DescriptionTo celebrate the Civil War's sesquicentennial anniversary and the opening of an exhibit hosted by the Special Collections and University Archives of Rutgers University Libraries, James M. McPherson delivers a keynote lecture explaining why the American Civil War has remained such a popular historical narrative among historians of the United States and its citizenry alike. He details factors such as the war's sheer size, in both geographic and human terms, as well as the mythic status key individuals assumed throughout the war and since its conclusion. In comparing the politics of today with those at the onset of the war in the 1860's and those during its centennial anniversary in the 1960's, McPherson discusses matters of race, citizenship, and regional rivalries that have fueled debates over federal authority and state autonomy that have been a persistent part of United States political discourse. McPherson's talk is followed by a short question and answer session with the audience.
Marianne Gaunt introduces James McPherson at the onset of the recording and notes that this is the twenty-seventh annual Louis Faugères Bishop III lecture, which typically features diverse topics on book and manuscript collecting, printing history, and the use of rare books and manuscripts by scholars. Fernanda Perrone then briefly discusses curating the Civil War exhibit at Rutgers University Libraries, titled 'Struggle Without End: New Jersey and the Civil War.'
NoteFilmed at the Teleconference Lecture Hall of the Scholarly Communications Center, Alexander Library, Rutgers University.