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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Each month, the Dover Historical Society hosts a speaker. This past Wednesday, at their annual meeting, the Historical Society brought Professor Paul Jankowski to the Dover Public Library to speak. The Society's events are always free, open to the public, and stocked with a variety of refreshments, and this meeting was no exception. Jankowski’s talk was packed, the meeting room bursting to the seams with those wishing to see the Brandeis professor speak. An expert on World War I, Jankowski spoke to the Dover audience about the United States’ involvement in the war.
Before Jankowski spoke, however, the Dover Historical Society presented the Dover Preservation Award to the Ebenezer Richards House. Taken care of by Dr. Holly Kelsey, the house has been in the Richards family for many generations. “We are thrilled that this house continues to provide such a beautiful image of what Dover is about and its history,” Claire Burke said.
Burke then continued on to introduce Jankowski. Educated at Oxford University, Jankowski teaches the history of modern Europe and of France in particular. “I don’t often get a chance to speak about the American involvement. However, since it’s the 100-year anniversary, it is quite appropriate,” he began. Jankowski covered a number of topics related to the American involvement, much of it revolving around the reason the US entered the Great War in the first place. “The book 'Why We Fought' stressed British propaganda, and the American Anglophile receptivity to this propaganda, as well as Wilson’s idealism,” he explained.
Jankowski went on to speak about the change in opinions regarding whether the US should or should not have entered the war. However, he also spoke about whether that was even the correct argument to be having; it wasn’t if they should, but why they did. There still is not a conclusive answer to this question, but Jankowski’s exploration of the differing theories was riveting and engaging.
The Dover Historical Society will host a talk on American Carousel Art on April 26, and a Caryl House Garden Party on June 4.
