Mercantile Library celebrates the University of Cincinnati Bicentennial with book signing

Authors David Stradling and Greg Hand to speak on recently published books

On Wed, December 5, 2018, 6-8 p.m., the Mercantile Library will host Celebrating the University of Cincinnati Bicentennial, an event featuring David Stradling and Greg Hand who will speak about their books published recently by The University of Cincinnati Press.

In Service to the City: A History of the University of Cincinnati, is a comprehensive history by Professor David Stradling. Its companion volume, edited by Greg Hand, From the Temple of Zeus to the Hyperloop: University of Cincinnati Stories, is an anthology that complements and enriches Stradling’s book by demonstrating the UC experience.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

More about the books:

In Service to the City: A History of the University of Cincinnati is a scholarly history by David Stradling, who holds the Zane Miller Chair in Urban History at UC. Stradling is a noted author of urban history, author of Making Mountains: New York City and the Catskills (University of Washington Press, 2007), The Nature of New York: An Environmental History of the Empire State (Cornell University Press, 2010) and Where the River Burned: Carl Stokes and the Struggle to Save Cleveland (Cornell University Press, 2015). Stradling’s book focuses on the evolving relationship between the University of Cincinnati and the City of Cincinnati and how these two entities influenced one another.

A companion volume, edited by Greg Hand, From the Temple of Zeus to the Hyperloop: University of Cincinnati Stories, is an anthology of 35 chapters that complements and enriches Professor Stradling’s book by demonstrating the breadth and diversity of the UC experience. Authors for this volume include Sarah Jessica Parker, former Governor Bob Taft, faculty, alumni, and current students. Most contributions are in the form of personal essays, but there is a play and a poem as well.

Related Stories

1

Public Safety update: Upcoming winter storm

January 23, 2026

In preparation for the upcoming winter storm, we want to share planned closures and adjustments to university services this weekend. Additionally, you will find safety information and a list of how you will receive a closure notice, should the university close. 

2

Granddaughter of former UC President creates haven for nursing mothers

January 13, 2026

The University of Cincinnati's Langsam library unveiled a permanent private room for nursing mothers — a serene space made possible through Thea Langsam’s three-year philanthropic effort. The room, discreet yet inviting, features warm and cold running water, a compact refrigerator, a counter, table and a deep, cushioned chair that offers both comfort and calm.