Pottsville attorney Edward M. Brennan will discuss the historic Minersville School District v. Gobitis case during a free program hosted by the Minersville Area Historical Society on .
Free America250 Program: Time and Location
The presentation begins at 7 p.m. at Valley Road Venue, formerly the Duncott Hose Company, at 1332 Valley Road, Pottsville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The program is the seventh installment of the historical society’s America250 Speaker Series. Admission is free, and attendees can enjoy complimentary refreshments and displays related to the topic.
The Minersville School District v. Gobitis Case
The case began in 1935 when two Minersville elementary school students, William and Lillian Gobitas, refused to salute the American flag in their classroom. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, the children believed the salute constituted a form of idolatry. They were expelled from school for their refusal.
Their father, Walter Gobitas, sued the school district on their behalf, arguing that the expulsions violated their religious freedom. According to the historical society’s announcement, a court clerk misspelled the family’s surname on the docket, giving the case its “Gobitis” spelling.
The dispute reached the United States Supreme Court in 1940, bringing national attention to a conflict between religious freedom and required patriotic expression during the years leading up to World War II.
About Attorney Edward M. Brennan
Brennan brings more than four decades of legal experience and an interest in local history to the presentation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Penn State and a law degree from Dickinson School of Law.
He began his legal career in 1983 at Pfeiffer, Brown & Baldwin, progressing from clerk to associate and partner. Since 1999, he has led Brennan Law Firm LLC in Pottsville, concentrating on civil litigation, municipal law, wills and estates.
Brennan served as president of the Schuylkill County Bar Association from 2001 to 2003. His community involvement includes service on the boards of the Schuylkill County Historical Society and Schuylkill Community Action. Through the county historical society, he also conducted mock trials examining historic subjects.
Contact the Minersville Area Historical Society
For more information, contact the Minersville Area Historical Society at (570) 399-5037 or (610) 329-3328, email mahistsoc@gmail.com, or visit www.minershistory.org.
