Fairview Satellite: The French Expeditions to Lake Erie: An American Legacy
An 18th Century betting person might have predicted that North America would have become French as opposed to British, Spanish, or a brand-new, independent country: The United States. Lake Erie was a frenetic epicenter of French activities that surrounded the conflict and turmoil between political forces that shaped the region. Much of the direct influence has disappeared from collective memory, but we continue to experience dozens of historic French contributions. These include our beloved Presque Isle (French for almost an island); French Creek; Celeron, New York (home of television icon, Lucile Ball, which was named for a French explorer); and the Chicago River system, which was discovered by French expedition leaders, Marquette and Joliet.
Join us as JES Scholar-in-Residence Dr. David Frew details the primary regional French contributions and weaves them into a story that continues through modern times. His integration of French influences will spark curiosities and suggest exciting new explorations.
This event is part of the JES's USA 250 Event Series.
JES Satellite Programming is sponsored by Erie Insurance.
Location: Lincoln Community Center Library – 1255 Manchester Road, Erie, PA 16505
Date/Time: Monday, March 9, 6-7:30PM
Admission: FREE
*If you do NOT receive a letter from info@jeserie.org within 24-48 hours regarding your registration, please check your spam or junk folder. Thank you!
Historian and author David Frew, Ph.D., is a JES Scholar-in-Residence. An emeritus professor at Gannon University, he held a variety of administrative positions during a 33-year career. He is also emeritus director of the Erie County Historical Society/Hagen History Center, where he had previously served as Executive Director for five years, and is president of his own management consulting business.
After beginning with a five-year career in engineering, Frew took a teaching fellowship at Kent State University, where he earned a doctorate in Organizational Behavior in 1970. His love of Lake Erie brought him back to Erie where he became a faculty member and the founding director of Gannon's MBA Program. His career at Gannon included administrative posts as Director of the Health Services Administration and Public Administration Programs, as well as Dean of the Graduate School. In 1982 and 1983, he took a leave from Gannon to complete a post-doctorate at Kent State University where he completed advanced coursework in psychology and research design. He was also a visiting professor at Mercyhurst University for four years.
Dr. Frew has authored or co-authored 40 books, most recently “Accidental Parade: A 13,000-Year History of Presque Isle,” and more than 100 articles, cases, and papers. His work has appeared in publications ranging from refereed journals such as The Journal of Applied Psychology to popular magazines such as Sail Magazine and Cruising World.
Growing up on Erie's lower west side as a proud "Bay Rat," Frew was known to join neighborhood kids playing and marauding along the west bayfront. He has written for years about his beloved Presque Isle and his adventures on the Great Lakes. In the “On the Waterfront Series” for the JES, the Scholar-in-Residence takes note of life in and around the water.
