Author Nelson Johnson, Six Week Spring Series Tours and Lectures - Scotch Plains Public Library

The Scotch Plains Public Library, for six weeks this spring,  is offering a series of tours and lectures that will focus on the cities of New Jersey.  World-class speakers and authors will present programs on the cities they know best.  All programs are free of charge and open to all interested adult participants.  Attendees may register for individual sessions or the entire series. 

Fans of the TV hit, Boardwalk Empire, are welcome to spend a couple of hours during the show’s hiatus, to hear Nelson Johnson, author of the book of that inspired the series. The author of Boardwalk Empire will speak about his newest book, The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City, doubtless touching on the role and legacy of Nucky Johnson, the real-life inspiration for TV’s Nucky Thompson, and his cronies. Nelson Johnson will speak and sign books on Saturday, April 16th at 2:00 pm.

Discussion and audience input will be an important part of all the programs. By bringing together leading humanities scholars with residents of our communities, the series will examine the roles that our cities play in our lives now, their impact in the past, and possibilities for future engagement between the suburban and urban communities in our area.  This series of programs was made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Scotch Plains Public Library and through a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.  The Scotch Plains Library is located at 1927 Bartle Avenue, one block from Park Avenue in the center of town.  These programs, with the exception of an optional restaurant lunch on April 8th,   are free and open to all interested participants. Attendees can register through the library’s website: http://www.scotlib.org or by phone: 908-322-5007, x.204 or e-mail library@scotlib.org