ABOUT BRUCE T. GOURLEY: SPEAKER / INSTRUCTOR
Featured Historian: Television Documentary: American Built: Yellowstone National Park (Fox Business Network)
I am available to speak on topics including American history, American religion, photography, national parks, Islamic history and more.
Feedback from Osher Lifelong Learning courses taught at Montana State University:
“Bruce is one of a kind — engaging, knowledgeable, professional, friendly and just a super instructor.”
“Bruce is a natural when it comes to teaching. It’s great to have an instructor that is both passionate and knowledgeable.”
“You are an outstanding lecturer. Thank you for a course that was so informative, enjoyable and fascinating.”
“Wonderful teacher — great depth of history and engaging discussions.”
“GREAT class! Dr. Bruce was marvelous.”
“Bruce was very knowledgeable about the topic and provided a backstory that was riveting.”
Email mail@brucegourley.com for speaking inquiries.
A sampling of recent and upcoming engagements:
2024
“Plain Words: Dismantling and Countering the Linguistic Framework of Christian Nationalism.” Americans United Summit for Religious Freedom, Washington, D.C.
Panelist. Elk River Writers Workshop, Montana.
“Weighing the Scales of Freedom: Communities in Conflict.” Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Montana State University, Bozeman.
“The Forgotten Path to Church State Separation in America’s Founding.” Pecha Kucha, Bozeman.
Historic Yellowstone National Park book signings. Old Faithful Inn and Lake Hotel, Yellowstone National Park.
Understanding Christian Nationalism. Various locations.
2023
Historic Yellowstone National Park book signings. Old Faithful Inn and Lake Hotel, Yellowstone National Park.
“Yellowstone National Park History.” University of Denver.
“Civil America: Remembering Historic Currents for Future Hope.” Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Montana State University, Bozeman.
“How Puritans Shaped Modern America.” Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Montana State University, Bozeman.
Understanding Christian Nationalism. Various locations.
2022
Featured Historian: Television Documentary: American Built: Yellowstone National Park (Fox Business Network)
“Yellowstone National Park: 150 Years of Wonderland.” MOLLI, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana.
Historic Yellowstone National Park book signings. Old Faithful Inn and Lake Hotel, Yellowstone National Park.
Historic Yellowstone National Park book talk. Belgrade Public Library
“Bites of History: Vintage Menus of Yellowstone National Park’s Hotel Dining Rooms.” 2022 Montana History Conference, Red Lodge, Montana. (watch the video)
Writers Retreat. Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia.
“Understanding Christian Nationalism.” Americans United, San Antonio, Texas.
“Understanding Christian Nationalism.” Gallatin Valley Interfaith Association, Bozeman, Montana.
“Understanding Christian Nationalism.” CBF General Assembly, Dallas, Texas.
Experiencing the Pacific Northwest Coast. On location.
“Yellowstone in the Public Eye.” 2022 Collecting Yellowstone Conference, Bozeman, Montana.
“Collecting Stories: Historical Anthologies of Yellowstone.” 2022 Collecting Yellowstone Conference, Bozeman, Montana.
Experiencing Hawaii’s Big Island. On location.
“Recognizing, Understanding and Responding to Christian Nationalism.” Dallas, Texas.
“Yellowstone National Park: 150 Years of Wonderland.” Montana State University OLLI Course, Bozeman, Montana.
Select Earlier Presentations
“Understanding Christian Nationalism.” Montana State University OLLI Course, Bozeman, Montana.
“Recognizing, Understanding and Countering White Christian Nationalism.” Zoom Webinars
“Religion and U.S. Presidents: A Century of Intrigue.” Montana State University OLLI Course, Bozeman, Montana
“United States Presidents: A Chronological History.” Montana State University OLLI Class, Bozeman, Montana
“The American Civil War: Then and Now.” Montana State University Wonderlust Class, Bozeman, Montana
“The Shaping of an American Legend: Green Clay Smith, Montana’s Second Governor.” 46th Annual Montana History Conference, Montana Historical Society. Helena, Montana.
“Rediscovering Wonderland: How the Great Depression Shaped Yellowstone National Park.” Gallatin Historical Museum and Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana.
The Northwest Coast: An Introduction. Port Townsend, Washington; Olympic National Park; Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Yellowstone National Park: Conversations on Spirituality. West Yellowstone, Montana.
“Yellowstone Collections and Yellowstone History Journal: Envisioning Collaborative Possibilities.” Conversations on Collecting Yellowstone Conference, Cody, Wyoming.
“Introduction to Yellowstone National Park.” West Yellowstone, Montana.
WordPress Content Management Workshop. Orangeburg, South Carolina.
“Understanding Islam II: A Historical Analysis of Modern Islam.” Montana State University Wonderlust Class. Bozeman, Montana.
“Understanding Islam: A Historical Analysis of the Origins and Pre-Modern Development of the World’s Second Largest Religion.” Montana State University Wonderlust Class. Bozeman, Montana.
“Chasing Florence Keyser: The Arrival of the Great Depression in Yellowstone National Park in August 1931.” 45th Annual Montana History Conference, Montana Historical Society. Billings, Montana.
“Yellowstone National Park and the American West.” Cody, Wyoming.
“Christian Nationalism and Religion State Separation.” Billings, Montana.
“Hawaii: Big Island, Big Sky.” Big Island, Hawaii.
“Beyond Fear and Anger: Understanding Islamic History and Contemporary Issues.” Kalispell, Montana.
“During the Great Depression: A Yellowstone ‘Vacation Without a Care’ in 1931.” Yellowstone Art and Photography Center, Yellowstone Forever. Yellowstone National Park.
“Introduction to Glacier National Park.” East Glacier, Montana.
“Voices Old and New: Why Did You Come, Why Did You Stay?” KGVM, Bozeman, Montana.
“Spring Photography Workshop: Waterfalls and Wildflowers.” Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia.