Making Sense of the American Civil War

MHC seeks host organizations. Apply by June 21.

In commemoration of the 150th Anniversary, Making Sense of the American Civil War is a reading and discussion program that explores literary works about the American Civil War. Co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the American Library Association (ALA), MHC and community organizations, this series focuses on different perspectives of the Civil War and the varying experiences of individuals from different genders, ethnicities and backgrounds.

MHC seeks up to four organizations to host the Making Sense of the American Civil War program.

Download the application here. Applications must be received by June 21, 2013. Selected host sites will be notified by July 10. All programs planned by the selected host sites must be held between October 2013 and April 2014.

Each program site will host a series of five reading and discussion sessions over a 10 to 15 week period. Each session will focus on a different aspect of the American Civil War experience, using sections from the three books on loan from MHC as a foundation for discussions. Host institutions will be provided with 24 copies of three different books, as well as an introductory essay, promotional materials, and funding up to $1,000 to support program costs such as the facilitator honorarium. The three books include: March by Geraldine Brooks; Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam, by James McPherson; and America’s War: Talking About the Civil War and Emancipation on Their 150th Anniversaries, a new anthology edited by Edward L. Ayers. Organizations will be required to work with MHC to identify and select a local Civil War scholar to act as a facilitator during the discussion series. An outline detailing discussion points and reading selections will be available to host institutions.

Questions? Contact Andrea Lewis.

Four organizations hosted Making Sense of the American Civil War in spring 2013: