The L. D. Johnson Memorial Lecture series was established in 1982 in honor of the life and work of the late L. D. Johnson (1917-1981), chaplain at Furman from February 17, 1967 to December 20, 1981. It is an appropriate honor, since for so many years he blessed the Furman community with his example, leadership, love and support. Dr. Johnson often called on Furman, individually and collectively, to stop and consider who we are and what we are about. An article that appeared in the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen on December 23, 1981, a few days after his death, included these words which have inspired the title and substance of this lecture series: "Dr. L. D. Johnson knew what really mattered." The lecture series each year brings to the forefront one Furman faculty member or administrator and one alum to discuss, in his or her own way, "What Really Matters."

Browse the online catalog or contact Special Collections and Archives.

The Charles Townes Lecture Series on Faith and Reason was established in 2006 by its namesake, 1935 Furman graduate and 1964 Nobel Laureate Charles H. Townes, to highlight the common ground between science and religion. 

Browse the online catalog or contact Special Collections and Archives.

Furman’s Francis W. Bonner American Scholar Lecture Series began in 2011 to highlight the ideals of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honorary society, and the centrality of liberal learning in the American experience. It is named in honor and memory of a longtime university provost and tireless advocate for the establishment of a PBK chapter at Furman.

August 31, 2011: Benjamin Storey, "Of Bookworms and Busybodies."

August 30, 2012: Bryan Bibb, “Why Are You Here? Religious Studies, the Bible, and the Purpose of Liberal Arts Education.”

August 29, 2013: Liz Bouzarth, “Change: A Mathematician's Perspective on the Liberal Arts.”

September 4, 2014: Dr. Alison Roark,“Productive Stupidity : The Sciences and the Art of Asking Good Questions”

September 1, 2015: Laura Kennedy, "'They should be taught to love it’: Music and the Liberal Arts"

August 31, 2016: Brandon Inabinet, "CLP-Millennial School of the Illiberal Arts."

Contact Special Collections and Archives.