Society for Women and the Civil War
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| Society for Women and the Civil War, Inc. Box #9066 8345 NW 66th St. Miami, FL 33166 (804) 244-1864 www.swcw.org |
| The 9th Conference on Women and the Civil War Held July 27 - 29 2007 at The Inn at Chester Springs, PA |
attendees will experience brief, sequential encounters with other researchers, sharing issues, suggestions, solutions
to research dilemmas.
Collections Workshop: "My Find" - Attendees to this workshop can bring a favorite find - military or civilian -
that dates to the mid-19th century. This workshop will consist of discussions of the identity, analysis and care of items.
Research Workshop: "Military Records" - Military Historian Les Jensen outlined how and why military
records are created, and how and where researchers can find the information in them.
Collections Workshop: "Tabletop Displays" - Individuals and teams compared and critique table-top
displays showing artifacts or research related to the conference. The workshop focused on techniques for producing
displays that are both attractive and educational.
Annual Meeting - A brief update and meeting on organizational matters of the Society for
Women and the Civil War.
"Women of Philadelphia" presented by Robin Stokes
Robin Stokes, a life-long resident of the greater Philadelphia area, provided an overview of the many and varied roles
of Philadelphia women in the Civil War.
Midnight Madness
Saturday July 26
"Nellie Chase Leath: Civil War Nurse with Attitude" by Dr. Carolyn P. Schriber
Dr. Schriber described a nurse who might be described as "Dorothea Dix's worst nightmare." She was young,
beautiful, practical, headstrong. Patients adored her; a chaplain did not.
"Depot Women: Unknown Backbone of the Confederacy" by Les Jensen
Mr. Jensen described the lives and labors of tens of thousands of women who worked for uniform depots, and
organizations that employed them, comparing Richmond and Philadelphia depots.
"Martha J. Coston: An Illuminating History" by Denise E. Pilato
Ms. Pilato reported on Martha J. Coston, who invented and patented the Coston Signal Flare, which was adopted and
used by the U.S. Navy and other services during and after the Civil War.
"Copperhead Women" by Ph.D. candidate Jonathan W. White
Mr. White broke away from our discussions of women who supported the war to discuss northern women who
opposed what they saw as coercion of the South and Lincoln's "war to free the slaves."
Afternoon Field Trip – "An Afternoon at the Spa"
The Saturday afternoon field trip consisted of a short bus trip to Yellow Springs Historic Site. Docents provided guided
tours of a site that was alternately used as a tavern, a hospital for Revolutionary War Soldiers, a 19th century spa and
resort, and a Soldiers' Orphans Home.
Sunday July 26
"Becoming Useful: Confederate Women Composers" by Dr. Candace Bailey
Dr. Bailey described the efforts and accomplishments of women who made themselves useful to Confederate war
efforts by composing and publishing patriotic sheet music.
"Cherokee Women" by Dr. Clarissa Confer
Dr. Confer explored ways that Cherokee women experienced the war, focusing on individuals who left records of their
experiences, including Mrs. General Stand Watie, wife of the highest ranking Indian in the Civil War.
"The Role of Chester County Women in the Great Central Fair" by Florence Williams
Ms. Williams described the organization and participation of women from Chester County, PA [where our conference is
being held] in the 1864 Philadelphia Sanitary Fair.
"The Woman Major General John Fulton Reynolds Left Behind" by Marian Latimer
Ms. Latimer revealed the 'rest of the story' about Catharine Mary Hewitt, detailing what happened to the fiancee of
General Reynolds...new data for anyone who thought her life was an "unsolved mystery."
to research dilemmas.
Collections Workshop: "My Find" - Attendees to this workshop can bring a favorite find - military or civilian -
that dates to the mid-19th century. This workshop will consist of discussions of the identity, analysis and care of items.
Research Workshop: "Military Records" - Military Historian Les Jensen outlined how and why military
records are created, and how and where researchers can find the information in them.
Collections Workshop: "Tabletop Displays" - Individuals and teams compared and critique table-top
displays showing artifacts or research related to the conference. The workshop focused on techniques for producing
displays that are both attractive and educational.
Annual Meeting - A brief update and meeting on organizational matters of the Society for
Women and the Civil War.
"Women of Philadelphia" presented by Robin Stokes
Robin Stokes, a life-long resident of the greater Philadelphia area, provided an overview of the many and varied roles
of Philadelphia women in the Civil War.
Midnight Madness
Saturday July 26
"Nellie Chase Leath: Civil War Nurse with Attitude" by Dr. Carolyn P. Schriber
Dr. Schriber described a nurse who might be described as "Dorothea Dix's worst nightmare." She was young,
beautiful, practical, headstrong. Patients adored her; a chaplain did not.
"Depot Women: Unknown Backbone of the Confederacy" by Les Jensen
Mr. Jensen described the lives and labors of tens of thousands of women who worked for uniform depots, and
organizations that employed them, comparing Richmond and Philadelphia depots.
"Martha J. Coston: An Illuminating History" by Denise E. Pilato
Ms. Pilato reported on Martha J. Coston, who invented and patented the Coston Signal Flare, which was adopted and
used by the U.S. Navy and other services during and after the Civil War.
"Copperhead Women" by Ph.D. candidate Jonathan W. White
Mr. White broke away from our discussions of women who supported the war to discuss northern women who
opposed what they saw as coercion of the South and Lincoln's "war to free the slaves."
Afternoon Field Trip – "An Afternoon at the Spa"
The Saturday afternoon field trip consisted of a short bus trip to Yellow Springs Historic Site. Docents provided guided
tours of a site that was alternately used as a tavern, a hospital for Revolutionary War Soldiers, a 19th century spa and
resort, and a Soldiers' Orphans Home.
Sunday July 26
"Becoming Useful: Confederate Women Composers" by Dr. Candace Bailey
Dr. Bailey described the efforts and accomplishments of women who made themselves useful to Confederate war
efforts by composing and publishing patriotic sheet music.
"Cherokee Women" by Dr. Clarissa Confer
Dr. Confer explored ways that Cherokee women experienced the war, focusing on individuals who left records of their
experiences, including Mrs. General Stand Watie, wife of the highest ranking Indian in the Civil War.
"The Role of Chester County Women in the Great Central Fair" by Florence Williams
Ms. Williams described the organization and participation of women from Chester County, PA [where our conference is
being held] in the 1864 Philadelphia Sanitary Fair.
"The Woman Major General John Fulton Reynolds Left Behind" by Marian Latimer
Ms. Latimer revealed the 'rest of the story' about Catharine Mary Hewitt, detailing what happened to the fiancee of
General Reynolds...new data for anyone who thought her life was an "unsolved mystery."