Civil War 150 Advisory Committee Meeting Notes
October 31, 2013
Advisory Committee Members and Liaisons in Attendance: Mark Okey, Paul LaRue, Rich Cooper, Bob Minton, Kelly Selby, Cathy Wilson, Fred Lynch, Roger Micker, Josh Mann, Janet Ingraham-Dwyer, Rebecca Urban
OHS Staff in Attendance: Amy Rohmiller, Mark Holbrook, Laura Herron, Anthony Gibbs
Member Updates
· Mark Okey: Now serving on OHS Board of Trustees
· Paul LaRue: Todd Kleismit testified in front of House Committee about the VA headstone issue, which went well. VA has promised to take action to correct the problem.
· Bob Minton: Light of Freedom movie is out and will be released on DVD at end of month, reenactors leadership conference at OHS on 11/2, within $9,000 of money needed to restore 25th OVI flag
· Mark Holbrook: 23rd and 121st OVI flags back from conservator, 23rd scheduled to go on display at Statehouse, 121st paid for by Scott’s Miracle Grow (Founder was in unit)
· Kelly Selby: Troy CWRT seeking a “Confederate talk” and Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, and/or Harriet Tubman talks; looking to put a CW150 panel together for the Ohio Academy of History Conference Ohio State – submission deadline is November 15
· Cathy Wilson: Xenia one of 20 towns getting block of downtown pained for free as part of “Paint What Matters” program, reproduction Civil War banner now hanging in the Greene County Museum
· Anthony Gibbs: did a presentation on black soldiers for Kelton House and a pre-concert lecture on black soldiers for Springfield Orchestra; Civil War reenactment and Sanitary Fair in Ohio Village this coming summer; marker dedication in Athens on Nov. 11 honoring Milton Holland
· Fred Lynch: 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation at the Collinswood School in Greene County, Gen. William H. Lytle monument at Chickamauga that had been severely vandalized is now restored; Lincoln Society of Dayton is preparing a lifelong learning class for the University of Dayton
· Roger Micker: worked with 3 counties to mark 150th anniversary of Morgan’s Raid, spoke at Gettysburg on July 4, working with son on foundation to support Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania monuments at Gettysburg
· Josh Mann: now on the board of the Friends and Descendants of Johnson’s Island
· Janet Ingraham-Dwyer: especially interested in how public and academic libraries can support the Civil War 150th
· Rebecca Urban: Peninsula GAR Hall finished this year’s Civil War lecture series and is scheduling for next year – looking for a speaker on children and the Civil War; getting Life and Limb exhibit from the National Library of Medicine; staging production of the Andersonville Trial by the Courthouse Players
2014 Awards
· Nominations
o Fred – William Lytle monument restoration
o Kelly – John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail/Ohio Civil War Trail Commission
o Roger – John Maddox & Underground Railroad Museum in Belmont County; Lyle Zerla for Morgan’s Raid work; some way to recognize all active Civil War Roundtables (CWRTs)
o Bob – Friends and Descendants of Johnson’s Island
o Rebecca – Cleveland CWRT speaker’s bureau; Peninsula GAR Hall
o Anthony – Shelby County Historical Society Civil War day
o Mark H – Columbus Blue Jackets
o Rich – Cincinnati Park Board for Black Brigade Monument
o Josh – Larry Stevens for www.ohiointhecivilwar.com
· Judging process
o Committee members to fill out form for their nominations – due mid-November
o Full committee to vote for their top 5 nominations, with a run-off for ties with one vote per committee member
o Josh to draft letter informing groups of their nomination – due mid-November
o Announcement to be made of winners in new year
2014 Themes/Blogging Discussion
· Thank you for blogging! Web traffic up and posts have average of 20 Facebook likes – lots of positive feedback
· 2014 themes – Overall Theme: Home Front
o January – Ohio’s Economy – Mark H.
o February – Veterans (ex: furloughs and Veterans Corps)
o March – Medal of Honor recipients – Fred
o April – Children – Cathy
o May – Sanitary Fair/Soldiers Aid – Kelly
o June – 100 Day Regiments – Josh
o July – Ohioans in Battle – Roger
o August – POW Camps – Bob
o September – Women in the Home Front – Fred
o October – Wounded Soldiers/Hospitals – Rebecca
o November – Politics (ex: Election of 1864) – Cathy
o December – Letters & Photographs Home – Mark O.
Committee Work Time – 2014 Programs
· Sanitary Fair
o May 24 & 25, Memorial Day weekend and Ohio Village opening weekend
o Period sanitary fair in village
o Modern sanitary fair in building
§ Booths from counties and groups interested in participating in fair
§ Tables can promote for a charity
§ Bring something unique/special to vote for a “crowd favorite,” crowd votes with chain, which is then donated
§ Cathy to draft invite letter to historical societies, libraries, vets groups, etc.
§ Need to figure out how much space we have
· Symposium
o Friday Draft Schedule:
o 7-8pm – Reception
o 8-9:30 – Ohio in the Civil War: Democracy, Memory, and Transformation – proposed speaker: Mark Grimsley – ask who he would like to work with
o Saturday Draft Schedule:
o 9-10 – teacher workshop (either the Creative Learning Factory doing something on using the Civil War in the classroom or a time for teachers to sit down and ask questions of the speakers)
o 10:30-12:00 – Panel 1 – Ohio’s Homefront (formerly Family) – proposed speakers: David Bush, Carol Lasser, William F.B. Vodrey
o 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
o 1:00-2:30 – Panel 2 – Impact of the War on Ohio’s Citizens (formerly Citizenship) – proposed speakers: Anthony Gibbs, George Vourlojianis, Rebecca Urban(?)
o 3:00-4:30 – Panel 3 – Ohioans the Civil War Made Famous – proposed speakers: Mark Holbrook, James Bissland, Christie Weinginger
o 4:30-5:00 – Wrap-up remarks – Drew Cayton
o Todd Kleismit willing to work on getting moderators from OHS board, influential community members, donors, etc. Committee proposed moderators: Mark Okey, Jackie Barton
o Charge admission to Friday night event to cover food. Saturday event free with museum admission, get food carts to give people lunch options
o Dates: November 7&8 2014