John Monsky is the creator, writer, and narrator of the “American History Unbound” series. He is a lawyer and historian who lectures at the New-York Historical Society and Carnegie Hall. Lectures include “The Vietnam War: At Home and Abroad” (2018), “We Chose to Go to the Moon” (2019), and “The Eyes of the World” (2021), at Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium/Ronald O. Perelman Stage, and Zankel Hall.
Monsky’s reverence for historical ephemera is at the core of his lectures, with his meticulous research of flags and other tangible objects driving his narratives exploring landmark events in our history. The flag collection, which Monsky began as a child with a kerchief carried by President Theodore Roosevelt, has been featured in The New Yorker and Art & Antiques Magazine.
In 2019, Monsky was honored by the New-York Historical Society, where he developed and workshopped many of his lectures and serves as co-vice chair. He has recently appeared on CNN and written a New York Times op-ed, providing historical perspective on current events.
Monsky graduated from Yale College as a history major, where he was awarded the White Prize in History and the Deforest Oratory Prize. After attending Harvard Law School and working as a law clerk, he served as an attorney for the US Senate Congressional Committee investigating the Iran-Contra affair. Monsky is a partner and general counsel of Oak Hill Capital, an investment firm.
