9-25-2026 9:11pm

Award-Winning Author Ann Hagedorn to Discuss Soviet Spy Who Stole Nuclear Secrets in Dayton, Ohio

Beth Callahan Editor

Story and photos courtesy of Dayton History

DAYTON, Ohio — On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 7 p.m., Ann Hagedorn, a Dayton native, former staff writer for The Wall Street Journal and an award-winning author, will speak about her most recent book, Sleeper Agent. The book tells the story of George Koval, an American-born Soviet spy who infiltrated the Dayton Project — part of the larger Manhattan Project — and stole nuclear secrets, helping the Soviet Union develop its first atomic bomb. The event will be held in the Eichelberger Pavilion at Carillon Historical Park. It is free and open to the public.

The author of six narrative nonfiction books — Wild Ride, Ransom, Beyond the River, Savage Peace, Invisible Soldiers, and now Sleeper Agent — Hagedorn has taught writing at Columbia Journalism School and the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism.

“Each book advances my insight on how to best structure and research a narrative, and thus I like to pass new wisdom on to students,” Hagedorn said. “I try to live by what I call the Maya Angelou philosophy of life: When you learn, teach; when you get, give.”

Hagedorn has also lectured on writing at numerous schools and workshops and is a dedicated mentor to young writers.

Her work has been covered by numerous media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, NPR, Time, Smithsonian, The New York Review of Books, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, and The Washington Post. A graduate of Denison University, the University of Michigan and Columbia Journalism School, Hagedorn holds an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Denison University.

About Dayton History:

Dayton History, a privately funded nonprofit, owns and operates Carillon Historical Park; Hawthorn Hill, Orville Wright's mansion; Patterson Homestead; Carillon Brewing Co.; Culp's Café; and the Mark and Paula Hurd NCR Archive Center. Its mission is to inspire generations by connecting them with the unique people, places, and events that changed Dayton and the world.