WESTFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY TALES FROM EARLY AMERICAN JOURNALISM

The Westfield Historical Society will present its next First Wednesday Luncheon of 2016 on Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. at Echo Lake Country Club. Our speaker will be Dr. Tina Lesher who will be speaking on early American journalism.
As the only real source of information in the nation’s early days, newspapers played an integral role in the lives of those new to America. In storytelling fashion, Lesher, will pinpoint some interesting anecdotes that show the importance of the newspaper in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Lesher, professor emerita of journalism at William Paterson University of New Jersey, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Wheeling Jesuit University, a master’s from the University of Missouri School Of Journalism, and a doctorate in education, with a specialty in the teaching of writing, from Rutgers. As a Fulbright Scholar, she studied the lives of women in the United Arab Emirates and later penned a novel, The Abaya Chronicles, based on her research; the book won the 2011 award for the best novel from The National Federation of Press Women. She twice served as president of The New Jersey Press Women. During her newspaper career, she worked at The Scranton Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Hartford Courant, and was selected as a Knight Foundation Fellow to spend a summer as a faculty intern at The Columbus Dispatch. Dr. Lesher has resided in Westfield for 40 years.
Those wishing to attend the luncheon may make a reservation by calling Mary Orlando at (908) 233-2930. The luncheon fee of $30 (WHS members) or $35 (non-members) includes a three course meal, coffee/tea, and gratuity. The luncheon fee may be paid at the door. Westfield Historical Society memberships will also be available at the luncheon.
Echo Lake Country Club is at 515 Springfield Ave, Westfield. For Echo Lake County Club dress code information, visit: www.echolakecc.org. For more information on the Westfield Historical Society events, visit westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.