John Monsky - Historian

John Monsky is the creator, writer, and narrator of the American History Unbound series. His reverence for historical ephemera is at the core of his productions, with his meticulous research of flags and other tangible objects driving his narratives that explore landmark events in our history. His productions at Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, The Kennedy Center, Miami’s New World Center, and New Orleans’ Orpheum Theater have included The Vietnam War: At Home and Abroad, We Chose to Go to the Moon, The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day, and The Great War & The Great Gatsby. In December 2024, Monsky was asked to bring his acclaimed performance of The Eyes of the World to the White House for a special performance for veterans. A performance of The Eyes of the World with the Boston Pops is currently streaming on PBS.org.

In 2019, Monsky was honored by The New York Historical, where he has developed and workshopped many of his lectures and serves on the board of trustees. He has appeared on CNN, CBS, and NBC and is on the board of directors of The Rockefeller University and Yale University Art Gallery. His flag collection—which he began in his boyhood—is nationally recognized and has been featured in The New Yorker, Art & Antiques Magazine, and other publications, and is currently on exhibit at the prestigious Southampton Arts Center. Monsky’s historical research on George Washington has been published by the Winterthur Portfolio.

Monsky graduated from Yale College as a history major, where he was awarded the White Prize in History and theDeforest Oratory Prize. After attending Harvard Law School and working as a law clerk, he served as an attorney for the U.S. Senate Congressional Committee that investigated the Iran-Contra affair. Monsky, an historian and lawyer, is a senior partner of Oak Hill Capital, an investment firm. He lives in New York City with his wife, Jennifer Weis. They have four children—Harrison, Annabel, Gillian, and Caitlin— and a dog, Flyer.