Board of Directors
Susan Youhn, President
Ms. Youhn serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Point Lookout State Park, site of a Civil War Hospital and Prison and the Southern Maryland Civil War Roundtable. Ms. Youhn is also a member of the Maine Camp Hospital Association, living historians reenacting the various roles of female nurses during the Civil War. In addition, Ms. Youhn also reenacts with her family as members of the 20th Maine, Co. E .
Bonnie Mangan, Vice President
Ms. Mangan is a retired employee of the Library of Congress where she worked for the Congressional Research Service as an Information Research Specialist. She researched and wrote a screenplay about Elizabeth Jennings, an African American schoolteacher in New York City who won a court case against a trolley company that barred her from riding on the trolley.
Tabitha Miller, Secretary
My name is Tabitha Miller and I am originally from Aurora Colorado. I received my Bachelor of Arts in American History from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2005. I spent four summers working for the National Park Service at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. I worked as a Park Guide the first two years, then as a Living History Interpreter the next two years. I loved working my dream job! I went back to Colorado and worked at Starbucks Coffee Company as a store manager until 2014. I then married the man of my dreams and moved to Virginia! We are a Navy family, my husband is active duty, and I stay at home with our two amazing little boys!
Gary Ryan, Treasurer
An avid historian from by bachelor’s degree in History in the late ’60. I have been involved in oral history, 1st person, for nearly 15 years. Currently retired and enjoying life in historic Gettysburg, PA. My third retirement was my last retirement! I’d tried it twice before with little success. During my career, in reverse order, I served as a senior staff officer for the Department of Defense working at the Defense Agency (DIA) in Washington DC. I retired from DIA in August 2014. Prior to DIA, I was the principal partner for Gettysburg Integrated Solutions, LLC (GIS). My firm provided consulting support to corporate, federal, non-governmental agencies, Department of Defense and various institutions of higher education. Through the years I've been able to develop extensive government program management experience in the area of intelligence support to combat operations, systems integration, financial planning, programmatics and Congressional liaison. And before owing my own corporation, I retired for the first time in 2004 after serving in the U.S. Navy for thirty-nine years. In addition to my Naval Service, I’ve also had over twenty-five years of experience in higher education as a University Administrator and educator.
After seeing the world nearly five times I decided to settle on 24 beautiful acres less than three miles from Gettysburg’s Square. In the morning with the sun rising, I can look out of my kitchen windows and see the “Big Roundtop” and the Battlefield. Life is good and allows time to enjoy traveling with my bride, exploring and studying history and of course restoring classic cars.
After seeing the world nearly five times I decided to settle on 24 beautiful acres less than three miles from Gettysburg’s Square. In the morning with the sun rising, I can look out of my kitchen windows and see the “Big Roundtop” and the Battlefield. Life is good and allows time to enjoy traveling with my bride, exploring and studying history and of course restoring classic cars.
Meg Galante-DeAngelis, E-Journal Editor
Meg Galante-DeAngelis has been on the SWCW Board and the editor of At Home and in the Field, the newsletter of the SWCW, since 2001. A researcher with interests in the lives of children and their education throughout history, Meg is particularly interested in the history of early childhood education and in the lives of women and children in the Civil War era. She is a recurring book reviewer for the Civil War Book Review and has consulted with museums about the lives of children in different eras. She has served as a guest editor/author for issues of the children's magazines Cobblestone and Appleseeds focused upon children during the American Revolution and the American Civil War. She has done research support for authors of several books, genealogical work for family and friends, and research on the clothing, daily lives and play of children in the Civil War period. Skilled in deciphering historical script, her most recent research projects include a longtime interest in Ella Louise Wolcott, civil war nurse, hydro and homeopathic practitioner and abolitionist. This interest has led her to research on the Beecher family and into the life and work of Sophronia Bucklin, who was once Miss Wolcott's roommate at Point Lookout Hospital in Maryland. Meg's most recent work has been researching the men that Sophronia cared for at Camp Letterman after the Battle of Gettysburg and their lives as wounded veterans of the war. She is a member of the Human Development and Family Studies faculty at the University of Connecticut.
Janet Whaley
Janet has been avidly interested in Civil War History for over 20 years. She began by researching her own great-great grandfather’s participation in the conflict. After spending 15 years studying his life, and visiting all the battlefields he fought upon, Janet turned her efforts to exploring the role of women during the Civil War.
Janet is a long-time member of the Pasadena Civil War Round Table, and currently serves as their Treasurer. She is a volunteer docent with the Drum Barracks Civil War Museum in Wilmington, CA; and she spent 12 years as a reenactor, with living history impressions of members of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, and the American Anti-Slavery Society.
Recently retired, Janet's career spanned work in the non-profit sector (chambers of commerce), and 20 years as Vice President-Human Resources for a Pasadena investment firm. Janet is also a 29-year member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, the volunteer group that puts on the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. She resides in Pasadena with her husband, Steve, and their dog, Winston the Westie.
Janet is a long-time member of the Pasadena Civil War Round Table, and currently serves as their Treasurer. She is a volunteer docent with the Drum Barracks Civil War Museum in Wilmington, CA; and she spent 12 years as a reenactor, with living history impressions of members of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, and the American Anti-Slavery Society.
Recently retired, Janet's career spanned work in the non-profit sector (chambers of commerce), and 20 years as Vice President-Human Resources for a Pasadena investment firm. Janet is also a 29-year member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, the volunteer group that puts on the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. She resides in Pasadena with her husband, Steve, and their dog, Winston the Westie.
