Bullitt Lecture in American History
The Bullitt Lecture is made possible by a gift from the late Priscilla Bullitt Collins in memory of her father, A. Scott Bullitt. Presented annually since 2001, it has featured presidential historians, popular historians, public intellectuals and professors of American history, including: George Packer, Timothy Egan, Taylor Branch, Gail Collins, Joseph Ellis, Isabel Wilkerson, and Michael Eric Dyson. It has highlighted a significant period, event, or individual in American history.
The Bullitt Lecture in American History 2026
Dr. Ned Blackhawk
Our 2026 lecture took place on March 10 and featured Dr. Ned Blackhawk discussing the hidden history of 20th Century Native American activism. Drawn from the last chapters of the National Book Award-winning study, "The Rediscovery of America," this talk offered insights into the hidden histories of Native American activists whose lives and legacies helped to reshape the American Century.
The next Bullitt Lecture will take place in spring 2027.
Past Events
Watch and listen to past A. Scott Bullitt Lectures in American History, dating back to 2007.
Program Sponsors and Partners
The A. Scott Bullitt Lecture in American History is made possible by a generous gift from the late Priscilla Bullitt Collins in honor of her father, A. Scott Bullitt. This event is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation, author series sponsor Gary Kunis, and media sponsor The Seattle Times, and presented in partnership with The Elliott Bay Book Co.