SMYRNA, Georgia — The Friends of the Smyrna Library will kick off its action-packed 2026 lecture series in March, and this year’s programming is specially curated to highlight local history tied to America’s Semiquincentennial, the nation’s ongoing 250th celebration.
On Sunday, April 12, author William Marchione, whose works include the definitive history of Smyrna, will present “James Edward Oglethorpe: Georgia’s Founding Father.” The lecture will start at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, May 3, Todd DeFeo, a member of the Friends of the Smyrna Library board and publisher and editor of Railfanning.org, will present a lecture on the “Transcontinental Railroad and the Standard Gauge.” The talk, which kicks off at 3 p.m., will highlight how the national railroad network led to the adoption of a standard gauge, including on the Western & Atlantic that passes through Smyrna.
On Monday, June 8, Marchione, a frequent lecturer at the Smyrna Library, will present “Patriot Painters: Peale, Stuart, Trumbull and Early American Art.” The lecture, which will start at 6:30 p.m., will highlight Charles Willson Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and John Trumbull, who created works that became American icons, including Stuart’s 1796 “Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington,” which appears on the dollar bill.
On Sunday, Aug. 30, Marc McAfee, a member of the Friends of the Smyrna Library board, will present “Titans of Mid-Century Modern Design.” The lecture, which starts at 3 p.m., explores houses in the sky, cars with rocket fins, and furniture that looked like it could fly — an introduction to the designers who brought the future to our homes.
The non-profit expects to add additional lectures throughout the year. For more information, visit FriendsOfSmyrnaLibrary.com.
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