The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Since 1996, the Gilder Lehrman Institute has presented eminent historians discussing major topics in American history. Now you can hear these lectures on your computer or on a portable media player. Our archive of more than 100 audio podcasts is available for free here, simply by registering and signing in below.

Video versions of many of these podcasts are available in the Affiliate's Resources by Era section.

  • Current podcast
    Ira Berlin “Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North America”
    • February 07, 2000
    • Running Time: 00:33:18
  • Current podcast
    Blair Ruble “Reform Cities: Chicago, Osaka and Moscow”
    • July 12, 2010, New York University
    • Running Time: 45:00

Featured lectures

The Founding Era
  1. The Post-Revolutionary Generation: Joyce Appleby
  2. The Declaration of Independence: A Global History: David Armitage
  3. Anti-Slavery Literature: James G. Basker
  4. Myths of the American Revolution: Carol Berkin
  5. Calling the Constitutional Convention: Carol Berkin
  6. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists: Carol Berkin
  7. Slavery in America: Ira Berlin
  8. The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin: H.W. Brands
  9. Alexander Hamilton, American: Richard Brookhiser
  10. Anti-Slavery in the Revolutionary Era: Christopher L. Brown
  11. American Ways of War, Part 1: Josiah Bunting III
  12. Alexander Hamilton: Ron Chernow
  13. Jefferson as Revolutionary: Frank Cogliano
  14. The Three Constitutions: Saul Cornell
  15. Religion, Moral Values, and Our Heritage of Slavery : David Brion Davis
  16. Religion and Witchcraft in Colonial America: John Demos
  17. The Character of Thomas Jefferson: Joseph J. Ellis
  18. His Excellency: George Washington: Joseph Ellis
  19. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation: Joseph Ellis
  20. Motivations for Migration in the Americas: John Fea
  21. Washington's Crossing: David Hackett Fischer
  22. John Adams: Party of One: James Grant
  23. A Voyage Through the Worlds of the Slave Trade: Robert Harms
  24. The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party: Michael F. Holt
  25. Slavery and the Making of America: James O. and Lois E. Horton
  26. Slavery and the Constitution: James O. Horton
  27. A Voyage Long and Strange: Tony Horwitz
  28. The Supreme Court and Religious Freedom: A.E. Dick Howard
  29. Benjamin Franklin: Walter Isaacson
  30. Divided Loyalties: The American Revolution in New York: Richard Ketchum
  31. American Legal History: Colonial Era to 1800: Larry Kramer
  32. Madison and the Constitution: Larry Kramer
  33. Defining the Constitution: Larry Kramer
  34. King Philip's War: Jill Lepore
  35. The Making of the Declaration of Independence: Pauline Maier
  36. America Before Columbus : Charles C. Mann
  37. Early American Slave Culture: Philip D. Morgan
  38. The African Slave Trade, 1500-1800: Philip Morgan
  39. Salem Witchcraft Trials: Mary Beth Norton
  40. Jefferson and the Constitution: Peter S. Onuf
  41. Religion and Politics in the Founding Era: Kevin Phillips
  42. Freedom of Religion: A Radical Innovation: Jack Rakove
  43. Establishing an Independent Judiciary in the Founding Era: Jack Rakove
  44. The Hemingses of Monticello: Annette Gordon Reed
  45. Jefferson, Marshall, and the Struggle to Create a United States: James Simon
  46. The Age of Homespun: Family Labor in the Colonial Economy: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
  47. Guns, Horses, and the Grass Revolution: Elliott West
  48. Redeeming Martin Van Buren: Ted Widmer
  49. Thomas Jefferson and Southern Electoral Politics: Gary Wills
  50. The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin: Gordon Wood
  51. The Real Treason of Aaron Burr: Gordon Wood
  52. Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic: Gordon Wood
Civil War
  1. Slavery and the Early American Economy: Edward Ayers
  2. War Between Neighbors: The Coming of the Civil War: Edward Ayers
  3. Slavery and Poetry: James G. Basker
  4. Literature Makes History: How Poets Helped End Slavery : James G. Basker
  5. Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North America: Ira Berlin
  6. Divided Hearts: Britain and the American Civil War : R.J.M. Blackett
  7. The Civil War: David Blight
  8. What Is the Underground Railroad? : David Blight
  9. Slavery, Kinship, and Community in the Southwest: James F. Brooks
  10. American Ways of War, Part 2: Josiah Bunting III
  11. Harriet Tubman: Catherine Clinton
  12. The Significance of Reconstruction: Eric Foner
  13. Reconstruction and Citizenship: Eric Foner
  14. The Civil War in American Memory: Gary Gallagher
  15. A Bondwoman's Narrative: Henry Louis Gates, Jr
  16. African American Abolitionists : Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham
  17. In Hope of Liberty: Northern Free Blacks 1700-1860 : James O. and Lois E. Horton
  18. Dred Scott and the Constitutionality of Slavery: Larry Kramer
  19. The Slaughterhouse Cases: Larry Kramer
  20. War, Slavery, and Emancipation: Stephanie McCurry
  21. Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam: James McPherson
  22. Lincoln as Commander in Chief: James McPherson
  23. John Brown, Abolitionist: David Reynolds
  24. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom's Cabin: David Reynolds
  25. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom's Cabin: David Reynolds
  26. Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend: James I. Robertson
  27. Russian-American Diplomacy During the Civil War: Norman Saul
  28. Runaway Slaves: A History: Loren Schweninger
  29. Politics in the Civil War North: Adam I.P. Smith
  30. Honor’s Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln: Douglas Wilson
Stay on top of current podcasts, uploaded weekly. Sign up for our RSS feed.