Surratt Society Assassination Conference

[Dave Taylor]

Very well put, Tom. The conference has quickly become my favorite day of the year.

[ReignetteC]

Every year they get better, and every year I wonder how we can top it the next year. And every year we manage to do so - or so it seems from the comments we get. This year, our 15th anniversary year for the Surratt conference was no exception. Every speaker was dynamic, knew their subject matter very well, and were tossed good questions at the end. And guess what -- every speaker was a member of this forum. I am truly sending my love and appreciation to John Elliott, Tom Bogar, Rich Smyth, Jim Garrett, Caleb Stephens, Barry Cauchon and Blaine Houmes, all of whom made us look so very good.

Many other forum members were in the audience: Betty Ownsbey, Dave Taylor, Heath and Josh Atkinson, Joe Beckert, Phil and Linda Anderson, Reignette Chilton,Tom Thorne, and the biggest treat of all was to have Eva Lennartz fly from Germany to be with us. She was quickly adopted by our friendly group. As tired as I am, it's happy exhaustion -- and my efficient museum staff and Society executive board members were wonderful helpers.

Your museum's team members are the MASTERS of efficiency; in fact, you and your team should write a book on how to run a spectacular conference (with a few extra tips from the "Velvet Hammer"). And your grandson, Laurie, is quite a handsome young gentleman.

I agree with Dave; it truly is a favorite day. And not to be missed!

Thanks,
RC

[Dave Taylor]

While all my pictures of the last two days are here on Twitter, Lindsey shared with me how much these guys:



Reminded her of these guys:



Perhaps with a little less hair though...

[J. Beckert]

Many other forum members were in the audience: Betty Ownsbey, Dave Taylor, Heath and Josh Atkinson, Joe Beckert, Phil and Linda Anderson, Reignette Chilton,Tom Thorne, and the biggest treat of all was to have Eva Lennartz fly from Germany to be with us. She was quickly adopted by our friendly group. As tired as I am, it's happy exhaustion -- and my efficient museum staff and Society executive board members were wonderful helpers.

I agree. Frau Eva was quite a hit at the conference. She's even sweeter in person. It was a pleasure to have her there and a pleasure to be around so many nice folks.

[L Verge]

I apologize for leaving John Fazio off the list of attendees. Our forum was very well attended, and I might have missed others if I didn't match your screen names with your real names.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I just want to say "thank you" for all your very warm and hospitable welcome and providing me the most wonderful time in your wondeful country. The conference, the bus tours, the people - the entire experience was fantastic beyond words! It was great meeting y'all and putting faces and voices to names.

Special thanks to:
- Roger without his invitation to joinn the forum and encouragement I wouldn't have been here. (And congrats to the Award, which is most deserved!!!)
- Laurie who provided every help to get me here, and to Lindsey and Tom for assisting her.
- Betty for being the most fantastic roommate.
- Herrn Beckert for alway making laugh and allowing me to like grits.
- Tom and Gail Bogar for not only being the most lovely neighbors at the conference and dinner table, but also the incredibly kind offer to guide me in Washington, and to Jim Garrett for trying to get me to Ford's.
- Caleb Stephens for treating me with his book (signed of course).
- Blaine Houmes for letting me get in touch with the history of one of my favorite characters.
- Rick Smith for showing up in gorgeous outfit also to forward "hello" from Arizona. ("Hello" back, and sorry I had to interrupt and delay the "Heroes" in order to prepare for the connference, but they will be taken care of as soon as I'm back, and feedback will follow. So far they have been great heroes.)
-...I could and should go on endlessly, but have to leave now, sorry if I forgot someone.

Like with all good times, this one passed way too fast, and now in the "empty" hotel it seems as if I "have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear". Well, I hope "We will make amends ere long one day". So far thanks to all for making this one of the best times in my life.

[RJNorton]

Eva, THANK YOU! The fact that you came here from your home in Germany meant the world to all of us, even those like me who were not present. People have written me saying, "I wish I could have been there to meet Eva." You have had an enormous and positive effect on lots of peoples' lives. For that we say thank you!

[HerbS]

Once things settle down,I will make it to the Conference."By Hook or By Crook"!

[L Verge]

I just had the first opportunity to talk with Joan Chaconas, my right-hand man at Surratt House who coordinates all of our off-site bus tours - including those for the conference. She received many great comments about both of the tours this year, and she was especially impressed with the job that John Elliott did at Ft. McNair. She, herself, used to give tours at the Fort for the Smithsonian; but she raved about Dave's knowledge -- without notes, off the top of his head, answering questions easily, etc.

I received many compliments about John's speech on Saturday also. He handled it with the same aplomb that Joan described above. He was our lead-off speaker and set the high tone for the rest of the day. THANK YOU, MR. ELLIOTT!

[John E.]

I just had the first opportunity to talk with Joan Chaconas, my right-hand man at Surratt House who coordinates all of our off-site bus tours - including those for the conference. She received many great comments about both of the tours this year, and she was especially impressed with the job that John Elliott did at Ft. McNair. She, herself, used to give tours at the Fort for the Smithsonian; but she raved about Dave's knowledge -- without notes, off the top of his head, answering questions easily, etc.

I received many compliments about John's speech on Saturday also. He handled it with the same aplomb that Joan described above. He was our lead-off speaker and set the high tone for the rest of the day. THANK YOU, MR. ELLIOTT!

Wow Laurie! Thank you very much for the kind words. I had a great time meeting new friends and saying hello to familiar ones as well. I even had a chance to meet Bob Summers in person for the first time. Much like Betty Ownsbey, he is one of the most generous people you could ever meet.

I can't wait until next year's conference. It should be the best one yet as we celebrate the 150th anniversary.

[Gene C]

Dave, I don't Twitter, so thanks for the link and all the photo's. It's nice to see some faces to the names many of us know only through reading the posts here.

[BettyO]

OK Folks....as promised - photos. Sorry for the delay, but I've been a bit "under the weather" - in more ways than one! Two to three more inches of snow and ice as well as some sort of sinus infection thing.... but I'm much better today. So here goes -

On Friday, we met the tour bus at McNair where John Elliott gave a WONDERFUL talk in the Courtroom.

   

   

   

Then, next morning, the Conference! It was so great to see everyone again....

   

   

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More photos of the Conference - Here's Joe Beckert -

   

John Elliott and Barry Cauchon

   

Joan Chaconas

   

Our Own Laurie Verge -

   

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Rick Smyth, Jim Garrett and Blaine Houmes with Barry Cauchon and John Howard in the background....

   

Rick Smyth giving a talk on the Gourley family with John Howard as a "Conspirator!"

   

That night - the Banquet! It was grand and Barry's talk was phenomenal. He's not only a wonderful historian but a true showman as well!

   

   

   

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Yours truly.....

   

Barry gave a fabulous talk -

   

Afterwards, a few of us got together for a photo op....

   

   

L to R: Barry Cauchon, Louise Oertley, Laurie Verge, Linda Anderson, Betty Ownsbey, Eva Lennartz, Dave Taylor, Thomas Thorne, Christine Jackson, Joe Beckert and Lindsey Horne far back in the doorway.

[Dawn E Foster]

Thanks, Betty! Twitter won't let me in, so I haven't been able to see anyone else's. It's so good to see everyone! You all look wonderful, and like you're having so much fun! Some day I swear I'm going to be able to come ...

[Rogerm]

Thanks for the pictures, Betty. It gives those of us who were absent an idea of the spirit of the event. It looks like you had alot of fun.

[RJNorton]

Betty, thank you for posting these photos!