Chords of Memory

Legendary American folk singer and songwriter Pete Seeger would have turned 100 this May.

Christopher “Kit” Lukas ’56 was a student at Swarthmore when he first crossed paths with the activist and musician—he was tasked with driving him to the Philadelphia Folk Festival. The drive was the start of decades of friendship. To honor Seeger’s work, Lukas created the film If I Had a Hammer: Pete’s Legacy, which will air on public television May 3, Seeger’s birthday.

“Swarthmore gave me the belief that political and social views are not something just for the classroom, but for life,” says Lukas, who served as cameraman, producer, writer, director, audio person, and lighting engineer on the film. “Pete was more than just a folk singer—he had deep empathy for every creature.”