In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is presenting Remembering the Civil War: Perspectives on Race, Place, and Movement, a four-part Saturday-morning lecture series featuring renowned scholars who bring unique insights to the tumultuous era.
On Feb. 21, Christopher Bates will present “Don’t Know Much About History: Why People Love the Civil War.” Bates is a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA and lecturer at Cal Poly Pomona known for using humor and personal anecdotes to bring history to life.
On March 21, Dr. David Miller will present “’A thralldom grievous and intolerable’: Slavery, the American Civil War, and the Legacy of Race.” Miller is a lecturer for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Diego. His research focuses primarily on the social and cultural history of the United States in the 19th century, and he teaches about the Civil War, Reconstruction and the history of race and ethnicity.
On April 18, Dr. Glenna Matthews will present “The Civil War and the Birth of Modern California.” She is the author of numerous books, including The Golden State in the Civil War: Thomas Starr King, the Republican Party, and the Birth of Modern California. Matthews is an independent scholar who has taught at institutions that include U.C. Berkeley, Stanford University and UCLA.
On May 16, the series will close with “North and South to the Border: Yankees, Confederates, and Mexico after the Civil War,” presented by Dr. Todd W. Wahlstrom, a visiting professor of history at Pepperdine University and author of The Southern Exodus to Mexico: Migration Across the Borderlands after the American Civil War.
Lectures begin at 10am and last 90 minutes, including time for audience questions. Cost is $7 for general admission and $5 for students with ID, and is payable at the door. Seating is limited, so advance registration is encouraged.
The series is part of an ongoing effort by the Rancho to present low-cost and free programming that expands the understanding of California history for area residents. To register, and for more information, call
(562) 206-2040.
Source: Rancho Los Cerritos
