| Established | 1982 (1982) |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Gettysburg College |
| Director | Peter S. Carmichael |
| Website | www |
TheCivil War Institute (CWI) atGettysburg College is a non-profit organization (due to being a part of Gettysburg College and is not a separate legal entity) created to promote the study of theAmerican Civil War Era. The CWI was founded in 1982 by historian andGettysburg College professorGabor Boritt, anAbraham Lincoln andAmerican Civil War scholar. The current director is Peter S. Carmichael. The Institute helps coordinate a number of Civil War-related events for the public, including the Robert Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture, an annual program designed to commemorate Abraham Lincoln'sGettysburg Address, as well as a week-long summer conference that hosts 400 participants annually. The CWI also supports student learning at Gettysburg College, offering several programs throughout the year to help students hone their skills as young historians.
The CWI hosts an annual summer conference on the Civil War, drawing over 400 people annually. Each year, the conference focuses on a different Civil War theme. Past themes have included theBattle of Gettysburg, theBattle of Fredericksburg,Robert E. Lee, the navy and the cavalry, andReconstruction. While most participants stay inGettysburg College dorms during the week, local attendees can choose to forgo living expenses and commute each day.
Lecturers and tour guides are chosen for recent scholarship and expertise on the conference's central theme. The CWI has hosted a number of prominent historians, includingJames M. McPherson,Harold Holzer,Brooks D. Simpson, Gary Gallagher, and Jennifer Murray.
The Robert Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture on anAmerican Civil War-related topic, aimed at appealing to the general public while still providing strong scholarly undertones. The lecture is held on November 19 inGettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the anniversary ofAbraham Lincoln'sGettysburg Address. The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College coordinates the lecture.[1]
The CWI partners withNational Park Service sites and other nationally significant historic places to offer students paid summer internships in the field ofpublic history. During their internships, students gain experience in fields such as interpretation, curation, or education at roughly 15 sites includingGettysburg National Military Park,Petersburg National Battlefield, andStratford Hall. The program was established in 2011 in honor of Civil War historianBrian Pohanka.[2]
Each year, the CWI selects roughly a dozen Gettysburg College students as paid fellows to conduct original research and publish it on the CWI blogThe Gettysburg Compiler, assist CWI staff with their research, and support CWI programs and events.[3]