Published on: April 29th, 2022

Hillsdale College Celebrates 50 Years of Imprimis and 40 Years of National Leadership Seminars

This year, Hillsdale College celebrates the 50th anniversary of its speech digest Imprimis and the 40th anniversary of its National Leadership Seminar (NLS) program.

Imprimis began in 1972 with a few thousand subscribers. Today, it is one of the most widely circulated print publications in the United States, with more than 6.3 million subscribers. The publication upholds the mission of the College to educate citizens and promote and defend civil and religious liberty.

Similarly, since 1982, Hillsdale’s NLS program has sought to foster enlightened leadership and informed decision-making by communicating the fundamental principles of freedom on which Western Civilization is based.

“These anniversaries demonstrate not only Hillsdale College’s continuing commitment to its 1844 founding — which directs the College to teach and defend the blessings of liberty — but also the dire situation in America. In our current crisis, many Americans are seeking knowledge about our country’s founding and the principles that will help protect their families and restore civil society,” said Matt Bell, executive director of External Affairs and deputy editor of Imprimis. “Through Imprimis and NLSs, among other efforts, Hillsdale seeks to educate all who wish to learn about these essential truths.” 

The College hosted its most recent NLS in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 20-21, with nearly 900 in attendance.

Over 27,000 people have attended these seminars, and many more have viewed them online. Prominent past speakers include Margaret Thatcher, Ron DeSantis, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Thomas Sowell, Edwin J. Feulner, Milton Friedman, Rush Limbaugh, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Charlton Heston, Robert Novak, David McCullough, Steve Forbes, and Walter Williams.

Recordings of previous NLS lectures are available.

Activate your free subscription to Imprimis and learn more about the publication.

About Hillsdale in D.C.

Hillsdale in D.C. is an extension of the teaching mission of Hillsdale College to Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to teach the Constitution and the principles that give it meaning. Through the study of original source documents from American history—and of older books that formed the education of America’s founders—it seeks to inspire students, teachers, citizens, and policymakers to return the America’s principles to their central place in the political life of the nation.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.