Civil War Roundtable
Encyclopedia
Civil War Roundtables are a loosely organized group of independent organizations that share a common interest in the study, promotion, and recognition of the American Civil War
. The oldest such group in the United States
is based in Chicago, Illinois, and the second oldest is the Milwaukee Civil War Roundtable.
There are hundreds of such organizations throughout the U.S., with some in other countries as well. There is no national organization to coordinate the activities and publicity of the individual roundtables, although most follow a similar format of a monthly meeting (some include a dinner on site or at a nearby restaurant), announcements of local Civil War events and activities, a guest speaker (usually an author, park ranger, battlefield preservationist, historian, reenactor, or other expert). The meeting may also feature raffles, book signings, door prizes, auctions, fund raisers, and other similar activities. Some CWRT groups sponsor battlefield preservation events, battle walks, excursions, tours, and other "sanctioned" events.
Many roundtables charge an annual membership fee to help defray expenses for speakers, and others raise money primarily from charging for individual dinner meetings / presentations. Several smaller CWRT groups do not charge any set fees, but instead "pass the hat" and give all or a part of the collected money to the guest speaker.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The oldest such group in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is based in Chicago, Illinois, and the second oldest is the Milwaukee Civil War Roundtable.
There are hundreds of such organizations throughout the U.S., with some in other countries as well. There is no national organization to coordinate the activities and publicity of the individual roundtables, although most follow a similar format of a monthly meeting (some include a dinner on site or at a nearby restaurant), announcements of local Civil War events and activities, a guest speaker (usually an author, park ranger, battlefield preservationist, historian, reenactor, or other expert). The meeting may also feature raffles, book signings, door prizes, auctions, fund raisers, and other similar activities. Some CWRT groups sponsor battlefield preservation events, battle walks, excursions, tours, and other "sanctioned" events.
Many roundtables charge an annual membership fee to help defray expenses for speakers, and others raise money primarily from charging for individual dinner meetings / presentations. Several smaller CWRT groups do not charge any set fees, but instead "pass the hat" and give all or a part of the collected money to the guest speaker.