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Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

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Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

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Summer Conversational Series Adult & Teacher Education

“Revolutions of Thought - Changing the World with Ideas”

Sunday - Thursday

July 13 - 17, 2025


  • In-person:  The Concord School of Philosophy at Orchard House
  • Special Evening Edification offered on Thursday, July 17th
  • Virtual participation/Recordings available


registration

Our time is revolutionary. All things are undergoing reform and reconstruction, every citizen being a partner in the concern.


A. Bronson Alcott, "Tablets" (1868)

The Alcotts lived in an extraordinary place and in extraordinary times.

While the Revolutionary War occurred during the previous century (1775–1783), the literary and cultural revolution of ideas that emerged following the Civil War (1861–1865) also dramatically changed the lives of American citizens. 


  As Orchard House – the Alcott family home on Lexington Road in Concord – bore witness to unfolding events of the Revolutionary War on 19 April 1775, so were the Alcotts witness to extraordinary changes that came about through their thoughts and actions.  With fellow Transcendentalists Emerson, Fuller, Thoreau, and many others, the Alcotts saw the world as a place where individuals could improve themselves and the lives of others.  

 The Alcotts dedicated themselves to making the world a better place by boldly advocating for equality, actively supporting the anti-slavery movement and participating in the Underground Railroad, as well as fighting for educational rights and literacy for all.  Abigail May Alcott also championed the poor through her social welfare work, while Bronson Alcott drew attention to much-needed educational reform through his progressive schools.  Louisa May Alcott became part of the literary revolution not only with her groundbreaking juvenile fiction, but also through her articles about women’s rights and woman suffrage published in Lucy Stone’s The Woman’s Journal.  

.

 Today, through shared ideas, we may also discover ways to bring about reform with respect to the environment, education, equality, respect for the individual, and many other aspects of our world.  In this year’s Summer Conversational Series, participants will examine the meaning of revolutions of thought, and discuss how the power of ideas can change the world

REGISTRATION

2021 Summer Conversational Series Adult and Teacher Education

 

View / Download the daily schedule of presentations

Distinguished Presenters & Special Guests

Presenter / Guest Biographies

Mathieu Beau

Gabrielle Donnelly

Mathieu Beau

International School of Boston

Clare Comm

Gabrielle Donnelly

Mathieu Beau

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Cathlin Davis

Gabrielle Donnelly

Gabrielle Donnelly

University of California - Stanislaus

Gabrielle Donnelly

Gabrielle Donnelly

Gabrielle Donnelly

Journalist / Author

Mike Frederick

William Healey III

Jason Giannetti

Historian /

Non-profit Consultant

Jason Giannetti

William Healey III

Jason Giannetti

Attorney / Philosopher /Academic

William Healey III

William Healey III

William Healey III

Psychotherapist /

Framingham State University

Kristi Martin

William Healey III

William Healey III

Scholar / Historical Interpreter

Julie Morfee

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

Mark Ostrander

  University of California - Berkeley

/ De Anza College (Cupertino, CA)

Mark Ostrander

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

Mark Ostrander

  Storyteller / Content Creator / Educator

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

PhD Student - University of Szeged (Hungary)

David E. Storey

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

Roberta Pardi-Oláh

Boston College

Kristina West

"Evening Edification" Special Guest/s

"Evening Edification" Special Guest/s

Scholar / Author / Educator

"Evening Edification" Special Guest/s

"Evening Edification" Special Guest/s

"Evening Edification" Special Guest/s

Join us from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 17th to conclude our revolutionary Summer Series on a "high note"!

Revolutions of Thought — and Action!

"We'll Show You When We Come to Vote"

Woman's Suffrage Sheet Music from 1869, published by Whitney's Palace of Music in Toledo, OH

Discover more about The Concord School of Philosophy

The School had an unusual genesis, a heralded initial run, and a long-awaited revival.  Treat yourself to an overview of its origin story, insights into the people who made it happen, and an understanding of the ideals that continue to inspire it, including contemporaneous accounts and an image gallery!

More about The school

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Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

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