Nov 7, 2013 -
The history department participated in the Grand Opening on November 7, 2013, of a special Civil War exhibit titled “Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries: African Americans in Civil War Medicine.” Union’s Emma Waters Summar Library, which brought the exhibit to the school, sponsored the event. The history department’s Dr. David Thomas delivered a talk, two history majors – an alumna and an undergraduate – helped as hostesses, and Phi Alpha Theta made the occasion one of its semester activities.
During the reception that began the Grand Opening, Savannah German (Class of 2012) and Heather Stricklin (Class of 2014), wearing period costumes, welcomed attendees to the event and directed them to the library where the exhibit was located. They later helped people get to the lecture room where the program took place.
Thomas talked on the theme of “Common Knowledge.” He quickly dispelled a long-held myth that whiskey was the primary anesthetic agent at the time of the Civil War by pointing out that chloroform and ether were widely used when amputations took place during the conflict. After providing an overview of the Civil War, Thomas focused on African American leaders in Civil War medicine. These included John V. de Grasse and Alexander T. Augusta, the only two African American physicians to receive commissions in the United State Army during the struggle, and Susie King Taylor, who served as a nurse to wounded soldiers.
Dr. Jill Webb, Professor of Nursing, also made a presentation, titling her talk “Blood Work.” She discussed African American surgeons, limb amputations, and the role of nurses during the Civil War.
Several members of Union’s Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society attended the Grand Opening. All told, more than 40 people were present for the event.
The Civil War exhibit, a creation of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, will be on display in Union’s library until December 14, 2013.
An advertisement on Union's digital television system publicizes the Civil War exhibit on African American medicine on November 7, 2013.
Savannah German (left), a Union alumna who was a history major, stands with current history major Heather Stricklin during the Grand Opening of the Civil War exhibit about African American medicine on November 7, 2013. Both are members of Union's Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta.
Charles Snow, vice president of Union's Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta and history club president, stands at the entry to the Civil War exhibit on African American medicine at the Grand Opening of the exhibit on November 7, 2013.
Display panels tell the story of African American contributions to medicine during the Civil War. The panels were the centerpiece of the Civil War exhibit that attendees viewed during the exhibit's Grand Opening in Union's library on November 7, 2013.
Library staff members Jeannie Byrd (left to right), Beth Lynn, and Lori Haney serve as hostesses at the Grand Opening on November 7, 2013, of the Civil War exhibit on African American medicine. Byrd is a long-time member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.
Emma Waters Summar Library Director Anna Beth Morgan welcomes attendees to the program concerning the Civil War exhibit on African American medicine on November 12, 2013. Morgan was instrumental in bringing the exhibit to Union University's campus.
Dr. David Thomas delivers a talk titled "Common Knowledge" at the Grand Opening program for the Civil War exhibit on African American medicine on November 12, 2013.
Dr. Jill Webb of the School of Nursing talks on the theme of "Blood Work" during the Grand Opening of the Civil War exhibit on African American medicine on November 7, 2013.
History major and Phi Alpha Theta member Lowell Van Ness asks a question following the program presentations by Dr. David Thomas of the history department and Dr. Jill Webb of the School of Nursing on November 12, 2013.
Program attendees listen to a question being asked of the evening's two presenters at the end of the event on November 7, 2013. Some 40 people attended the program on African American medicine during the Civil War.