For Immediate
Release
February 4,
2015
Contact:
Chris Zaccaro
(860)
246-1553 ext. 116
Hartford,
CT – Civil War historians and enthusiasts can celebrate Presidents’ Day a
little early this year as Connecticut’s Old State House will explore the diary
of Gideon Welles, the Connecticut native who served as Secretary of the Navy
under President Abraham Lincoln. Professor J. Ronald Spencer, author and
Associate Academic Dean Emeritus from Trinity College, will headline the next
installment of Conversations at Noon entitled A Connecticut Yankee in Lincoln’s Cabinet: Gideon Welles’ Civil War
Diary on Tuesday, February 10 at noon.
Welles
is best remembered for his wartime diary which countless historians have drawn
on since it was first published in 1911. Professor Spencer will discuss this
important figure from the American Civil War and answer questions still asked
today:
What distinguishes
Welles's diary? Is the extensive information about Lincoln reliable? Are
Welles' often caustic characterizations of other cabinet members, prominent
politicians, and top army and navy officers fair and accurate?
Following
his talk, Professor Spencer will join a panel of experts that includes Dr.
Matthew Warshauer, Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University
and author of Connecticut in the American
Civil War: Slavery, Sacrifice and Survival, and Paula Hopewell from the
Lincoln Forum for a lively discussion on the war, Welles and his famous diary.
The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will moderate the discussion and
take questions and comments from the audience.
The program
is free, begins at noon and is open to the public.
What’s Coming Up at Connecticut’s Old State
House?
January’s
installment of Conversations at Noon, To
Protest or Not to Protest? Activist Lessons from the Career of William Sloane
Coffin, Jr., which was postponed due to the Blizzard of 2015, will now take
place on Tuesday, February 24 at noon.
Dr. Warren
Goldstein, author of William Sloane
Coffin, Jr.: A Holy Impatience will discuss the life and work of civil
rights & anti-Vietnam War activist, Minister William Sloane Coffin, Jr.
After his talk he will be joined by Debra Cohen of Activate CT and Jon Mueller
from the University of Hartford for a panel discussion on protests past and
present. CT-N’s Diane Smith will moderate the discussion.
This event
is co-sponsored with Connecticut Explored.
Like the February 10th program, this installment of Conversations at
Noon is free and open to the public.
Located in Hartford, a
short walk from the Wadsworth, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat
of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House
Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building, provides visitors an
opportunity to purchase great, quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed
gifts, products and apparel. The interactive History is All Around Us exhibition by the Connecticut Historical
Society, located in the Mortensen Gallery of the lower level of the Old State
House, allows visitors to explore over 300 years of Hartford and Connecticut
history. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking
discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook,
follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.
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