Online Lecture: Literary Ladies of the San Juan & Gulf Islands

Program No. 31184RJ

Date and Time

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. (ET)/ 11 a.m. (PT), for a one-hour lecture and Q&A about the lives and work of June Burn, Muriel Wylie Blanchet and Laurie King.

Tucked between the coasts of Washington and British Columbia, the San Juan and Gulf Islands form an archipelago of hundreds of islands that have long inspired creative spirits. Join historian Lorraine McConaghy to discover the lives and legacies of three remarkable women writers whose work spanned the 20th century. Through June Burn’s adventurous memoir "Living High," Muriel Wylie Blanchet’s classic coastal autobiography "The Curve of Time" and Laurie King’s gripping island-set novel "Folly," we will learn how these "ladies of the islands" interpreted the joys, isolation and beauty of island life. Discover how their distinctive sensibility helped shape the literary identity of the Pacific Northwest.

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General Notes

Your online lecture will take place live over the course of 1-2 hours. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly. This live online experience uses Zoom Webinar, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. You will receive a confirmation email when you enroll, and a reminder email one week and one day before, as well as the morning of the event with a link and instructions on how to tune in. You will not be pictured on screen during the lecture, but you will have the opportunity to ask the instructor live questions using the Q&A box. Unless otherwise noted, all those who enroll in this program receive access to the live event as well as a recording of the lecture that you can watch any time within the two weeks following the live event.

Featured Expert

Lorraine McConaghy

Dr. Lorraine McConaghy is the public historian at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle and a lecturer in museum studies at the University of Washington. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching History and the Robert Gray Medal, the most distinguished award in Washington State for a historian. Her ongoing research interests are focused on the Civil War in Washington Territory.

Please Note:

This expert may not be available for every date of the program

Date and Time

Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. (ET)/ 11 a.m. (PT), for a one-hour lecture and Q&A about the lives and work of June Burn, Muriel Wylie Blanchet and Laurie King.

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Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

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Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

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