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Civil War Round Table
A 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization.
EIN: 36-5074542. Donations are tax-deductible
Winner of the First International CWRT Congress PHOENIX AWARD
Inland Empire Civil War Round Table Patron Recognition
We sincerely thank our Dedicated Patron Donors. The continued support of individuals who have contributed $50 or more is invaluable to the Inland Empire Civil War Round Table and the advancement of our educational and preservation efforts.
2025 Patrons
Heather St. Clair - Loma Linda
James Shuttleworth - Rowland Heights
Elizabeth Courtney - San Dimas
Frank Sheridan - Redlands
Mike Hoover * - Grand Terrace
Jim & Emily Bueermann * - Redlands
* Donation given for the acquisition of historical artifacts for the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, CA
On Monday, Dec. 15th, 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time, Author and Historian Professor Robert May will speak on his book "Debunking The Yule Log Myth: The Disturbing History Of A Plantation Legend."
On Monday, Dec. 15th, 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time, Author and Historian Professor Robert May will speak on his book "Debunking The Yule Log Myth: The Disturbing History Of A Plantation Legend."
Time: Dec 15, 2025 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89920915926?pwd=IPibZd29TGzzLvI7IiYz0VbBS4knc4.1
Meeting ID: 899 2091 5926
Passcode: Lincoln
The Zoom room will open at 6:15 for social time. The presentation starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Professor Robert E. May
According to an oft repeated legend, during Christmas before the Civil War, all enslaved people in the American South enjoyed lengthy vacations of a week or more depending on how long an oversized “Yule log” burned in their master's fireplace. As long as the log held out, slaves escaped heavy labor and their masters' whips and enjoyed a rare freedom of movement to go and do what they wished as well as gorge themselves on food and drink they never got the rest of the year. No wonder they soaked those logs in swamps to make them burn even longer.
But is it true?
In this book, historian Robert May takes readers on a detective caper as he investigates a story that reaches back to colonial America and continues today. Professor May finds no evidence of the Yule log tradition in the historical record, instead showing that it originated with pro-Confederate Lost Cause propagandists attempting to present the South's prewar system of human bondage in as soft tones as possible. Tales about good-natured masters and unresentful slaves jovially sharing Christmases played to this impulse beautifully.
Debunking the Yule Log Myth does more than correct the historical record. It serves as a highly instructive case study in the process of historical mythmaking. This captivating tale will appeal to all readers interested in African American history and the long struggle to support white supremacy by creating a mythical antebellum American South.
Professor Robert May is an internationally recognized expert on U.S. nineteenth-century “filibustering” (illegal private military expeditions against foreign countries.) Professor May has written four books and many articles about the subject, and this work in turn has influenced the work of many other historians. Dr. May is Professor Emeritus of History at Purdue University, where he played a significant role in university, college, and departmental honors programs.
He is now retired and living in Olympia, Washington; and is a member of the Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, which he addressed in virtual programs in December 2022 and December 2023 on Civil War-related topics covered in his books. His program recordings are available on this website under Meeting Videos in the menu bar. While officially "retired," Dr. May is an active scholar with his research and writing, public talks, op-eds, media appearances, and reviews of books and manuscripts for professional journals and presses.
From Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
If you missed Father Miller's program, you can view it by clicking the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12i3o057lI-7lxscM2rsqTDXOjbCOgAP0/view?usp=sharing
On Monday, Nov. 17th, Author and Historian Rev. Robert Miller discussed his book "Faith of the Fathers: The Comprehensive History Of Catholic Chaplains In The Civil War."
On Monday, Nov. 17th, Author and Historian Rev. Robert Miller discussed his book "Faith of the Fathers: The Comprehensive History Of Catholic Chaplains In The Civil War."
Rev. Robert Miller
Robert J. Miller was born in Michigan in 1950. After seminary studies, with degrees in Philosophy, MA's in Religious Education & Divinity, he was ordained a Catholic priest in June 1976. Since then he ministered throughout the Midwest, retiring recently after 35 years in inner-city Chicago, pastoring at St. Dorothy Church on Chicago's south side (previously Holy Angels and St. Joachim Churches).
He has long been active in community issues, taught Church History (Ecclesiology), and founded GenesisHousing Development Corporation (a faith-based group working for affordable housing). From 2003- 2006, he held offices in the Civil War Round Table, culminating in helping lead two battlefield tours, and becoming President of that group in 2005-06. He remains a popular speaker and lecturer around the Midwest in areas of spirituality, Scripture, Faith and Civil War religion.
FAITH OF THE FATHERS
Faith of the Fathers brings to light the forgotten stories of courageous chaplains whose commitments to faith and to men at war during America's most divisive conflict have long been overlooked. The Reverend Robert J. Miller provides a comprehensive and compelling portrait of the 126 priest-chaplains who served during the Civil War and reflects on the importance of religion and faith in nineteenth-century America. As a culture of death and horror raged around them, Catholic priest-chaplains met the needs of soldiers and officers alike, providing years of faithful and dedicated service in hospitals, prisons, battlefields, and camps.
If you missed Dan's program, you can view it by clicking the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vu-CEORS5u6EjmwUo1HNS-8XUKs3AZ2h/view?usp=sharing
On Monday, Oct. 20th, Author and Historian Dan Welch presented "Secessionville: A Forgotten Battle of the Civil War."
On Monday, Oct. 20th, Author and Historian Dan Welch presented "Secessionville: A Forgotten Battle of the Civil War."
In this enlightening talk, learn about the forgotten battle that took place on June 16, 1862, near Charleston, South Carolina. Discover how this forgotten battle shaped Union policy towards this front of the war following its conclusion.
In this enlightening talk, learn about the forgotten battle that took place on June 16, 1862, near Charleston, South Carolina. Discover how this forgotten battle shaped Union policy towards this front of the war following its conclusion.
Dan Welch is a park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park. He previously worked in the field of education with a public school district in northeast Ohio, as well as with the Gettysburg Foundation. Dan is the Editor of the long-running Gettysburg Magazine and has been a contributing member at Emerging Civil War for ten years. He is the co-author of two works in the Emerging Civil War Series: The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign, 1863 and Never Such A Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas, August 28-30, 1862. Welch has also co-edited several volumes in the Emerging Civil War’s Tenth Anniversary Series. Dan is also the co-author of Ohio at Antietam: The Buckeye State’s Sacrifice on America’s Bloodiest Day. He resides with his wife near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Dan Welch is a park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park. He previously worked in the field of education with a public school district in northeast Ohio, as well as with the Gettysburg Foundation. Dan is the Editor of the long-running Gettysburg Magazine and has been a contributing member at Emerging Civil War for ten years. He is the co-author of two works in the Emerging Civil War Series: The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign, 1863 and Never Such A Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas, August 28-30, 1862. Welch has also co-edited several volumes in the Emerging Civil War’s Tenth Anniversary Series. Dan is also the co-author of Ohio at Antietam: The Buckeye State’s Sacrifice on America’s Bloodiest Day. He resides with his wife near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Dan Welch
The Inland Empire Civil War Round Table was instrumental in forming the
African Americans in the Civil War Era Round Table.
Its website is https://www.aacwert.org
For more Civil War-related podcasts, visit the Civil War Podcast page.
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