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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Mark Peterson, a professor of history from the University of Iowa, will give a lecture at Oregon State University on Thursday, April 20, that explores early American concepts of utopia during the founding of New England.

His talk, which is part of OSU's American Culture and Politics series, begins at 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union's Joyce Powell Leadership Center. It is free and open to the public.

In his lecture, "Utopia and Community in Early America: Christian Humanism, Republicanism, and the Founding of New England," Peterson will examine different options and motivations that the Puritan founders of New England had in creating and framing their ideal communities.

Peterson received his doctorate in history from Harvard University and taught there for several years before joining the faculty at the University of Iowa in 1998. He has written one book on the Puritan history of New England and is at work on a new book on the history of Boston from 1630 to 1860.

The 2005-06 American Culture and Politics series is sponsored by OSU's Department of History.