You can't keep people down very long who want to be informed. History has proven that over and over again. An educated public is an empowered public. It's also why dictators form oppressive governments.

We can look for the roots of our public discourse to Greece, the cradle of democracy. Greeks would practice free speech, called a pangurikos, at a public assembly called a panguris.

During the 17th century in Europe, various societies were formed to allow people to meet and share information.

The French literary 'Salons' in the 1630's were famous gathering places for the educated aristocratic women of Paris. Since women were not allowed to attend universities, they would gather in their homes and lead discussions about topics such as art and literature. Many excellent writers came out of the Salons.

Scientific societies also were born. The Royal Society, also known as 'The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge," was founded on November 28, 1660, to discuss the latest developments in science, philosophy and the arts. The twelve founding fathers organized after a lecture at Gresham College by astronomer Christopher Wren.

In colonial America, the informed, or want-to-be's, created their own clubs. In 1727, Benjamin Franklin founded the Junto or "Leathern Apron" Club, a Friday night affair for self improvement, and to share their ideas on different subjects. These were men who wore a leather apron, like shoemakers, blacksmiths, silversmiths, or in the case of Franklin, a printer. The members shared their ideas, read papers, and circulated books with each other. In 1731, they combined their books and started the first public circulating library in America. Franklin went on to start the American Philosophical Society in 1744.

Trojans got into the act early on too! In 1818, Amos Eaton, who would later found RPI with Stephen Van Rensselaer, helped in the creation of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History, one of the first such natural history societies in America. Eaton, with medical doctors Moses Hale and Ira Wells organized the society. On November 9th, local elected officers included John D. Dicerkson, James Dalaby, David Buel, Obed Rice Amatus Robbins, Albert Pawling Heartt, along with Hall, Wells, and Amatus Robbins serving as curators.

They met at the school house near St Paul's Church. The Lyceum provided exhibits on natural history and published scientific papers until 1820 when Troy's first major fire destroyed most of the collections. By 1824, they had 2000 minerals and they continued publishing in an Albany newspaper called "The Plough Boy." In 1833, they were given new space in the court house for their collections. When Emma Willard began her Female Seminary in 1821, she used the lecture room of the Lyceum until her school was built.

When the Lyceum disbanded, the rocks and minerals were given to Eaton's RPI, and the natural history and art collections went to the Troy Public Library. That brings me to the point of this story - the Troy "panguris" will continue.

Beginning on February 25, next Monday, the Capital District Preservation Task Force will start hosting the monthly Ilium Roundtable, a monthly gathering for the public. A lecture will be held on a wide variety of topics from art, science, music, politics, and community. It will be held in the Troy Public Library, second floor gallery for the first three meetings, the fourth Monday of each month: February 25, March 25, and April 22. It is FREE and refreshments will be served, but seating is limited to the first 50 arrivals.

The first set of meetings cover the effect of suburban and urban sprawl on communities like Troy, and discussions on the results of the Mayor's preservation committee that met last year. Future meetings will feature discussions on the natural and geological history of Troy, discussions on art, literature, and science, past and present; and workshops on various topic - even how to keep a historic Troy postcard collection. There will always be a Troy slant as well.

So join us for the first Ilium Roundtable next Monday at 7PM at the Troy Public Library.