Mary Louise Jesek Daley
My name is Mary Louise Jesek Daley and I am from Cleveland, Ohio. I am an advocate for history. Along with my husband, Tim, we love to travel and explore new and exciting places often delving into history be it Mediaeval, American Civil War or War of 1812. I am an Executive Assistant/Councilmanic Aide to a local councilman in Cleveland for the last nearly nineteen years working on community and legislative projects. As Chair of the Collinwood and Nottingham Historical Society I have been actively working to preserve and share my communities history with others. As a docent at the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument I have helped guide visitors and planned events around our Civil War history since 2002. I love to travel especially to England/Scotland, Virginia, and Gettysburg. In my spare time I work on historical research, collect teddy bears, and follow Indy-styled open wheel racing. As for children, besides my husband, we are the proud parents of Alexsandor and Jackson, note the names, two Shetland Sheepdogs. We are affiliated with numerous organizations in the fraternal and historical fields.
Dianne Kauffman
Dianne is a former public school administrator, program director, and adjunct instructor at an area college. She enjoys retirement as it provides her time to do what she likes: catering to her two cats (Taz and Einie); working outside planting, mulching, tree-trimming, and mowing; volunteering as a docent at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron; and researching various topics of interest. Although she still doesn't have enough time to spend with her vents (ventriloquist "dummies") or practice magic tricks and illusions.
In addition to the SWCW, Dianne is a member of the Kent Civil War Society and The Cuyahoga Civil War Roundtable. She has held a variety of offices in each. While her re-enacting days are over (it is just too darn hot and humid....and age makes getting up from the ground an unlady-like spectacle).
Her main interest is the human aspects of the Civil War: spies (male and female), animals' contributions to the war effort, the Lincoln assassination, and how the "common" woman coped with the war.
In addition to the SWCW, Dianne is a member of the Kent Civil War Society and The Cuyahoga Civil War Roundtable. She has held a variety of offices in each. While her re-enacting days are over (it is just too darn hot and humid....and age makes getting up from the ground an unlady-like spectacle).
Her main interest is the human aspects of the Civil War: spies (male and female), animals' contributions to the war effort, the Lincoln assassination, and how the "common" woman coped with the war.
J. White
J. White is a Department of the Army civilian intelligence officer and retired US Army military intelligence officer. A sixth-generation US Army officer, she has spent her professional career in unconventional warfare and special operations. Amongst her accomplishments are service as an attaché in East Africa, as a trainer for Southeast Asian partner military forces, and as an on-the-ground advisor for Middle Eastern partner military forces in combat. Colonel White was the first woman student at the German Army's Infantry School and the first woman to perform a US Army Special Forces mission in combat.
She is the founding director of Pallas Athena Ladies Aid Society (PALAS), an "Authentic Civilian" Civil War reenactor unit, and is a member of B/97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. She is also an 18th Century reenactor. She is a member of the Company of Military Historians, the Single Action Shooting Society, several organizations focused upon 18th and 19th Century technology, and a number combat veteran organizations. She has served as an advisor for Special Forces history, Cold War intelligence and Civil War medical history to the US Military History Institute/Army Heritage and Education Center and the Historian of the US Army Medical Department, and as a member of the board of directors of the only still-standing CSA military receiving hospital.
She has special interests in the role of women herbalists supporting the CSA military medical service, Civil War military apothecaries, the role of USA and CSA military staffs during the Civil War, Civil War-era information operations (propaganda), and Civil War-era technology. She has published a number of works related to the Civil War. Her family has strong Civil War connections: she is the proud descendent of USA and CSA combat veterans and nurses, including both USA and CSA POWs, and several existing family properties played prominent roles in a number of Civil War battles. She knows of no other contemporary US Army officer who has carried an Army of Northern Virginia battle flag into combat outside the US.
She is the founding director of Pallas Athena Ladies Aid Society (PALAS), an "Authentic Civilian" Civil War reenactor unit, and is a member of B/97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. She is also an 18th Century reenactor. She is a member of the Company of Military Historians, the Single Action Shooting Society, several organizations focused upon 18th and 19th Century technology, and a number combat veteran organizations. She has served as an advisor for Special Forces history, Cold War intelligence and Civil War medical history to the US Military History Institute/Army Heritage and Education Center and the Historian of the US Army Medical Department, and as a member of the board of directors of the only still-standing CSA military receiving hospital.
She has special interests in the role of women herbalists supporting the CSA military medical service, Civil War military apothecaries, the role of USA and CSA military staffs during the Civil War, Civil War-era information operations (propaganda), and Civil War-era technology. She has published a number of works related to the Civil War. Her family has strong Civil War connections: she is the proud descendent of USA and CSA combat veterans and nurses, including both USA and CSA POWs, and several existing family properties played prominent roles in a number of Civil War battles. She knows of no other contemporary US Army officer who has carried an Army of Northern Virginia battle flag into combat outside the US.
Annette Bethke
Annette Bethke has been involved one way or another in living history for almost 30 years; she is particularly interested in the civilian and home front experience during the American Civil War. She has published articles in The Citizen’s Companion and the ALHFAM Bulletin as well as given presentations and conducted workshops at the 1860s Civilian Symposium, the Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museum conference, community gatherings and schools. Annette currently manages a website focusing on interpreting the civilian experience during the American Civil War and an internet radio station playing music from 1840-1865. She is active in numerous living history activities throughout the Mid-Atlantic and is a volunteer docent at the Surratt House Museum in Clinton MD.
Annette is originally from a small mining town in California named for a survivor of the Donner Party but now resides in Silver Spring Maryland and works for the Wildlife Habitat Council.
Annette is originally from a small mining town in California named for a survivor of the Donner Party but now resides in Silver Spring Maryland and works for the Wildlife Habitat Council.