Speaker Series: A Kansas Soldier at War
Schedule
Wed, 26 Feb, 2025 at 05:30 pm
UTC-06:00Location
100 Reynolds Ave, Fort Leavenworth, KS, United States, Kansas 66027 | Fort Leavenworth, KS
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Join us for a historical presentation on 19th century Kansas soldier.When war broke out in 1861, Christian and Elise Dubach Isely, soon to be married, found themselves in the midst of the conflict. Having witnessed the atrocities of Bleeding Kansas firsthand and fearful of what would come from this war, Christian enlisted with the 2nd Kansas Cavalry to fight alongside Union forces. During the next three years, the couple would write hundreds of letters to each other, as well as to friends and family members. Their writings survive today, providing a unique look at the Civil War--one of both military and civilian perspectives--in a passionate exchange between husband and wife in which the war, faith and family are discussed openly and frankly.
About the presenter:
Mr. Spurgeon was born and raised in Wichita. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s from Wichita State University in History while additionally compiling hours in Secondary Education: Social Studies.
He is an Associate Professor of History at Friends University. He has spent over 20 years teaching at the High School and College level.
Mr. Spurgeon is the author of “A Kansas Soldier at War: The Civil War Lives and Letters of Christian and Elise Dubach Isely,” published by The History Press, Charleston, SC, 2013.
From 2004 until 2018, he was the Executive Director of Lone Chimney Films, Inc., a not-for-profit documentary film company dedicated to films about the Midwest. He has written or co-written and directed four documentaries. The last two films (Home on the Range and The Road to Valhalla) have earned the Western Heritage Award (Wrangler) at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 2018 and 2015. The previous three films have also aired on various PBS stations throughout the Midwest.
He recently served as the writer and director for the film Sod and Stubble based on the classic tale by the same name written by John Ise with Von Rothenberger. Sod and Stubble will be released in March, 2025.
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Where is it happening?
100 Reynolds Ave, Fort Leavenworth, KS, United States, Kansas 66027Event Location & Nearby Stays: