A Fresh Look at Civil War Veterans with Kate Dahlstrand
I am very happy to welcome Dr. Kate Dahlstrand to the show. Kate is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia and a social historian who studies the history of the American veteran. She is interested, primarily, in the transition from military service into civilian life. She explores this transition through community studies. Dr. Dahlstrand contributed an essay to a UGA press collection entitled Southern Communities: Identity, Conflict, and Memory in the American South published in 2019. She is currently in the process of packing up her world in Athens, Georgia and moving to Kansas City, Missouri. She begins her new job as an editor and historian for Army University Press in January 2020. You can find her on Twitter where she posts about history and corgis.
I love having folks on who share my passion for the study of Civil War veterans - so this was both an informative and fun conversation…a great combo! We discuss:
Civil War veterans as a reflection of their societies
The so-called “dark turn” in veteran studies
David Blight’s Race and Reunion…and the “forgetfulness” inherent in memory studies
Monument dedication ceremonies and the significance of what veterans said (what you won’t necessarily see inscribed on the monuments today)
The 1913 and 1938 Blue Gray Reunions at Gettysburg
Kate’s perspective as a combat veteran
I love talking about veterans…and you’ve probably noticed, as I have hosted Sarah Handley-Cousins, Diane Miller Sommerville, and Jonathan Jones…who all work in veteran studies…Kate’s voice was an valuable addition to the broader narrative. We also discuss works by the likes of Brian Matthew Jordan and Adam Domby…both of whom I hope to have on the show soon - so stay tuned.
Be sure to follow Kate on Twitter! And please, don’t forget to subscribe to The Rogue Historian Podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite app so you never ever ever ever miss a show. That would be dumb.
With compliments,
Keith