Issued: February 20, 2004

Contact: Larry Keener-Farley
Telephone: (717) 260-1861 , Ext 3235

New Women’s Exhibit at National Civil War Museum

Harrisburg, Pa. -- The National Civil War Museum will open a new exhibit, “Essential to the Cause: Women’s Roles in the Civil War,” on Saturday, February 28.

“We are highlighting a number of the significant roles women played during the Civil War,” noted Juanita Leisch Jensen, guest curator of the exhibit. “Women provided medical, material, monetary, military, social, spiritual and psychological support for both the North and the South. They provided flags and banners, sewed uniforms, worked as government clerks and contractors, nursed the wounded, produced ammunition, cooked food, and even served as spies, smugglers, scouts and soldiers.”

The display will include artifacts made and used by women during the Civil War, including: the only known U.S. Sanitary Commission beef tin still in existence, accoutrement boxes made by companies owned by women, homespun dresses, socks knitted during the war, and a barrette presented to the daughter of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton at a Sanitary Fair. It will also include a series of tableaux highlighting significant roles and an area for living historians to portray women in various activities.

Juanita Leisch Jensen is a nationally recognized authority on women in the Civil War. Her book, Who Wore What?: Women’s Wear 1861-1865, is considered to be the definitive work on women’s clothing during the period. Although clothing will be included in this exhibit, the main emphasis will be on the roles and activities of women at home, on the farm, and in the communities, factories, hospitals, offices, and businesses.

“We are delighted that the Museum is able to present this important aspect of Civil War history,” commented George Hicks, Chief Executive Officer of the Museum. “We believe that this exhibit is the largest ever to focus exclusively on the scope and significance of women’s roles in the Civil War. We are especially happy to open the exhibit as we enter March, Women’s History Month, and as the Museum prepares for an influx of students during the spring field trip season.”

The exhibit will include artifacts from the Museum’s collection and others borrowed from other institutions and individuals, including the Museum of the Confederacy, the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, The Library Company of Philadelphia, the Loudoun Museum, the White Oak Museum, Charlie Childs of County Cloth, Brendan Synnamon of the Union Drummer Boy, Linda Duffy of Newark, DE, Denise Ward of Ontario, Canada, Wes and Robin Stokes of Harmony, NJ, and Annette Keener-Farley, Camp Hill, PA as well as artifacts and photographs from the Guest Curator’s collection.

The exhibit is made possible by grants from Institute of Museum and Library Services, Lobar Associates, Inc., PPL Electric Utilities, Waste Management, Inc., North American Railway Foundation, Greater Harrisburg Foundation, Highmark Blue Shield, and Penn National Insurance.

The exhibit will be open through Labor Day 2004. The National Civil War Museum is located in Reservoir Park in Harrisburg. Admission to the Museum is $7.00 for adults, with reduced rates for children, seniors and families. For more information, telephone 717-260-1861 or visit www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.
 

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