Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- George Will wrote, "We honor Jefferson, but we live in Hamilton's country, a mighty industrial nation with a strong central government."

Grand Valley State University's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies and the Spring Lake District Library partnered to organize a series of lectures around the exhibit, "Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made America."

The exhibit will be at the Spring Lake District Library, 123 E. Exchange St., from July 10-August 18.

"We live in Alexander Hamilton's America. He continues to fascinate us because he tells us about who we are as Americans," said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. "We are proud to partner with New York Historical Society and the Spring Lake District Library to bring this Hamilton exhibit to West Michigan and to explore the life of this fascinating founding father in greater detail."

The lecture series begins at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 10, when Jason Duncan, assistant professor of history at Aquinas College, will discuss "Alexander Hamilton: The Life of a Revolutionary American." Duncan worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for three years after earning a doctorate in history from the University of Iowa.

Other lectures will begin at 7 p.m. as follows:

July 18: "The Roots of the Hamilton-Jefferson Feud," by John Pinheiro, assistant professor of history at Aquinas College.

July 25: "God, Politics and Alexander Hamilton," by James D. Bratt, professor of history at Calvin College.

August 1: "The Indispensable Aide: Alexander Hamilton," by Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

For more information about the Hamilton exhibit or featured speakers, contact Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at (616) 331-2770, or visit www.allpresidents.org.