NY: Genesee Community College to host Civil War lectures

From GatesChiliPost:  Genesee Community College to host Civil War lectures

Rochester, N.Y. —Genesee Community College will host the following Civil War lectures from September to November.

Wednesday, Sept. 5 Batavia Campus and Thursday, Sept. 20 Medina Campus

GCC continues its ongoing look at the "War Between the States" when its lecture series begins anew this fall. Historian Maxfield kicks off the series on Wednesday, Sept. 5 when he presents "Man or Monster? Prophet or Madman? Reconsidering General William Tecumseh Sherman." The free lecture starts at 7 p.m. in the Conable Technology Building on GCC's Batavia campus. Maxfield revisits the lecture at the Medina Campus Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20.

Wednesday, Oct. 3, Batavia Campus
In October, the series takes a look at how climate and topography affected the war. Aaron Wheeler of Capital Community College will discuss how army commanders from both factions used the lay of the land to try to secure victories. He will cite specific examples of battles in which terrain was a key factor, and others in which no amount of planning could overcome the challenges posed by Mother Nature. "The Search for Good Ground and Fair Weather: The Role of Climate and Topography in the Civil War" is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3 in the Conable Technology Center at GCC's Batavia campus.

Wednesday, Oct. 10, Batavia Campus
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Columbia University Professor Eric Foner will be on the Batavia campus for a special event on Oct. 10. His lecture at 1 p.m. in the Stuart Steiner Theatre will be part of a month-long exhibit examining Lincoln's influence in the college's Alfred O'Connell Library, "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of His Time, a Man for All Times." The travelling exhibit features oversized panels that take the viewer through Lincoln's roots, his presidency and the Civil War. Foner will be signing copies of his book in the theatre lobby after his lecture.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, Batavia Campus
The role and experiences of aboriginal Americans will be the focus on the final lecture this fall, "Among the Many Fires: Trials, Opportunities and Experiences of Native Americans in the Civil War." GCC history instructor Dan Hamner explores the wide range of challenges the American Civil War produced for native individuals and communities. His lecture starts at 7 p.m. and is scheduled for Nov. 7 in the Conable Technology Center.

All lectures are free and open to the public. More information on GCC's ongoing initiative is available at the college's Civil War blog: civilwaratgcc.wordpress.com, which also contains photos from previous events.