Book signings highlighted at the Broome County Historical Society

On Dec. 12, the Broome County Historical Society is holding a special program and book signing with two authors of their critically acclaimed books. John Lancaster will discuss “The Great Race: Glory, Tragedy and the Dawn of American Aviation” and Amy Truesdell will speak on “From Binghamton to the Battlefield: The Civil War Letters of Rollin B. Truesdell.”   

Each author will talk about their book, and then will sign books after questions from the audience. Several books published by the Broome County Historical Society will also be available for purchase and signed by the local authors.

“The Great Air Race” is the transcontinental air race in October 1919 that saw scores of pilots competing for the fastest round-trip time between New York City and San Francisco in frail, open-cockpit biplanes. Their first stop was in a field in West Endicott. The race, despite much drama and tragedy, was a milestone in the development of commercial aviation.

“From Binghamton to the Battlefield” covers letters of Rollin B. Truesdell, a prolific letter writer while an enlistee of an infantry regiment – the 27th NY Volunteers – that was in the thick of some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The day-to-day life of this soldier depicts battles, disease, and the slow passage of time. 

The program will be in the Broome County History Center, located on the 2nd floor of the Broome County Public Library, 185 Court St., Binghamton, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12. Cookies, punch, and hot beverages will also be available.

For more information, call the Broome County Historical Society at (607) 778-2076.