News

NEH visiting scholar to speak about the Civil War, engage students

10.11.2019

Dr. A. James Fuller, professor of history at the University of Indianapolis, will speak about the deep division in Illinois politics during the Civil War on Tuesday, Oct.15 at 6:30 p.m. in IC’s Kirby Learning Center, room 6.

fuller
Fuller

Fuller’s presentation, entitled “The Lady Major and the War Governor: The Politics of a Civil War Sex Scandal,” is free and open to the public. Fuller is the the second scholar this year to visit IC through the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Samantha Sauer, archivist, curator, and assistant professor of history, said that the NEH visiting scholar program has enriched campus learning experiences for many students often working with resources at IC. 

“The program is an incredible opportunity to connect scholars from near and far with the unique collections at Illinois College,” she said. “Scholars have shared professional insights and research experiences with IC students and the IC community through informational interviews, classroom discussion, and public programs.”

While at Illinois College, Fuller will explore the early life and work of Richard Yates, governor of Illinois during the Civil War and one of two students to be awarded IC’s first diplomas in 1835. He will speak to IC students in a public history course and complete campus research in the  Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives.

Fuller's primary research interest is 19th century America, especially the Civil War, Southern history, Indiana history and Evangelical Protestant Christianity. He has published six books including his forthcoming biography of Indiana's Civil War governor entitled “The Great War Governor: Oliver P. Morton and the Politics of the Civil War and Reconstruction.” Fuller has previously served as president of the Indiana Association of Historians and holds a Ph.D. in U.S. history and world history from Miami University of Ohio.

Visiting humanities scholars come to the College through an endowed fund established by a $200,000 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and donors’ matching contributions. Fuller is the fourth scholar to visit the college through this grant since May 2017.

In June Illinois College hosted Wonhee Lee through the NEH program. Lee is a doctoral student whose research explores how the development of Sino-American relations was intertwined with the U.S. agricultural export drive at the end of the 20th century. While at Illinois College, Lee explored how Paul Findley ’43 provided crucial Congressional support for U.S. agricultural trade and diplomatic reconciliation with China during this time period. He presented this research at the 21st annual Conference on Illinois History at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield. 
 

About Illinois College

Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success. The college is located in Jacksonville, Illinois. With an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, the college offers over 50 undergraduate programs. In 1932, the society of Phi Beta Kappa established a chapter at Illinois College, and it remains one of only 11 in the state.

Illinois College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Visit www.ic.edu for more information.

Media Contact Information
Emily Titsworth '19, Writer
Office of Marketing and Communication
217.245.3219 | emily.titsworth@ic.edu