About This Series

Dr. Carol Reynolds (aka "Professor Carol") guides you through America's cultural history in this 4-hour program on DVD.  While not a complete curriculum on American music and art, the program deals with many important developments as people from across the world came to settle in America and brought their artistic heritage with them. 

The primary theme of this program concerns Regionalism (who settled where), Legacy (the cultural traditions that define us), and Preservation (how we value the legacy).

Professor Carol traveled the country to talk with 38 performers, scholars, and specialists with wide-ranging expertise.  The art historian Dr. Peter Mooz offers substantial commentary along with poetry specialist Bob Falls.  Professor Louis Nabors explains and sings Negro Spirituals and work songs.  Lt. Col. Jim Keene introduces you to the West Point Band and the "Hellcats" Drum and Bugle Corps.  Dr. Michael Dodds contrasts the music of the Puritans and Moravians and performs a violin sonata typical of the Moravian style.  Jesse Brown takes you to his shop where he builds and demonstrates Cajun accordions.  And there is much more, including a Broadway musician, a Ponca Powwow, a tour of George Washington's gristmill, Colonial Williamsburg, a Dentzel Carousel, historic churches and missions, and railroad lore.  (Check out the complete list here.)

The program presents this rich history in context, showing the numerous connections between the arts and everything else.  In exploring the arts, we discover the things that were important to people in a particular time and place and find valuable insights into the lives of famous and ordinary people.

More materials exploring America's artistic heritage (admittedly a vast undertaking) will be added to this web site, so come back and visit it frequently.