On April 14, 2012, Lauranett Lee, former curator of African American history at the VHS, delivered a lecture entitled "To Bind Up the Nation’s Wounds: An Overview of the Thirteenth Amendment."

This talk highlights the historical significance of the document. Other speakers during the lecture included Edward L. Ayers and Sen. Henry Marsh. (Introduction by Edward L. Ayers and Sen. Henry Marsh)

On May 3, 2012, Terri Fisher delivered a lecture entitled "Lost Communities of Virginia."

On April 5, 2012, Mitchell Zuckoff delivered the annual Stuart G. Christian, Jr., Lecture entitled "Lost in Shangri-La: A Story of Survival and Rescue during World War II."

On March 28, 2012, Jeremy Black delivered a lecture entitled "Fighting for America: The Struggle for Mastery in North America, 1519–1871."

On March 16, 2012, Helen C. Rountree delivered a lecture entitled "Before It Was Virginia: Setting the Stage."

On March 15, 2012, David O. Stewart delivered a lecture entitled “American Emperor: Aaron Burr's Challenge to Jefferson's America.”

On June 14, 2012, Patrick Mooney delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "The U.S. Marines at Belleau Wood, June 1918."

On February 23, 2012, Samuel K. Roberts delivered a lecture entitled "When the Sun Stood Still: Reflections on the Reverend John Jasper in His Bicentennial Year."

On January 26, 2012, Maurie D. McInnis delivered a lecture entitled "Abolitionist Art and the American Slave Trade."