John Williams Lecture Series
Lectures at Cannon Beach History Center & Museum
Lectures occur each month from February through June. Lectures take place in the History Center’s John Williams Classroom. Seating for lectures are limited. Complimentary refreshments are provided. Lectures are FREE, but donations are gladly accepted.
The lecture series includes FREE programs presented by experts on a variety of topics. Typically, lectures are about one hour, and include some face-to-face time with acclaimed authors, professors, and researchers on historical, artistic, and cultural topics.
2024 John Williams Lecture Series Schedule:
Annual Membership Meeting – Friday, November 8 at 4:00 p.m.
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites members and the public to its Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, November 8 at 4 p.m. This gathering will offer a reflective look at the museum’s achievements over the past year and provide a platform to engage with the museum’s future direction. Following the meeting, acclaimed author Alisha Hamel will present her latest book, When Duty Called: An Oral History of Oregon’s World War II Veterans.
Hamel’s new book is a powerful collection of personal stories from Oregon’s World War II veterans, recounting their experiences in some of the most significant engagements of the war. From Pearl Harbor to the Bataan Death March, D-Day, and the final bombing raid over Japan involving a Hollywood star, these stories are rich with themes of death, hardship, romance, and humor. The veterans featured in the book wanted their stories remembered not for themselves, but for their fallen comrades and for their families to better understand their role in World War II.
The book is based on a series of oral and video interviews, which Hamel carefully edited into short stories that bring these vivid experiences to life for readers. This event will be an opportunity to hear firsthand about Hamel’s work preserving these crucial pieces of history.
With over 20 years of experience in military history, Hamel holds a master’s degree in military history specializing in World War II, with a thesis on Australian-American relations during the war. She co-authored Oregon Military History, a comprehensive exploration of Oregon’s military heritage, and has written numerous articles and produced several short films. Her documentary Jungleers in Battle about the 41st Infantry Division during World War II has received critical acclaim. A veteran of Desert Storm herself, Hamel shares a unique connection with the veterans whose stories she captures.
This event is free and open to the public—members and non-members alike are encouraged to attend.