Afternoon Mini-Series Our afternoon series moves on from History in 2014 to Science and Humanities in 2015. We hope you enjoy it! Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch or a snack. Adventures of a Desert Queen: A Meeting with Gertrude Bell Thursday, April 2nd at 12pm Turning away from the privileged world of the “eminent Victorians,” Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) explored, mapped, and excavated the world of the Arabs. Recruited by British Intelligence during World War I, she played a crucial role in obtaining the loyalty of Arab leaders, and her connections and information provided the brains to match T. E. Lawrence’s brawn. After the war, she played a major role in creating the modern Middle East and was, at the time, considered the most powerful woman in the British Empire. Portrayed by Betsey Means, directed by Eileen Vorbach.