On Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 2-3:30pm on Zoom and streamed to our Kingsley Room, join us for a virtual program and learn more about the American Founding Fathers.
They are hailed as heroes, visionaries, and the architects of American democracy—but who were the Founding Fathers, really? This lecture separates fact from fiction to explore the complex lives, beliefs, and contradictions of figures like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton. We’ll examine the myths that surround them, the truths history reveals, and the lasting legacies they left on the nation they helped create.
Historian Valerie Gugala has been studying Abraham and Mary Lincoln for as long as she can remember. Her interest in the Lincolns led her to an interest in the Presidents, First Ladies, and their families. She and her husband have traveled to many Presidential Libraries across the country, and they aim to visit all of them in the next few years.
Like all Southbury Public Library programs, this program is free to attend and open to anyone regardless of town of residency. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. Registration is required. Zoom invitation links will be sent via email on the day of the program. Please visit the link below for more information and to register.
Registration Link:
Zoom https://www.southburylibrary.org/zoom-founding-fathers
In Person https://www.southburylibrary.org/event/person-founding-fathers