February 10, 2012
TROY Library continues Civil War series
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Troy University history professor Dr. David Carlson leads a discussion during the first session of the University Library's "Let's Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War," a five-part reading and discussion series commemorating the 150th anniversary of the conflict. The second installment of the series is Monday, Feb. 13 on the Troy Campus.(TROY photo/Cass Davis)
"Let's Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War" is a five-part reading and discussion series, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and local sponsors and developed by the American Library Association. Dr. David Carlson, assistant professor of history at TROY, will lead discussions and moderate each session. The first session was Jan. 23.
Monday's session, "Choosing Sides," will include discussion of selections from the anthology "America's War: Talking About the Civil War and Emancipation on their 150th Anniversaries."
According to Social Science Librarian John Phil McLaney, Jr., who's helping coordinate the series, the specific readings will include selections from Frederick Douglas, Henry David Thoreau, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Stephens, Robert Montague, Chapman Stuart, Elizabeth Brown Pryor, Mark Twain and Sarah Morgan.
Each of the remaining discussion events, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor on Feb. 13, March 5, April 2 and April 30. The discussions will center around books "March" by Geraldine Brooks, "Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam" by James McPherson and "America's War: Talking About the Civil War and Emancipation on their 150th Anniversary," an anthology of historical fiction, speeches, diaries, memoirs, biographies and short stories edited by national project scholar Edward L. Ayers and co-published by NEH and ALA.
McLaney said those books are available for checkout at the Troy University Library, Troy Public Library and Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library in Brundidge, and for purchase at Barnes and Noble Bookstore on the Troy Campus.
Local support for the series is provided by the following organizations: Troy University, Troy Public Library, Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library, Troy Civil War Forum, Elizabeth B. Bashinsky Chapter No. 236, United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), Chaplain Stephen A. Pilley Chapter No. 302, Military Order of the Stars & Bars, Pike County Historical & Genealogical Society, Iota Mu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, Conecuh River Depot Military Museum, Barbour County Genealogical & Local History Society, Private Augustus Braddy Camp 385, Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Troy Broadcasting Corporation (WTBF), On the Bookshelf, and Pioneer Museum of Alabama.
Dr. Carlson earned a doctorate in history at Emory University and is the co-author of "Plain Folk in a Rich Man's War: Class Dissent in Confederate Georgia," written with David and Teresa Williams.
A website has been developed for registration and other information for the series. To learn more, visit http://troy.libguides.com/letstalkcivilwar on the world wide web, or email McLaney at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .