Surratt Conference Wrap-Up

[L Verge]

The 20th Annual Surratt Conference on Lincoln assassination history was a great success -- at least according to the praises we received from over 120 attendees.

The theme was "Lincoln's Assassination: Was It Just One Mad Act?" Did Booth have help? From whom? Our opening speakers were Judge Sandy Prindle and Barry Sheehy, both authors on recent books documenting Confederate activities that certainly suggest ties between Richmond and Canada. Sandy's book is entitled Booth's Confederate Connections and Barry has written Montreal: City of Secrets. Treat yourselves if you are a student of the Lincoln assassination.

They were followed by Ed Steers, who spoke on his years-long investigation of the Neff-Guttridge papers that led to Dark Union. Ed shot so many holes in their research that hopefully it will finally succumb.

David Goetz, author of Ever The Gray Ghost, a sequel to previous work on the mighty Mosby, presented research that has him suggesting that the Rangers were into the final stages of the Lincoln plot. Richard Willing followed with thoughts on the Trials and Tribulations of the Tribunal in their efforts to link the conspiracy to the CSA high command. The final talk was given by John Fazio, who presented a timeline of history on black flag warfare and how the final years of the CW led to the assassination.

Ernie Abel, author of John Wilkes Booth and the Women Who Loved Him, educated and entertained us after dinner with a talk on a variety of ladies who were affected by the Lothario. Very few of them had successful and happy lives afterwards.

The off-site bus tours that we offer each year were well-received again with trips to Maryland's Eastern Shore and the Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad Museum (an idea conceived years ago by Dr. Kate Clifford Larson). Sunday's tour went to Orange, Virginia, to view a museum dedicated to our Founding Fathers and early Presidents from that area and then on to the Exchange Hotel in Gordonsville, which began life as a railroad hotel and then became a critical hospital for Confederates and Union forces alike during the war.

Now, aren't you sorry you did not attend? Planning has already started for the 2020 conference.

[RJNorton]

Wonderful, Laurie! Thanks for posting the good news.

[Gene C]

(04-08-2019 09:30 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Now, aren't you sorry you did not attend? Planning has already started for the 2020 conference.

I'm sorry Laurie,
You had such a great line up of speakers, and I wanted to meet so many people who participate on the forum.
I'll try harder next year.

[GustD45]

Mea Culpa Laurie. My wife and I will make every effort to attend next year.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Sounds so awesome!!

[L Verge]

I forgot to mention that, thanks to hints from Sandy Prindle and John Fazio, and some detective work from one of my volunteers, we were able to contact two descendants of Admiral John Dahlgren and the ill-fated Ulric Dahlgren. Due to the last minute timing, they were only able to stay at the conference for about an hour, but they are fine, young twin brothers (named John and Ulric and still bearing the family name). Some of you may have seen them recently on a Smithsonian special about the famous raid on Richmond.

I loved them right away because both graduated from my alma mater, which is also my daughter's alma mater, and where my grandson is now enrolled.

[Anita]

(04-08-2019 09:30 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Now, aren't you sorry you did not attend? Planning has already started for the 2020 conference.

Yes!!
Congrats on another outstanding conference.
Laurie do you video the talks? I'd pay for a set of conference DVDs. Are are the talks published?

[L Verge]

(04-09-2019 08:27 PM)Anita Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 09:30 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Now, aren't you sorry you did not attend? Planning has already started for the 2020 conference.

Yes!!
Congrats on another outstanding conference.
Laurie do you video the talks? I'd pay for a set of conference DVDs. Are are the talks published?

We investigated both videos and copies of talks a number of years ago and had quite a few objections to both. The biggest one was that, while we would make money from those sales, it would not be anywhere near the amount of what we take in for registrations - which is what pays the bills for the conference, and trust me, the bills are considerable.

We want attendees for another reason: Historians need to form a "fraternity" of friendship as well as education. One of this year's attendees announced at the Friday reception that our conference was more like a family reunion. That was music to my ears! This is the type of interaction that promotes sharing of ideas. Videos are educational, but they are not warm and fuzzy. One of the greatest experiences of my life was being part of what James O. Hall called the Baker Street Irregulars. Going places with him, John C. Brennan, Mike Kauffman, and others taught me so many things and introduced me to wonderful scholars, while also assisting in gathering information.

As for copies of the talks, the speakers were the ones who objected to that. Most speak from notes (not a full text), and they told me in no uncertain terms that they were not going to rewrite their presentation for the sake of sales. We also thought about the good information that is shared through the Q&A portion that we give every speaker at the end of their presentation. Capturing that for inclusion would be one more obstacle.

