GAR Museum and Archive "Connecting the Public" Campaign

A Recent Free Sunday Zoom Program was presented by the GAR Museum’s Research Administrator, Walt Lafty. Walt and other volunteers answer hundreds of research questions sent by our members each year.

  They know where to find answers using the Museum’s collections, but without a computer database his task is a little more difficult. We all have used databases: National Archives, Library of Congress, Fold 3 and Ancestry.com.   We know how valuable these searchable data bases are and we all rely on them to save time.

  For many years the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Archive has been an esteemed resource for researching American history. The Museum does not have an electronically searchable catalog of its holdings that include primary source documents, artifacts, books and files.  We do have paper indexes and inventories of all our collections.  Adding these indexes and inventories to a searchable database would greatly increase search efficiency and enhance the preservation our collections.

      Improving access to the Museum’s collections is extremely important. We need to purchase database software and support that will allow for multiple user access to unlimited records.

      We are asking for help in our “Connecting the Public” campaign to purchase the software.

     Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”  However, time and tide wait for no one.

     Help us to continue to be a special public American history institution. 

     You can donate to the campaign using PayPal though our website: www.garmuslib.org or send or drop off a check made out to the GAR Museum, 8110 Frankford Ave., Phila. PA. 19136.  Please note that the donation is for “Connecting the Public”.

     Thank you.

G. A. R. CIVIL WAR MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE

8110 FRANKFORD AVENUE

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19138

https://garmuslib.org/

Observation Towers Close for Preservation Work

News Release Date: October 26, 2023
Contact: Jason Martz

West Confederate Ave Observation Tower

Gettysburg National Military Park announces temporary closures of the Warfield (Longstreet) and Culps Hill observation towers. The closures are necessary to facilitate the removal of flagpoles atop both towers due to safety concerns. Full closures of the two towers, adjacent parking areas and road access will begin at sunset on Sunday, October 29 and will tentatively end at sunrise on Wednesday, November 1.

Restoration of the removed flagpoles will be performed in coordination with a future preservation project. All three towers, including the Oak Ridge observation tower, were built between 1895 and 1896 when Gettysburg National Military Park was administered by the United States War Department between 1895 and 1933.
 

www.nps.gov  

Celebrate the 160th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address

The Adams County Historical Society is pleased to announce a special series of events in commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address this November. Special guests include Harold Holzer, Garry Adelman, Tim Smith, and Jake Boritt.

The following events are scheduled for ACHS's Lincoln at Gettysburg: 160 Years Later series:

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Eternal Words: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in Perspective with Harold Holzer

Wednesday, November 15th, 12 p.m.

Join acclaimed author and Lincoln Scholar Harold Holzer in conversation with filmmaker Jake Boritt at this special luncheon as they discuss the enduring significance of Lincoln's speech and its lasting impact around the world. A lunch buffet is included with the price of admission.

$40/members; $50/general admission (Purchase Tickets)

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Lincoln at Gettysburg: 25 Hours That Changed History with Garry Adelman & Tim Smith

Thursday, November 16th, 2 to 4 p.m.

Through historic photos and rare first-hand accounts, Tim and Garry will explore every aspect of Lincoln's historic visit, including the 3-minute speech that changed history.

$20/members; $30/general admission (Purchase Tickets)

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Lincoln at Gettysburg: A Historical Journey with Garry Adelman & Tim Smith

Friday, November 17th, 12 to 5 p.m.

Garry Adelman and Tim Smith will lead a multi-stop trip that traces Abraham Lincoln’s path during his iconic visit to Gettysburg. The program will begin at noon near Lincoln Railroad Station on Carlisle St. and unfold throughout the afternoon with short programs at key locations in town. Be ready to walk approximately 2.5 miles on paved ground as we follow in the footsteps of the revered President, Secretary of State William Seward, and town residents like David and Catherine Wills who planned the iconic events of November 19, 1863. 

