Civl War Topic of State History Conference Tomorrow

Editor's Note: The following is a news release from the New Jersey Historical Commission.

The New Jersey Historical Commission will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War at its 28th annual conference, "New Jersey in the Crucible of the Civil War," on Saturday, Nov.19, at Princeton University.

The commission is pleased to present Pulitzer Prize-winning author and noted historian Eric Foner who will deliver the keynote address on his book "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery." 

In his book, Foner examines the events and experiences that shaped Lincoln and his attitudes toward slavery.  The lecture will focus on the evolution of Lincoln's ideas and policies relating to slavery and race, the pressures that led to emancipation, and his thinking toward the end of his life on the place of blacks in American society.  Foner is the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University.
 
An address by Professor Larry Greene of Seton Hall University and three afternoon panel sessions will explore Civil War-era New Jersey.  Dr. Greene will deliver a talk titled "The Role of Race and Slavery in New Jersey Elections." 

The panel sessions include: 

"The Homefront" will examine the divided loyalties and painful sacrifices that fractured families, communities and towns. 

"Women, Medicine, and the Civil War" will explore medicine and Newark's Civil War hospital and examine the impact that some of the nation’s most prominent women had on Civil War-era New Jersey.

"The Soldier Experience" will capture the psychological impact and trauma suffered by both northern and southern soldiers and will survey the leadership style of the state's officers and generals.
 
Distinguished historian Clement Alexander Price of Rutgers University will deliver a plenary titled, "Break Every Yoke, Let the Oppressed Go Free: African Americans and the Civil War."
 
A closing reception will be held at the Historical Society of Princeton’s Bainbridge House located at 158 Nassau St. in Princeton where the exhibition, "Einstein At Home," is currently on view. 

It features 17 selected pieces of furniture from the Einstein Collection of the Historical Society of Princeton.  Through these rarely-seen objects, visitors have the opportunity to glimpse the personal side of the world-famous scientist. 

Photographs and other memorabilia tell the story of Einstein's life in Princeton, his home from 1933 until his death in 1955.  Also on view is the Princeton History Gallery, a chronological exhibition highlighting notable events and people in Princeton’s history.
 
Registration and program information is available on the commission’s web site at www.newjerseyhistory.org.
 
The New Jersey Historical Commission is a division of the Department of State.  Its mission is to preserve, promote and disseminate the history of the state through grants, publications, media projects and public programs.