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 the President. A performance of The Eyes of the World with the Boston Pops is currently streaming on PBS.org.

Monsky has appeared on CNN, CBS, and NBC and is on the board of directors of The Rockefeller University, Yale University Art Gallery and The New York Historical. He has workshopped many of his productions at the New York Historical, which has been an intellectual partner in the creation of his works. The flag collection—which he began in his boyhood—is nationally recognized and has been featured in The New Yorker and Art & Antiques Magazine. His article about George Washington, “Finding America in Its First Political Textile” was published in the Winterthur Portfolio.

Monsky graduated from Yale College as a history major, where he was awarded the White Prize in History and the Deforest 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. An historian and lawyer, Monsky 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.