April 9, 2019 Kluge Center Hosts Events on "Earthrise" Photo, Ancient Maya Warfare

The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress invites the public to attend two events hosted by its renowned scholars in residence in April. Both events will be held in the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C. The events are free and open to the public however, tickets are suggested and are available on Eventbrite.

Tuesday, April 23, 4 p.m.
John W. Kluge Center (LJ-119)
Earthrise Day: Celebrating the Photograph That Changed (How We View) the World

Bruce Clarke, Paul Whitfield Horn Professor of Literature and Science at Texas Tech and Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, will moderate a discussion on the rich cultural impact of the photo on the US space program and the environmental movement.

On Christmas Eve, 1968, the NASA crew on Apollo 8 took the Earthrise photograph, the first photo of the earth from the perspective of the moon. It was immediately influential, and the first Earth Day followed soon after, in the spring of 1970.

A display and reception will follow the discussion.  Free tickets are available at earthriseday.eventbrite.com.

Thursday, April 25, 4 p.m.
John W. Kluge Center (LJ-119)
Flint, Shield and Fire: Exploring Ancient Maya Warfare

Stephen Houston, Dupee Family Professor of Social Science, Brown University, and Library of Congress Kislak Chair for the Study of the History and Cultures of the Early Americas, will discuss ancient Maya warfare and the meanings of conflict and its aftermath. Drawing on recent explorations, he will showcase the technology now revolutionizing the study of Pre-Columbian civilizations. 

A reception will follow. Free tickets are available at mayawarfare.eventbrite.com. 

Guests are also invited to visit the “Exploring the Early Americas” exhibit, which displays artifacts from the Jay I. Kislak Collection at the Library of Congress. View the collection online at loc.gov/exhibits/exploring-the-early-americas/.

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