Wednesday, September 29, 2021

While nearly everyone knows the role the Civil War played in United States history, perhaps fewer know the specifics about the role Black residents played during the conflict.

Delve deeper into their war effort during “Make Way for Liberty: Wisconsin African Americans in the Civil War.” This History at Home program will be held Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.

Presenting the program will be Jeff Kannel, who is a retired physical therapist and educator, and the author of the book Make Way for Liberty: Wisconsin African Americans in the Civil War, which received the 2021 Book of Merit Award from the Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators. He has been a tour guide at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin, since 2011. 

This month’s History at Home presentation will be offered in a hybrid format. A limited number of in-person seats will be available for this program in the McLane Room at the library, while others may register to watch the presentation from home via Zoom. To register for either option, select the appropriate calendar entry at calendar.fdlpl.org. To participate in-person, masks will be required.

History at Home focuses on stories about the area's past every third Thursday of the month. The programs are free. Many History at Home programs are captured on video and shared on the library's YouTube channel. That link can be found at fdlpl.org/miss-program.