A presidential presentation

Frank Zeller, professor of zoology at IU, brought his knowledge of the first U.S. president to an audience at the Monroe County Historical Society Museum Saturday morning, in recognition of President's Day on Monday.\nZeller started off his presentation by noting that he would not be portraying George Washington but merely discussing his life and career. Despite the absence of a white wig and colonial clothes the group received a description of Washington's life starting with his ancestor John Washington, who landed in America in the 1650s.\nThe discussion gave an account of Washington's family life, including his five siblings and influential half-brother Lawrence, who died in 1752. Zeller explained Washington's various careers leading up to his becoming president in 1789, in the U.S. capital of New York. Washington's convictions and dedication to his country were illustrated through quotes by such prominent historical figures as Winston Churchill and Danielle Webster. His loyalty was confirmed by details of his work as a frontier fighter and by describing himself as an American first and a Virginian second.\nThe discussion was followed by a question and answer session, during which Zeller answered questions about opposition to Washington, and his relationship with Martha as evidenced through his letters.\nZeller's interest in researching and talking about Washington began about five years ago at the Lion's Club when an expert on Lincoln suggested that lectures on Lincoln and Washington should be given, so he took Lincoln and Zeller took Washington.\n"That's when I started becoming the expert," Zeller said. \nJanice Partenheimer, registrar at the Farmer House Museum, was working at the library Saturday and said she decided to stroll over to see the presentation. In addition to attending the presentation, she baked a cherry cake in recognition of George Washington's birthday. \nPartenheimer asked a few questions at the end the discussion and stayed around to chat with other members of the audience.\n"He was very good at making a continuous flow and connecting all the dots together to make one nice, smooth narrative," Partenheimer said.\nElizabeth Knapp, a volunteer at the Genealogy Library, found out about Frank Zeller through a friend, and booked him to speak in front of the Daughters of the American Revolution last Wednesday and for Saturday's presentation. She is responsible for bringing one speaker to the library each month and plans on bringing other speakers for future presidential holidays.\n"He has a friend who does Abraham Lincoln, so I would like to see another one," Knapp said. "And I would encourage them sometime to think about coming in costume"