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'Living History: Fighting beside My Brother' to be presented at Stillwater Public Library Nov. 16
Civil War performance about the little known history of the women who fought during the Civil War.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Oct. 13, 2011) – This year communities across America are marking the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. The Stillwater Public Library, the History & Preservation Association and the Sheerar Museum are observing the anniversary on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. with a Living History program. Historian, Dr. Joyce Thierer will present “Fighting beside My Brother,” which relates the little known history of the women who fought during the Civil War.
“Neither the Union or Confederate armies allowed women to fight during the Civil War,” said Thierer. “Nonetheless, as many as 600 women posed as male soldiers to fight in the war. My performance is of a composite character named Jo who represents these women’s stories.”
Thierer, a member of the historical performance troupe Ride into History, will perform a monologue followed by discussions with the audience while in character, then as the scholar. This format gives the audience a chance to learn by enjoying the presentation while also having a chance to ask questions about Thierer’s research on the topic.
“People are often curious as to why they’ve never heard this part of history,” said Thierer. “Most of these women’s families were ashamed of the choice that their daughter/sister/mother/grandmother/aunt had made. It just was not right for a woman to do such a thing at that time, so they did not tell the story that I am telling now.”
Thierer has been performing with Ride into History since she founded the troupe in 1990. The group has performed across the country, including at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Thierer is on the faculty of Emporia State University where she teaches history.
The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Room 119 at the Stillwater Public Library. The performance is not recommended for children under the age of ten. Refreshments will be provided by the Sheerar Museum.
Library programs are sponsored by Friends of the Library and KOSU. For more information, visit the library’s website at library.stillwater.org or contact the library Help Desk at (405) 372-3633, ext. 106 or email askalibrarian@stillwater.org.
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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Contact: Sherry Fletcher, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 405.742.8362
E-mail: sfletcher@stillwater.org
Web: stillwater.org