Annual CWI Conference

Civil War Institute 2009 Theme Announced

The 2009 Civil War Institute's theme is "The Assassination" with "Mary Todd Lincoln" as a sub theme.  This will be another great year with speakers including: Catherine Clinton, whose new book on Mary Todd Lincoln will be published in 2009; Jason Emerson, author of The Madness of Mary Lincoln; James Swanson, author of Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer; Edward Steers Jr., author of Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln; Daniel Epstein author of The Lincolns and Thomas Craughwell, author of Stealing Lincoln's Body.  Registration fills quickly, to avoid the wait list send your deposit and registration form in as soon as possible.

2008 Civil War Institute a Success  

The 2008 Civil War Institue was held June 22 - June 28, 2008.  With over 400 participants, 11 Teacher Scholars and 15 Students Scholars the week was heralded as "the best yet."  Over $12,000.00 was raised through book sales, the raffle and the auction for the scholarship fund.  The scholarship fund enables High School Juniors and Civil War History Teachers to attend the conference and carry back there insights to their classrooms.

"Abraham Lincoln"

  June 22 - June 28, 2008

Among the Speakers and Tour Guides were:

   James McPherson, Harold Holzer,          

Michael Burlingame,  Michael Beschloss, Matthew Pinsker,        

Allen Guelzo, Ed Bearss, Gabor Boritt, and others. 

  John Y. Simon, Noted Grant Scholar and Longtime CWI Friend, Dies at 75

From The Philadelphia Inquirer

John Y. Simon, 75, one of the nation's foremost scholars on President Ulysses Grant and the Civil War, has died.

Dr. Simon died Tuesday at a Carbondale, Ill., hospital, said a Huffman-Harker Funeral Home spokesman.

The award-winning historian spent more than four decades at Southern Illinois University and led the Ulysses S. Grant Association, which is based at the Carbondale school, since 1962.

A graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard University, Dr. Simon spent decades amassing a collection of documents about the Union general, compiling them into the Papers of Ulysses S. Grant. The 31st volume of the collection is in its final stages, school officials said.

Dr. Simon, also an authority on the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, won a Lincoln Prize for outstanding scholarship about the late president, a lifetime-achievement award from the Lincoln Forum, and an Award of Merit from the Illinois State Historical Society, among other accolades. - AP

A memorial service for John Y. Simon will be held as follows:

August 24, 2008

1:00

Shryock Auditorium

1050 South Normal Avenue

Carbondale, IL