What: Pennsylvania Civil War 150 Serial Lecture
Where: Hirt Auditorium
When: 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31
Cost: Free
The Erie County Historical Society will be offering a special Civil War lecture this Wednesday, July 31 at the Hirt Auditorium on Erie’s bayfront. The lecture is part of the historical society’s year long Sally Carlow Kohler Lecture Series.
The Civil War in Pennsylvania: A Photographic History. Experience the struggles and challenges that the Civil War brought to Pennsylvania through the lens of photographers of the era. Presented by: Michael Kraus, Senior Adviser, Pennsylvania Civil War 150
More About: “The Civil War in Pennsylvania: A Photographic History”.
Pennsylvania Civil War 150, the state’s official program commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, announced the publication of a new book, “The Civil War in Pennsylvania: A Photographic History.”
Written by a trio of memorabilia collectors documenting the Civil War in Pennsylvania, the paperback book presents a large selection of images, some of which have never before been published.
The authors are Michael G. Kraus, curator of collections of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh; David M. Neville, a military historian specializing in the Civil War, publisher of “Military Images” magazine and co-writer with Kraus of a DVD documentary series entitled “Civil War Minutes”; and Kenneth C. Turner, a writer and researcher for a number of Civil War-related magazines and projects, including the Time-Life “Civil War” series.
The book was published by the Senator John Heinz History Center for Pennsylvania Civil War 150.
Turner has amassed one of the largest privately held collections of images and memorabilia related to the Civil War in Pennsylvania. It includes recruiting posters, presentation swords, inscribed corps badges, letters and weapons. In his foreword, Edward L. Ayers, president of the University of Richmond and author of “In the Presence of Mine Enemies: Civil War in the Heart of America,” emphasizes that “the 150th anniversaries of the American Civil War and Emancipation offer us a great opportunity and a great challenge. More than at any time since those momentous events, we have a chance to see them fully and clearly.”
The book also includes illustrations drawn from the Library of Congress, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Chester County Historical Society, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, U.S. Army Military History Institute and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.
Works by notable 19th century photographers represented in the book include Matthew B. Brady, Timothy Sullivan and Frederick Gutekunst.
In addition to historic photographs, “The Civil War in Pennsylvania” features striking illustrations of period uniforms, engravings, medals and badges, musical instruments, swords and rifles.