Published in the March 4, 2016 edition.

WAKEFIELD — Wakefield’s tradition of the Sweetser Lecture Series continues with this spring’s program of three events.

Each of the three Lectures will begin at 7:30 p.m. on their respective evenings in The Savings Bank Theatre at Wakefield High School, 60 Farm St., Wakefield. The venue is handicapped accessible.

Again this year, The Savings Bank of Wakefield has made a generous donation to help the Lecture series achieve its charitable goals.

The 2016 lectures will begin on Tuesday, March 29 with a talk by Anthony Amore, art heist authority and director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on “Stealing the Rembrandts: The Art of the Con.”

Amore is an expert in security matters, especially those related to cultural property and homeland security. In his current position, one of his tasks is to continue the efforts to recover 13 works of art stolen from the Gardner Museum in 1990. He has authored several books on art theft, fraud and forgery. He has 15 years of national security experience with the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Authority’s
Security Division.

Two weeks later, on Tuesday, April 12 author and historian Kate Clifford Larsen will speak about “Rosemary, the Hidden Kennedy Daughter.” Her recent biography on Rosemary Kennedy follows “Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman Portrait of an American Hero” and “The Assassin’s Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln.”

Larsen is a graduate of Simmons College with a bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees. She has also earned an MBA from Northeastern University and a doctorate in history from the University of New Hampshire.

The final lecture in the 2016 series will be held on Tuesday, May 3 when best-selling author, award-winning documentary producer and longtime history enthusiast Rick Beyer speaks on “The Ghost Army of World War II: Deceiving the Enemy with Illusion.” His television documentary about the Ghost Army has been presented on PBS several times since 2013. It has been honored with a CINE Golden Eagle Award and audience awards at several film festivals. His other documentary credits include Expedition
Apocalypse, The Wright Challenge, Secrets of Jamestown, The Patent Files and Timelab.

Beyer also has written a series of books on “The Greatest … Stories Never Told” about music, science, U.S. Presidents and war.

The Sweetser Lecture Series was established in the late 19th Century by a bequest in the will of Wakefield native Cornelius Sweetser, a wealthy shoe manufacturer who died in 1881. He left funds for an annual educational program for the benefit of the citizens of Wakefield. Also, any net proceeds after expenses were to be used for charitable efforts for the people of Wakefield. Recent recipients of the benefits include the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry and Wakefield programs of the Salvation Army and Mystic Valley Elder Services.

Admission is $10 for each Lecture with a discount season ticket available at $25 for all three. Students may attend for $5. Tickets may be purchased at the door the evenings of the lectures at Smith’s Drug Store, 390 Main St. or by mail request to Sweetser Lecture Series, P.O. Box 1734, Wakefield MA 01880.

Please enclose a check and a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive your tickets.