$75/members; $85/general admission (Purchase Tickets)

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An Evening with William A. Frassanito

Friday, November 17th, 7 p.m.

Join William A. Frassanito in the Alexander Dobbin Special Exhibit Gallery for a tour of his exhibit, "Early Photography at Gettysburg – The Frassanito Collection." The exhibit features some of Gettysburg’s rarest images, including an original print of Lincoln’s procession to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, recorded 160 years ago.

*A book signing will be held at 6 p.m.

$40/members; $60/general admission (Purchase Tickets)

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From Budapest to Gettysburg: Gabor Boritt's New Birth of Freedom

Saturday, November 18th, 2 to 4 p.m.

Join ACHS for a special screening of Budapest to Gettysburg. This film is a compelling exploration of the life and work of Dr. Gabor Boritt, one of the most recognized Lincoln scholars of the past century. Budapest to Gettysburg, created by Gabor's son, Jake, delves into the extraordinary odyssey of Gabor, from his turbulent childhood amidst the turmoil of World War II to his transformative career in Gettysburg, where he dedicated his life to studying the president who preserved American democracy. The screening will feature a Q&A with Jake and ACHS Executive Director Andrew Dalton.

Free for members; $10/general admission (Purchase Tickets)

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Witnessing Lincoln with Tim Smith

Sunday, November 19th, 1 p.m.

Abraham Lincoln spent just 25 hours in Gettysburg, but while he was here, he changed the course of history. This program follows Lincoln’s visit step-by-step and highlights dozens of first-hand accounts written by people who witnessed the president deliver the most famous speech of all time.

Free, public program

More Upcoming Events

New Gettysburg E-book Announced - "Artists at Gettysburg"

STeve Sanders - “Artists at Gettysburg”

To purchase - click this link

As the 3-day Battle of Gettysburg raged, on-site visual depictions of the struggle were recording the action real-time. These have been mostly overlooked for over 160 years. Though scholars have scrutinized nearly every aspect of this historic event, drawings and paintings made by eyewitnesses — the only real visual documentation of the action — have all but been forgotten.

Artists at Gettysburg presents this unique collection — the work of two "special artists" and a Union soldier — in full color plates. This 68-page book appeals to art enthusiasts, Civil War buffs, historians, or any reader who enjoys compelling, true stories. Anecdotal essays animate the scenes, place them in context, and evoke the action of the battle. All 63 of these unique artworks have been faithfully reproduced from the originals.

Steve Sanders' fine art education, his 40-year professional career in 3-d design as well as his experience as a tour guide at the White House of the Confederacy Museum, has fostered his interest in historical events containing unique artistic elements. His research in the combat artists of the Civil War inspired him to consider whether any of their 1000s of pieces of extraordinary original art & the stories behind them still existed.

Astonishingly, Alfred Waud and Edwin Forbes, artists working for competing weekly newspapers, actually documented the action as the battle raged on. In addition to a handful of images that have been published previously, the author's painstaking research uncovered more than 4-dozen additional drawings that have rarely been seen.

The collection the author assembled constitutes the only visual documentation of the action created during the battle & its immediate aftermath. It is a compelling, valuable archive that deserves to finally be seen.

NPS Announces Gettysburg Superintendent will Move to Independence

Philadelphia, PA – Steven Sims has been named the new superintendent of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, which includes Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. He is expected to begin his new position in mid-November.


"Steve brings extensive park management and community engagement experience from several sites pivotal to our national heritage,” said National Park Service Northeast Deputy Regional Director Cinda Waldbuesser. “His experience working closely with the community and developing his staff as superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site will be essential as we head toward the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation in 2026.”


“I am excited to begin my new role as the superintendent of Independence National Historical Park,” said Sims. “As a descendant of a Revolutionary War soldier and former Army Officer, it is an honor to steward the stories, places, and artifacts that formed the bedrock of this nation.  I look forward to working with the dedicated staff, park partners, and the great city of Philadelphia to preserve and protect our nation’s historic resources and to educate the public about them.”


