Civil War lecture series starts Sept. 20

Aug. 22, 2012

Henderson State University will host an American Civil War lecture series this fall beginning Sept. 20. The lectures are free and the community is invited to attend.

“The American Civil War was one of the most defining moments of the country’s history,” said Dr. Angela Boswell, professor of history at Henderson. “The short and long-term consequences touched every facet of American society: military, politics, society, economy and ideology.”

Henderson and Ouachita Baptist University faculty members will offer lectures on certain aspects of the Civil War within their field of expertise. Two of the lectures specifically address Arkansas and the Civil War, while others offer perspectives on the broader conflict.

The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has officially recognized the series as part of the sesquicentennial celebration.

The lectures include:

Sept. 20 -- The Civil War in Southwest Arkansas by Dr. John Graves, professor of history and chair of the Social Sciences Department at Henderson

Sept. 27 – Lew “Ben-Hur” Wallace, a Reluctant Political General by Dr. Chris Mortenson, assistant professor of history at Ouachita Baptist University

Oct. 4 – Southern Women and the Civil War by Dr. Angela Boswell, professor of history at Henderson

Oct. 18 – The Civil War in American Literature by Greg Gibson, instructor of English at Henderson

Oct. 25 – Clothing Confederate Arkansans by David Sesser, curator of special collections at Henderson’s Huie Library

All lectures will start at 7 p.m. in the Caplinger Airway Science Center on the Henderson campus. For more information, please contact Boswell at (870) 230-5249 or boswela@hsu.edu.