PRESENTATIONS AND LECTURES

New for 2025! The "Women Who Measured the Stars!"

In the late 19th and early 20th Century Women Astronomers of the Harvard College Observatory calculated the distances, temperatures and composition of the stars. Facing many challenges including sexism from their male colleagues who's common belief was that women were not worthy of earning college degrees and could never achieve serious scientific accomplishments, Henrietta Swan Leavitt led the shift in astronomical understanding of the scale and understanding of the universe; Annie Jump Cannon was instrumental in the development of the first first serious attempt to organize and classify stars based on their temperatures and spectral types; and Cecilia Payne-Gaposhkin discovered that Stars were primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. Everyone has heard of Galileo and Newton, now it’s time to learn about the Women Who Measured the Stars.

                                                         

Peaches and Baseball "There's No Crying in Baseball"

The 1992 film, A League of Their Own, introduced modern America to the Rockford Peaches and the Women of the Greatest Generation who played professional baseball to keep up the morale on the American Home Front during WW2. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was so successful that it continued for nearly a decade after the war ended. Who were the real women who joined the league that inspired the film? Join Rebecca Tulloch, a modern Rockford Peach and manager of the "League of Our Own" vintage softball team, as she traces the truth and fiction about the film, A League of their Own. 

PRESS

New York Times Article, Sept 2, 2017 - On Line Version

New York Times Article, Sept 2, 2017 - JPG Version

Kendal County Record 2018

Aurora Beacon 2018

League of Our Own Vintage Softball League Web Site

Peaches and Baseball Flyer - pdf download

The "Fly Girls" of WW2, the WASPS

Over 1100 women served their country during World War II as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP, flying every military aircraft flown by the American Forces from the PT-17 Stearman to the P51 Mustang and B-17 Flying Fortress. Air ferry missions, target practice for artillery crews, and aircraft maintenance shakedown flights are just a few of the types of missions flown by these American Heroines. Join Rebecca Sutera Tulloch, a certified FAA pilot, as she tells the story of the WASP as only a pilot can.

Invasion Home Front! Piccadilly to Pasadena

“Invasion Home Front! Piccadilly to Pasadena” explores how Americans rose up to protect our home fronts during World War Two. After the shock of Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans along the West Coast feared a similar attack could be launched on Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. In the early morning hours of February 25th, 1942, Americans were shaken out of their beds by the roaring moans of Air Raid Sirens and the blasts of Anti-Aircraft Guns firing into the the night sky over the city of Los Angeles. Panicked citizens went out into the streets to see the war that had finally come to the shores of the continental United States. Learning from the successes our British cousins who successfully held back the invading Germans in the Battle of Britain, Americans across our country volunteered in the millions to protect our shores, skies, and neighbors from the threats of the enemy. Join Rebecca Tulloch as she shares the story of common American and British citizens taking on uncommon roles to protect our Home Fronts from the threats of enemy invasion from Piccadilly to Pasadena. 

Wet Plate Photography and the American Civil War

A presentation on the history and use of wet plate photography during the Civil War. The audience will learn about the history of the birth of photography, famous 19th century photographers such as Louis Daguerre and Matthew Brady; a description of the wet plate photographic process, and a demonstration of a wet plate 1850s box camera.

This program is appropriate for both Adults and Younger Audiences (grade 4 and up). Audience participation is encouraged and includes dressing up participants in period clothing to sit for a Civil War Style period Photograph.

Participants Photo Gallery

Little Women's Louisa May Alcott & Civil War Nursing

Author of the classic children's story, "Little Women", and many others; Louisa May Alcott also served as one of 5000 women who worked in the Union Army hospitals during the Civil War. This presentation examines why Louisa May Alcott and many others left their homes to serve their country in hospitals and medical units for the Union Amy. Why did they go? What were their responsibilities? What type of conditions did they work in? These are just a few of the questions this presentation explores. Based on Alcott's experiences at the front described in her book "Hospital Sketches".

Read Hospital Sketches On-LIne 

For Halloween: "Spirits and Séances"

Victorian Spiritualism was fueled by over 600,000 dead Civil War soldiers leaving their loved ones behind who were searching for comfort from the beyond. Rebecca Tulloch traces through discussion and demonstration the origins of the American Spiritualism movement through the story of Maggie Fox and her sisters; learn how mediums talked to the spirits; see photos of ghosts taken by spirit photographers; and those that set out to discredit them as charlatans. Participate in a friendly séance in which ghosts from beyond some times make their presence known to the audience. Fun for the Halloween season and enjoyable for all ages over 10 years old.!

Spinning Wheel Demonstrations

Looking for something different at your next conference of historical event. How about a Spinning Wheel Demonstration? This interactive hands on demonstration for children and adults will explore the origins of fiber spinning for use in clothing, explain the techniques of spinning fiber, and demonstrate the production of yard on the wool spinning wheel. 

Interactive and hands on for students and participants.

Letters of the Civil War

Drawing on letters from the front lines of the American Civil War, Rebecca Tulloch and fellow Historical Interpreter Phil Lauricella share the thoughts and feelings the families of Civil War soldiers felt when letters from their loved ones arrived home from the war; and return letters written to soldiers in the trenches pausing for a moment the daily anxieties of war to read a letter from his wife or sweet heart. In observance of the 160th Anniversary of the Civil War, Prairie Star Productions presents "Letters of the Civil War", a 60 minute audio video performance with period attired Civil War Actors dramatically interpreting over 30 original letters from the war accompanied by music, period photographs, and historical reenactment video footage.

Civil War Coehorn Mortar Demonstration Firings!

The Civil War Coehorn Mortar was an essential piece of mobile artillery used by the Civil War infantryman at sieges such as the Battle of Petersburg. The mortar is available for live fire demonstrations and presentations for historical events, concerts, firework displays, and special occasions."


PRESS HERE FOR VIDEO OF MORTAR FIRING

Science History (STEM)
The "Women Who Measured the Stars!"

Holiday Programs
Spirits and Séances

Demonstrations
Civil War Coehorn Mortar Firings
Pioneer Spinning Wheel Demos

Ensemble Performances
Letters of the Civil War
War Letters

Full Day Programs for Schools and Camps
Ensemble performances customized for schools to 
provide a full or half day set of presentation for 
school children.