One of the principal speakers at the 100th Anniversary of the famous Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee in July 2025 is Pulitzer Prize winning author Edward J. Larson whose novel “Summer for the Gods” (1997-Basic Books) won the award for History in 1998.
In 2025 Larson has already made a number of speaking appearances in Tennessee at University of Tennessee- Chattanooga (UTC), Vanderbilt University, and Bryan College. Copies of his award winning publication in particular were available for purchase with his signed signature on March 20, 2025 at UTC and it is anticipated that one can be purchased in Dayton on July 16.
The book contains numerous unique historical photographs, endless footnotes, and references that provide additional reference leads to less publicized individuals and side events that are not as well known.
Edward Larson is a professor of law at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California which is a private Christian research institution affiliated with the Church of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California.
Larson is the writer of several books and over one hundred published articles mostly in the issues of science, medicine, and law from a historical perspective.
In addition to his writing and teaching careers he has been interviewed on the History Channel C-SPAN, NPR, CNN, and PBS (all prior to the proposed budget cuts).
July 1925, produced a carnival atmosphere unequalled in the past, present, and probable future that (earned?) the small community of Dayton in Rhea County, Tennessee the title of “Monkeytown,” and a subjective designation as “The World’s Most Famous Trial”.
The Rhea County Historical Association under direction of Bryan College graduate and historian, Tom Davis has for 18 plus years presented a short reproduction of the famous event in the original courthouse along with BBQ, a band in 1925 era costumes, being looked over by the statues of famous combatants, William Jennings Bryan (Prosecution) and Clarence Darrow (defense).
To hear the author of a Pulitzer Prize winner on the Scopes Trial and to be a participant in a historical event from 1925, mark your calendar now, future public announcements with specific details are anticipated as well as large crowds.
(A local attorney and author has been invited to participate in the proceedings but refuses to don a monkey suit!)
If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)