Welcome to the Civil War Roundtable of Gettysburg. "The most important Roundtable,
in the most important small town,
at the most important battlefield,
in the most important country in the world."
—Joe Mieczkowski, past president
      
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August 24, 2017
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Back in the GAR Hall.
NEW MEETING TIME – 7PM. Refreshments at 6:30
MORALITY OR WAR EXPERIENCE?
The definition and treatment of mental illness in the Union Army
Kathleen Logothetis Thompson
While PTSD is a modern diagnosis, mental trauma and insanity were both present during the American Civil War. This presentation will explore how the war affected the soldiers mentally and how mental trauma and insanity were treated within the army.
The experiences of soldiering and battle took a mental and physical toll on soldiers. By the middle of the war, the Union army had policies in place to treat mentally ill soldiers at the Government Hospital for the Insane, a result of the asylum movement in the antebellum period. Once there, soldiers recuperated under a system of “moral treatment.” Thus, the Civil War armies understood the existence of insanity and had measures in place to treat it, but believed it to be a result of moral or physical weakness and not the impact of war service on the mental state of soldiers.
Kathleen Logothetis Thompson earned her Ph.D. in Nineteenth-Century American History at West Virginia University in 2017. She also graduated from Siena College in May 2010 with a B.A. in History and a Certificate in Revolutionary Era Studies and earned her M.A. in History from West Virginia University in May 2012. In addition, Kathleen was a seasonal interpreter at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park and is the co-editor of Civil Discourse, a blog on the long Civil War.
Our meetings are the Fourth Thursday of each month.
From September to May, we meet at the GAR Building, 53 East Middle Street. Light refreshments and conversation starting at 6:30 pm, the program starting at 7.
Whenever severe weather is predicted, program information can be found on the roundtable website and Facebook page after 3 PM or you can call Lynn at 717-398-2072.
You can now use your credit card or PayPal to securely pay for your Membership Dues. Please see the Membership page for the link.
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Your Membership |
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OFFICERS |
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Lynn Heller .............................................President Kendra Debaney.....................................Vice President Eleanor Cingire Bilz...........................Recording Secretary Linda Seamon...............................Membership Secretary David Diner...................................................Treasurer Roger Heller .......................................Program Director Linda Joswick .............................................Webmaster Dave Joswick......................................Newsletter Editor |
717.398.2072 717.334.6375 717.420.2183 717.359.7339 717.420.5730 717.398.2072 717.253.5477 717.877.3975 |
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BOARD MEMBERS |
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Ellie Cingire Bilz, David Diner, Fred Hawthorne, Lynn Heller, Roger Heller, Hilda Koontz, Dale Molina, Larry Plymire, Ron Rock, Linda Seamon, Kendra Debany (past president) |
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Next Board Meeting:Board Meetings are open to all members. Meetings begin at 6:30 pm at Perkins Restaurant in Gettysburg. If you would like to eat before the meeting, please arrive by 6:00 pm. Board meetings are the second Thursday of January, March, May, July, September, and November. |
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COMMITTEES |
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Plaque Committee: Book Award Committee: Field Trip Committee: If you are interested in more information, or joining, one the committees, please contact any Officer or Board Member. |
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EVENT INFORMATION |
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Gettysburg CWRT New Meeting Time in SeptemberBeginning with our September meeting…a new starting time: Doors open at 6:30 PM for refreshments; meeting Finfrock is Doucette Achievement Award winnerBarbara Finfrock’s 24 years of tireless labor have had a significant impact on making the Gettysburg National Military Park what it is today. For all her accomplishments, the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table would like to thank her by selecting Barbara as this year’s Cal Doucette Achievement Award winner. The Cal Doucette Achievement Award, was created in memory of a CWRT Board member who felt that recognition should be given to honor people who do something special for the Park and for the study of Civil War history. Barbara has been doing something special for years, and although we will be presenting her with a plaque at our September 28 meeting, in reality (with apologies to General Sickles), the whole Battlefield is Barbara’s monument. Please try to attend. Read more...
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Greetings Friends!
We enjoyed our three outdoor "in the field” programs this summer! In June, LBG Sue Boardman led us to various sites on lower Culp’s Hill as we learned about Candy’s Brigade; In July Ranger John Hoptak made the men of the 12th New Hampshire regiment come alive, as we each assumed the identity of one of the soldiers, heard about their fight near the Klingle Farm, and subsequent retreat back to Cemetery Ridge; and in August, we marched with Ranger Caitlin Brown into Pitzer’s woods with Berdan’s Sharpshooters on a scouting mission turned deadly. Lucky are we to have these excellent summer programs to look forward to each year.
And now September is here and we are all looking forward to gathering together once again in our beautiful and historic GAR Hall. Program Chair Roger Heller has lined up some exciting programs for us this Fall and Winter. Our September 28th monthly meeting will be extra special with the awarding of the Cal Doucette Achievement Award to the indomitable and tireless Barbara Finfrock, who has contributed her endless energy and devotion to the Gettysburg Foundation & Military Park, and to the Gettysburg community. Well deserved Barbara and congratulations!
Some dates and times to keep in mind: Our monthly meetings will start at 7 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 for refreshments and conversation; because Thanksgiving falls on the 4th Thursday, our November meeting will be held on the 16th; and our Holiday Banquet will be held on Thursday, December 7th at 6 PM.
Looking forward to spending many upcoming Thursday evenings of friendship and learning with you all!
- Lynn |
SPEAKERS |
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October 26
November 16
December 7
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News Briefs
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