Within popular culture, veterans of the Civil War are often depicted as having reconciled in reunions held throughout the nation in the late nineteenth century. Grainy images of Blue and Gray Reunions often show grizzled veterans shaking hands, symbolically pulling the nation back together as the bitter memory of the Civil War faded. Yet how accurate is this portrayal? Join us today for a discussion with a former research fellow who has written a book that reveals why this often-repeated tale of reunion and reconciliation fails to accurately capture how many remembered the Civil War.

Dr. Caroline Janney is the John L. Nau, III, Professor in History at the University of Virginia. She has published 8 books, as well as numerous articles and book chapters. Her most recent monograph: Ends of War: The Unfinished Fight of Lee’s Army After Appomattox won the 2022 Lincoln Prize. We are here to talk with her today about Remembering the Civil War: Reunion and the Limits of Reconciliation (2013). Dr. Janney was a fellow at the Kentucky Historical Society in 2009-10, when she was researching Remembering the Civil War. This book would go on to win the Jefferson Davis Award from the American Civil War Museum and the Charles S. Sydnor Award from the Southern Historical Association.

Kentucky Chronicles is inspired by the work of researchers worldwide who have contributed to the scholarly journal, The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, in publication since 1903.
https://history.ky.gov/explore/catalog-research-tools/register-of-the-kentucky-historical-society

Hosted by Dr. Daniel J. Burge, associate editor of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society and coordinator of our Research Fellows program, which brings in researchers from across the world to conduct research in the rich archival holdings of the Kentucky Historical Society.
https://history.ky.gov/khs-for-me/for-researchers/research-fellowships

Kentucky Chronicles is presented by the Kentucky Historical Society, with support from the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation.
https://history.ky.gov/about/khs-foundation

This episode was recorded and produced by Gregory Hardison. Thanks to Dr. Stephanie Lang for her support and guidance. Our theme music, “Modern Documentary” was created by Mood Mode and is used courtesy of Pixabay. Other backing tracks are used courtesy of Pixabay or are original compositions by Gregory Hardison.

To learn more about our publication of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, or to learn more about our Research Fellows program, please visit our website:
https://history.ky.gov/

https://history.ky.gov/khs-podcasts