WWI Centennial Lecture Series: Kevin Fitzpatrick

"WWI and New York City" 

The Hoboken Historical Museum is pleased to host WWI author, historian and tour guide Kevin Fitzpatrick for a talk about New York City’s many connections to the Great War, on April 22 at 4 pm. Admission for the talk is $5, free for Hoboken Museum members.

New York City was an important hub for U.S. recruiting and patriotic activities during the Great War. Following the Armistice in 1918, more memorials were erected to veterans in New York than for any other event, even the Civil War. The talk will also cover a special focus on New Jersey in the war, from training camps to memorials.

Kevin Fitzpatrick’s book, “World War I New York: A Guide to the City’s Enduring Ties to the Great War,” tells the stories behind more than 100 locations in New York that have ties to The Great War. The book recently won the Apple Award for Outstanding Achievement in Non-Fiction New York City Book Writing from the Guides Association of New York. While many are familiar with the Father Francis Duffy memorial in Times Square, there are memorials and plaques tucked in quiet corners of all five boroughs. New York has 15 doughboy statues, more than any other city in the country, as well as tiny neighborhood memorials.

Fitzpatrick has researched World War I for many years and has been leading walking tours of Governors Island since 2010: Almost every street on the island is named for a soldier who was killed in the war. In addition to “World War I New York,” he is the author of “The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide,” and five other books on New York history. He is the program director of the WWI Centennial Committee for New York City. A licensed NYC sightseeing guide, he leads history and literary tours.

 The lecture series is funded by a special project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission.