Civil War

07 22, 2018

The History of the Medal of Honor

By admin|2018-07-22T06:00:39-04:00July 22, 2018|

It is our nation’s highest military award, but how much do you know about the Medal of Honor?

Todd Arrington, site coordinator at James A. Garfield National Historic Site, guides us through the Medal’s origins and history as part of our Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Series.

Hear stories of father-son duos that received the award and the rare people who actually earned TWO Medals of Honor. Additionally, discover the only woman and president to ever receive the Medal of Honor.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at our Main Branch. The topic will President Ulysses S. Grant and the election of 1968.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, some other previous talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety:

06 29, 2018

After a Civil War Battle: Burying the Dead

By admin|2018-06-29T06:00:59-04:00June 29, 2018|

We’ve hosted years worth of programs about the different Civil War Battles. But what happens after the battle?

What happens to the dead, wounded and captured? What happens to the ruined cities and farms?

Jessica Beam, a ranger at James A. Garfield National Historic Site, discusses what happens when the battle ends during our monthly Civil War lecture.

She explains how the Union, Confederacy, doctors, chaplains, families and even towns dealt with the enormous number of dead of wounded.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, July 11, at our Main Branch. The topic will be the history of the Medal of Honor.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, some other previous talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety:

05 19, 2018

James A. Garfield and the First Decoration Day

By admin|2018-05-19T06:00:55-04:00May 19, 2018|

Our nation will commemorate Memorial Day later this month, and our friends from James A. Garfield National Historic Site offer a timely reminder on the holiday’s origin.

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day, a way to celebrate and commemorate soldiers who perished during the Civil War.

And the keynote speaker during the first national Decoration Day ceremony was Congressman and Union veteran James A. Garfield.

Todd Arrington, site manager at Garfield National Historic Site, discusses the history of Decoration Day and Garfield’s still pertinent speech.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, some other previous talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety:

04 16, 2018

MPL Talks: The Mexican-American War

By admin|2018-04-16T06:00:55-04:00April 16, 2018|

Consider this a prologue to our Civil War series. David Lintern, a volunteer at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, discussed the Mexican-American War during a program last week at the library.

The Mexican-American War is where most Civil War officers saw their first active combat.

Learn about Ulysses Grant’s remarkable equestrian escape during one battle, the march to Mexico City, and why Santa Anna was a hero to some Mexicans and a traitor to others.

If you’re interested in history, we have two more programs this month you’ll enjoy.

First, our resident historian Dr. John Foster is starting a series that will focus on the US Presidents of the 20th Century. It begins with Rough Rider and conservationist Theodore Roosevelt.

Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, has a doctorate degree in history—will discuss one of our country’s most fascinating presidents at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at our Main Branch. The talk is free and open to all. You can register to attend online or call us at (440) 255-8811 ext. 247.

Additionally, Foster will discuss the Easter Rising of 1916 at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, at the Concord Township Community Center—7671 Auburn Road in Concord Township.

On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, a group of Irish patriots staged a rebellion against British rule in Ireland. Although it failed, the Easter Rising opened the door to Irish independence within a decade. Learn about the rebels and their reasons during Foster’s lecture.

The Easter Rising talk is also free to attend. To register, call Suzy Cobb at (440) 639-4650.

Finally, our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, May 9, at our Main Branch. The topic will be President James A. Garfield and the First Decoration Day.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, some other previous talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety:

04 4, 2018

MPL Talks: Ambrose Burnside – Innovator in Facial Hair & Firearms

By admin|2018-04-04T06:00:13-04:00April 4, 2018|

Major General Ambrose Burnside is best known for two things: his failures as a Civil War general and that facial hair.

But Burnside led a remarkable life both before and after the Civil War.

Matt Jones of the James A. Garfield National Historic Site put Burnside beneath the microscope during the March lecture of our Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War series. He discussed how:

Burnside created a rifle so impressive that it was the third most popular carbine during the Civil War
Burnside’s innovations in firearms nearly ruined him
Burnside befriended Otto von Bismarck during the Franco-Prussian war
his ex-girlfriend became a Confederate spy

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, April 11, at our Main Branch. The topic will be the Mexican-American War where many Union and Confederate generals, including Burnside, began their military careers. The talk is free and open to all.

If you’re interested in Civil War history, some other previous talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety:

Civil War

Title

ABOUT MPL

CONNECT