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Collective Memories of Race in the American Revolution and the Civil War
November 15, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Date: Wednesday, November 15
Event: Presentation: “Collective Memories of Race in the American Revolution and Civil War”
Time: 7 pm
Location: Historical Society of Cheshire County, 246 Main St., Keene
Admission: Free
Historical Society of Cheshire County to Host Presentation on Collective Memories of Race
On Wednesday, November 15 at 7 pm the Historical Society of Cheshire County will host a presentation on “Collective Memories of Race in the American Revolution and Civil War.” Two history professors from Keene State College, Gregory Knouff and Graham Warder, will talk about intersections of race and memory in United States history. Their presentation will be a reprise of a talk they gave in September at a “teach-in” at Keene State College.
Professor Graham Warder teaches 19th-century U.S. history including the Civil War. His emphasis is on social and cultural history. Warder expects a lively discussion after the presentation. “People have strong opinions about Civil War memory,” he says, “and specifically about monuments and what to do about them.”
Warder points out that there is a difference between the terms “history” and “memory” and the “history of memory.” Memory is often more selective and dependent on current political issues and context. “There’s a lot of remembering, a lot of forgetting, and a lot of rewriting of what happened,” says Warder.
Professor Gregory Knouff teaches about the North American and Atlantic World in the 17th and 18th centuries. His specialties are colonial and revolutionary North America. Knouff will talk about how concepts of history change over time. Knouff says, “Most people think of the American Revolution as a unified struggle for the greater good, but that’s inaccurate. Americans were deeply divided, and slavery was a major issue.” He adds, “Tens of thousands of slaves sought their freedom in the American Revolution.”
Knouff hopes that the presentation will lead people to reflect on the complexity of history and simple collective memories. Following the presentation, refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Historical Society at 352-1895.
The Historical Society of Cheshire County is located at 246 Main Street in Keene. The organization has been collecting, preserving, and communicating the history of Cheshire County for 90 years. The Society puts on about 150 programs each year to help people of all ages “find their place in history.” For more information, visit hsccnh.org or call 603.352.1895.