Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Major Historical Trends: A Fever in the Heartland
Speaker
Ira Meislik
This discussion group meets every two weeks to
delve into a period of history guided by a quality
book. This quarter we’ll use A Fever in the Heartland
by Timothy Egan, an acclaimed American author
and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. This powerful
book explores the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan in
1920s Indiana. It centers on David C. Stephenson,
a conman who became the Grand Dragon of the
Klan, exploiting fears and racism to gain power. It
highlights how one courageous woman, Madge
Oberholtzer, exposed Stephenson’s crimes, leading to
the Klan’s decline.
There are no prerequisites to join this group’s
discussions other than a curiosity about history.
Each session will be led by a different member of
our long-running group. The discussions will be
interactive, offering an opportunity to gain insights
and viewpoints from people of diverse backgrounds,
experiences and perspectives.
The book is available online in paperback, hardcover,
and Kindle versions. Look for A Fever in the Heartland
by Timothy Egan, ISBN 978-0-7352-2528-2
(paperback).
April 7: Through Chapter 6; pages 1–77
April 21: Chapters 7–11; pages 78–135
May 5: Chapters 12–18; pages 139–233
May 19: Chapters 19–23; pages 237–303
June 2: Chapters 25–Epilogue 14; pages 304–354
delve into a period of history guided by a quality
book. This quarter we’ll use A Fever in the Heartland
by Timothy Egan, an acclaimed American author
and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. This powerful
book explores the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan in
1920s Indiana. It centers on David C. Stephenson,
a conman who became the Grand Dragon of the
Klan, exploiting fears and racism to gain power. It
highlights how one courageous woman, Madge
Oberholtzer, exposed Stephenson’s crimes, leading to
the Klan’s decline.
There are no prerequisites to join this group’s
discussions other than a curiosity about history.
Each session will be led by a different member of
our long-running group. The discussions will be
interactive, offering an opportunity to gain insights
and viewpoints from people of diverse backgrounds,
experiences and perspectives.
The book is available online in paperback, hardcover,
and Kindle versions. Look for A Fever in the Heartland
by Timothy Egan, ISBN 978-0-7352-2528-2
(paperback).
April 7: Through Chapter 6; pages 1–77
April 21: Chapters 7–11; pages 78–135
May 5: Chapters 12–18; pages 139–233
May 19: Chapters 19–23; pages 237–303
June 2: Chapters 25–Epilogue 14; pages 304–354
Speaker Bio
Ira Meislik, who last took a history
class, History of Western Civilization, taught by
Professor Eugene Dominic Genovese, in 1962, is
living proof that you don’t have to be an expert to
love this group.
class, History of Western Civilization, taught by
Professor Eugene Dominic Genovese, in 1962, is
living proof that you don’t have to be an expert to
love this group.
07
21
05
19
02