Sims has been the superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site since January 2020. His previous assignments include superintendent of Valley Forge National Historical Park, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, and the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. Sims has also previously worked in the National Park Service Northeast Regional Office, Independence National Historical Park and National Mall and Memorial Parks. Prior to Steve’s National Park Service career, he was an engineering consultant as well as an engineer and commissioned officer for the U.S. Army.


Sims holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Business Administration from Norwich University, and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri. He is also currently working on a graduate certificate in Environmental Policy from George Washington University.


Steve is originally from Tehachapi, California. He is married and has two children. His hobbies include hiking, gardening, fly fishing, and beekeeping.

Video of Dennis Frye's ACWM Presentation on John Brown's Raid

The American Civil War Museum treats us to a video of renown former NPS ranger Dennis Frye’s recent presentation on John Brown.

Uncover the enigmatic figure of John Brown and his lasting impact on history as historian and former Harper's Ferry Park Ranger, Dennis Frye, navigates through the public's varying opinions, from viewing him as a devil or martyr to questioning whether he was a terrorist or freedom fighter.

We dive into the complexities of Brown's legacy as an abolitionist, his relationship with Frederick Douglass, and their plan to bankrupt the South in the lead-up to the American Civil War.

Click here for the YouTube Video

Civil War flag center offers ‘immersive experience

By Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com

Civil War enthusiasts have a new attraction to take in when visiting Pennsylvania’s capital.

The completed Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center features not only one of the nation’s largest collection of state-issued regimental flags but an interactive exhibit detailing the stories behind them and the people who carried them…

Story is at … this link

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GRAND OPENING!
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023

The Capitol Preservation Committee is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the NEW Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. A ribbon cutting ceremony will start at 9:30am with the Education Center remaining open until 4:00PM.

The Open House will continue Thursday and Friday, October 5th & 6th from 9:00AM - 4:00PM.

All are invited and welcome to attend the Grand Opening or Open Houses to tour the new exhibit focusing on Pennsylvania's Civil War regiments, battle flags, and color bearers highlighted through images and artifacts of valor.

The Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center will resume normal tours on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, by appointment only. To schedule a tour, contact Jason Wilson at (717) 783-6484 or jwilson@cpc.state.pa.us

The Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center is located at 2221 Forster Street, Harrisburg.

NPS Awards $3.3 million To Protect 120 Acres At Five Civil War Battlefields

From National Parks Traveler September 26, 2023

A section of landscape near Trevilian Station to be protected and interpreted as a site of a calvary battle during the Civil War in Louisa County, Virginia/NPS

The National Park Service awarded $3.29 million through the American Battlefield Protection Program to protect 120 acres at battlefields in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.

State and local governments spearhead the projects funded by ABPP grants to protect significant battlefield landscapes that are vital to the shared history of their communities and the nation. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which reinvests revenue from offshore oil and natural gas leasing to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation, makes these awards possible. 

“These awards expand the local stewardship efforts of state and local governments with their preservation partners to increase protection of the irreplaceable historic and cultural landscapes in their communities,” said Park Service Director Chuck Sams.   

An example of this expanded preservation is the acquisition at Trevilian Station Battlefield. The property was the site of significant action for much of the first day of the Battle of Trevilian Station on June 11, 1864. During the morning hours, Brigadier General George A. Custer’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade took a side road down to the Gordonsville Road and headed toward Trevilian Station. When his column turned, Custer spotted a large Confederate wagon train in the road ahead of him. He ordered two calvary units, the 5th and 6th Michigan Cavalry, to charge. However, a quick response by the Confederates encircled Custer’s command, which stood alone until additional Union cavalry could make its way through later in the afternoon. This acquisition is near almost 100 acres of protected battlefield secured with previous grant awards. The location to the south of Trevilian Station and the Virginia Central Railroad is already an interpretive tour stop for the battlefield. 

The grants were distributed to: