LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, has posted its October programs and events. Unless otherwise noted, the events are free and open to the public, but registration is required by visiting http://www.lancasterhistory.org or calling 717-392-4633.

Two presentations will be offered: "Southern Unionism During the Antebellum and Civil War Era" on Thursday, Oct. 10, and "The Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College" on Thursday, Oct. 17. For both events, doors will open and a reception will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the lecture at 5:30 p.m. The lectures will also be livestreamed via Zoom. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendees. The online versions of the programs will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory's YouTube channel after the event.

On Oct. 10, Barton Myers, a professor of history at Washington & Lee University, will speak about Southerners who supported the Union before and during the Civil War, including those who served within the federal government. Among these Unionists was Buchanan's secretary of the treasury, Howell Cobb of Georgia.

On Oct. 17, three speakers will share research conducted by the Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College Study Group. Since 2021, the group has explored the connections between the college's namesakes, its early trustees, and the system of slavery. The speakers will share the group's research into the college's history from its institutional connections to slavery to its black students' involvement in the Civil Rights Movement to the ongoing relationships between the college and the broader Lancaster community. The speakers will be Gretchel Hathaway, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Franklin & Marshall College; Louise LoBello, the digital and special collections librarian at the college; and Shianne Hargrove, communications and research services assistant at LancasterHistory.

LancasterHistory will host "Past, Present, Pumpkins!" on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m. The program is geared for families with children age 12 and under. Attendees may discover the historical origins of the pumpkin and why many people decorate their front porches each year with this vegetable. Participants may also decorate a small jack-o'-lantern. A ticket fee has been set for children to cover the cost of supplies. Admission is free for adults. LancasterHistory requests the presence of one adult per household.

A Collections Up Close program, "Vote Baby Vote: Thaddeus Stevens and the Fight for Democracy, is slated for Oct. 19. Identical programs will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. During Collections Up Close programs, LancasterHistory staff members and visiting experts highlight documents, photos, and artifacts from LancasterHistory's collections.

After the Civil War, Thaddeus Stevens led the effort to remake the nation as a multiracial democracy that lived up to its promise of freedom and equality for all of its citizens. Although that promise was not realized during Stevens' lifetime, his legacy has lived on in movements for voting rights, civil rights, and democracy over the last 150 years. The upcoming program will offer a tour and pop-up exhibit that explores the fight for democracy.

LancasterHistory will be open during its regular operating hours on Monday, Oct. 14, which is Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day.