Michael Williams, Louis K. Anspacher, Pierre Van Paassen, Maurice Hindus, Reverend Father E.F. Murphy, Harry Gideonse, T.V. Smith, Professor Harry Overstreet, Lewis Browne, Mortimer J. Adler, John Haynes Holmes. Pamphlet also lists adult education activities including the Ford Hall Forum Players, Dance Group, Course in Music Appreciation, and the Youth Forum.
-
Ford Hall Forum Announcement of 30th Season, 1937
Ford Hall Forum
Pamphlet announcing the opening of the 30th season, 1937-1938, of the Ford Hall Forum. "Advance Announcement" written on front cover. Season line up includes Stuart Chase, Klaus Mann, Emil Ludwig, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Ernest Dimnet, Dr. Louis Berg, Herbert Agar, Max Lerner, Heinz Liepmann, David Seabury, Horace M. Kallen, Scott Nearing, Karin Michaelis, S.K. Ratcliffe, Constantine Oumansky, Robert Gessner, Denis Conan Doyle, Martha Gellhorn, V.F. Calverton, Sir Norman Angell, Professor Harry A. Overstreet, Senator Robert M. La Follette, Dr. Massimo Salvadori, Mary Sandall, Reverend John Haynes Holmes, and Count Herman Keyserling. Pamphlet also lists adult education activities including Our Little Theatre, Dance Group, Discussion Group, Classes in English, German, and Russian, the Youth Forum, and the Ford Hall Forum Town Meetings.
-
Ford Hall Forum Announcement of 29th Season, 1936
Ford Hall Forum
Pamphlet announcing the opening of the 29th season, 1936-1937, of the Ford Hall Forum. "Advance Announcement" written on front cover. Season line up includes Ernst Toller, S. Miles Bouton, John Spivak, Bertrand Russell, Norman Thomas, Herbert Agar, John T. Flynn, Constantine A. Oumansky, Emil Ludwig, Lord Marley, Salvador de Madariaga, Vito Marcantonio, Smedley D. Butler, Arthur Willert, Dorothea Brande, Ernest Dimnet, Gerhart Segar, Jennie Lee, Erskine Caldwell, Alfred Adler, Shidzue Ishimoto, Harry A. Overstreet, Langston Hughes, Raoul de Sales, Helgo W. Culemann, John Hayes Holmes, Harold J. Laski, and Alexander Meiklejohn. Pamphlet also lists adult education activities including Our Little Theatre, Dance Group, Discussion Group, Classes in English, German, and Russian, the Youth Forum, and the Ford Hall Forum Town Meetings.