[Anita]

(04-10-2019 09:59 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(04-09-2019 08:27 PM)Anita Wrote:  

(04-08-2019 09:30 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Now, aren't you sorry you did not attend? Planning has already started for the 2020 conference.

Yes!!
Congrats on another outstanding conference.
Laurie do you video the talks? I'd pay for a set of conference DVDs. Are are the talks published?

We investigated both videos and copies of talks a number of years ago and had quite a few objections to both. The biggest one was that, while we would make money from those sales, it would not be anywhere near the amount of what we take in for registrations - which is what pays the bills for the conference, and trust me, the bills are considerable.

We want attendees for another reason: Historians need to form a "fraternity" of friendship as well as education. One of this year's attendees announced at the Friday reception that our conference was more like a family reunion. That was music to my ears! This is the type of interaction that promotes sharing of ideas. Videos are educational, but they are not warm and fuzzy. One of the greatest experiences of my life was being part of what James O. Hall called the Baker Street Irregulars. Going places with him, John C. Brennan, Mike Kauffman, and others taught me so many things and introduced me to wonderful scholars, while also assisting in gathering information.

As for copies of the talks, the speakers were the ones who objected to that. Most speak from notes (not a full text), and they told me in no uncertain terms that they were not going to rewrite their presentation for the sake of sales. We also thought about the good information that is shared through the Q&A portion that we give every speaker at the end of their presentation. Capturing that for inclusion would be one more obstacle.

Thanks Laurie. One day I hope to become an attendee.

[Gene C]

(04-10-2019 09:59 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Historians need to form a "fraternity" of friendship as well as education. One of this year's attendees announced at the Friday reception that our conference was more like a family reunion. That was music to my ears! This is the type of interaction that promotes sharing of ideas. Videos are educational, but they are not warm and fuzzy. One of the greatest experiences of my life was being part of what James O. Hall called the Baker Street Irregulars. Going places with him, John C. Brennan, Mike Kauffman, and others taught me so many things and introduced me to wonderful scholars, while also assisting in gathering information.

I'm glad you mentioned that.
Hope you don't mind I borrow that in mentioning our Springfield Tour.
Going somewhere historical and being with others who have such a passion for the events that occurred and the people involved add so much more to the visit.
The memories made and friendships formed have been priceless.
Hope I can be a part of that with you at the next Surratt Conference

[Thomas Kearney]

(04-08-2019 09:30 PM)L Verge Wrote:  The 20th Annual Surratt Conference on Lincoln assassination history was a great success -- at least according to the praises we received from over 120 attendees.

The theme was "Lincoln's Assassination: Was It Just One Mad Act?" Did Booth have help? From whom? Our opening speakers were Judge Sandy Prindle and Barry Sheehy, both authors on recent books documenting Confederate activities that certainly suggest ties between Richmond and Canada. Sandy's book is entitled Booth's Confederate Connections and Barry has written Montreal: City of Secrets. Treat yourselves if you are a student of the Lincoln assassination.

They were followed by Ed Steers, who spoke on his years-long investigation of the Neff-Guttridge papers that led to Dark Union. Ed shot so many holes in their research that hopefully it will finally succumb.

David Goetz, author of Ever The Gray Ghost, a sequel to previous work on the mighty Mosby, presented research that has him suggesting that the Rangers were into the final stages of the Lincoln plot. Richard Willing followed with thoughts on the Trials and Tribulations of the Tribunal in their efforts to link the conspiracy to the CSA high command. The final talk was given by John Fazio, who presented a timeline of history on black flag warfare and how the final years of the CW led to the assassination.

Ernie Abel, author of John Wilkes Booth and the Women Who Loved Him, educated and entertained us after dinner with a talk on a variety of ladies who were affected by the Lothario. Very few of them had successful and happy lives afterwards.

The off-site bus tours that we offer each year were well-received again with trips to Maryland's Eastern Shore and the Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad Museum (an idea conceived years ago by Dr. Kate Clifford Larson). Sunday's tour went to Orange, Virginia, to view a museum dedicated to our Founding Fathers and early Presidents from that area and then on to the Exchange Hotel in Gordonsville, which began life as a railroad hotel and then became a critical hospital for Confederates and Union forces alike during the war.

Now, aren't you sorry you did not attend? Planning has already started for the 2020 conference.

Sorry I couldn't be there this year but I was following along on social media and it looks like it was an excellent event. Kudos to Laurie and the Surratt Society crew for putting on another excellent conference.

[ReignetteC]

I am glad I made the trip. I enjoyed every minute of the conference.

[Steve]

I really wish I could've been there. I would've loved to have met Ed, John, Barry, and, of course, Laurie in person. Prindle, Goetz, and the other speakers look like they would've been interesting to see as well.