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 .
In her "spare" time, you can find her working for Northrop Grumman Corporation as a system analyst.
In her "spare" time, you can find her working for Northrop Grumman Corporation as a system analyst.
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
Tabitha Miller is originally from Aurora Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Arts in American History from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2005. She spent four summers working for the National Park Service at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park and worked as a Park Guide the first two years, then as a Living History Interpreter the next two years. She loved working her dream job! She went back to Colorado and worked at Starbucks Coffee Company as a store manager until 2014. She then married the man of her dreams and moved to Virginia! They are a Navy family; her husband is active duty, and she stays at home with their two amazing little boys!
Gary Ryan, Treasurer
An avid historian from receiving his bachelor’s degree in History in the late ’60, he has been involved in oral history, 1st person, for nearly 15 years. Currently he is retired and enjoying life in historic Gettysburg, PA. "My third retirement was my last retirement! I’d tried it twice before with little success," he says. During his career, in reverse order, he served as a senior staff officer for the Department of Defense working at the Defense Agency (DIA) in Washington DC. He retired from DIA in August 2014. Prior to DIA, he was the principal partner for Gettysburg Integrated Solutions, LLC (GIS), which provided consulting support to corporate, federal, non-governmental agencies, Department of Defense and various institutions of higher education. Through the years he has 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. Before owing his own corporation, he retired for the first time in 2004 after serving in the U.S. Navy for thirty-nine years. In addition to his Naval Service, he has also had over twenty-five years of experience in higher education as a University Administrator and educator.
After seeing the world nearly five times, he and his wife, Sally, decided to settle on 24 beautiful acres less than three miles from Gettysburg’s Square. In the morning with the sun rising, he can look out of his kitchen windows and see the “Big Roundtop” and the Battlefield. Life is good and allows time to enjoy traveling with his bride, exploring and studying history and of course restoring classic cars.
After seeing the world nearly five times, he and his wife, Sally, decided to settle on 24 beautiful acres less than three miles from Gettysburg’s Square. In the morning with the sun rising, he can look out of his kitchen windows and see the “Big Roundtop” and the Battlefield. Life is good and allows time to enjoy traveling with his 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
Mary Louise Jesek Daley is from Cleveland, Ohio. She is an advocate for history. Along with her husband, Tim, they love to travel and explore new and exciting places often delving into history be it Mediaeval, American Civil War or War of 1812. She is 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 she has been actively working to preserve and share her communities history with others. As a docent at the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument she has helped guide visitors and planned events around our Civil War history since 2002. She loves to travel especially to England/Scotland, Virginia, and Gettysburg. In her spare time she works on historical research, collects teddy bears, and follows Indy-styled open wheel racing. As for children, besides her husband, they are the proud parents of Alexsandor and Jackson, note the names, two Shetland Sheepdogs. They 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.
Jim Knights
Jim Knights is a retired FBI Special Agent. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he has a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.A. from the University of Chicago. Jim has written several published articles on law enforcement recruiting, including the valuable role of women as investigators. His fourth historical novel, Soldier Girl Blue, was inspired by the true story of Sarah Emma Edmonds of New Brunswick, Canada, who disguised herself as a man and joined Union Army during the Civil War, going behind Confederate lines on several occasions to conduct espionage operations. He and his wife, Dorothy, also an SWCW member, reside near Pittsburgh, PA. Their children, Allyson, Patrick, and Lauren, live nearby. They have two grandchildren, Lillian and Christopher.
Jim Knights is a retired FBI Special Agent. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he has a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.A. from the University of Chicago. Jim has written several published articles on law enforcement recruiting, including the valuable role of women as investigators. His fourth historical novel, Soldier Girl Blue, was inspired by the true story of Sarah Emma Edmonds of New Brunswick, Canada, who disguised herself as a man and joined Union Army during the Civil War, going behind Confederate lines on several occasions to conduct espionage operations. He and his wife, Dorothy, also an SWCW member, reside near Pittsburgh, PA. Their children, Allyson, Patrick, and Lauren, live nearby. They have two grandchildren, Lillian and Christopher.