Monday Night Movie & Discussion: "The Mather Legacy: An American Story"

About this event

Directed by Tim Smith and narrated by Scott Pelley, this short film is a powerful tribute to both the Mather family and the enduring American spirit. Spanning nearly four centuries and interviewing experts in American history, "The Mather Legacy" chronicles the family's journey from their 1635 arrival in the New World to the present day. Darien’s Mather Homestead. Built in 1778 and raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War, Mather Homestead was home to six generations of Mathers, including Moses Mather, Darien’s leading voice for freedom in 1778. It is now dedicated to historical education. The original score was composed by former Darien resident and Emmy winner, Robert Lydecker. Join Director Tim Smith and Executive Director of Mather Homestead Samantha Lane Gault for an intriguing conversation about bringing this film to life.Their conversation will be moderated by Doug Kline. A light reception will be held immediately after the program. About the Presenters Over the last 25 years, Tim Smith has excelled as a television news producer adept at producing top rated and award-winning documentaries, interviews & news segments for America’s leading news outlets. The quality of his work is attested to by winning a national and regional Emmy, five Emmy nominations, two Gracie Awards, Grierson Award, Genesis nomination & Cable Ace nomination. Tim has worked with and directed top news talent including Lester Holt, Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Judy Woodruff, Norah O’Donnell, Jim Lehrer, Bob Woodward, Chuck Todd, Charlie Rose, Natalie Morales, Roger Mudd and Savannah Guthrie. His strong record of big gets includes interviews with Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Dick Cheney, John Updike, Joe Biden, Audrey Hepburn, Ted Kennedy, Sandra Day O’Conner, Gerald Ford, Laura Bush, Donald Trump and Mitt Romney. Samantha Gault is the Executive Director of the Mather Homestead Foundation and has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MA from Middlebury College. This beautifully preserved house and landmark offers a glimpse into American revolutionary history through rich and engaging programming, including literary conversations, lectures, and events. This past year Samantha and the Mather Homestead have had a focus on the America 250 celebration from the point of view of Middlesex Parish. Samantha reflected, “for me, studying history and looking back has always been about not losing my way. How can you know where you are or where you are going if you do not know where you have been? That is as important for nations and communities as it is for individuals”. Doug Kline recently retired from a 35-year career on Wall Street, where he worked at large sell-side firms including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Montgomery Securities and Deutsche Bank. An avid reader, Doug now applies his considerable skills as a freelance interviewer for various library programs.