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Soldier, statesman, scholar James A. Beaver, focus of Great Americans Day Citizenship Forum

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Soldier, statesman, scholar James A. Beaver, focus of Great Americans Day Citizenship Forum

Article Body: Soldier, statesman, scholar, the “Great American” James A. Beaver will be the focus of the 10^th annual University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Great Americans Day Citizenship Forum and Luncheon being held Wednesday, February 14, at the UPJ Living/Learning Center’s Heritage Hall.

The lecture, “James Addams Beaver: Soldier, Statesman, Scholar,” is being presented by Dr. Carol Reardon, professor of military history and Scholar-in-Residence with the George and Anne Richards Civil War Era Center at Penn State University.

Celebrated Civil War hero and Governor of Pennsylvania, Mr. Beaver, was a native of Central Pennsylvania. An attorney by profession, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War as Colonel of Centre County’s 148^th regiment. Following an injury at the Second Battle of Ream’s Station, which resulted in the loss of his right leg, he was named Brigadier General in 1864.

As Pennsylvania Governor, Mr. Beaver made an indelible mark in our region during the Johnstown Flood of 1889 when he created the Pennsylvania Relief Committee which lead the recovery effort. He also mobilized the National Guard to protect the victims and their property.

Following his term as Governor, Mr. Beaver served as a trustee for several colleges as well as serving as interim president of Penn State University where Beaver Stadium stands in tribute to him. He was later elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Reardon is President of the Society for Military History and holds active memberships in the Board of Visitors at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va., and the Advisory Board for the Society of Civil War Historians. She has presented across the nation on topics relating to the Civil War for organizations including the Smithsonian Institute, C-SPAN, PBS, A&E, and National Public Radio. She has authored a number of publications including Pickett’s Charge in History and Memory, “Gettysburg: A Turning Point in Memory,” and “We Are All in This War: The 148^th Pennsylvania and Homefront Dissension in Centre County During the Civil War.”

The Great Americans Day Citizenship Forum is presented by the college’s Office of Outreach and Professional Services, History Department, Phi Alpha Theta International History Honor Society, and Sodexho Campus Services. Funding for the event is provided by the Howard M. and Adelle C. Picking Great Americans Day Citizenship Forum fund. Additional funding is provided by the UPJ History Club.

The luncheon is free and open to the general public. Seating is limited and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Each registrant will receive a registration confirmation with complete check-in and seating information.

Last year’s Great Americans Day Citizenship Forum focused on “The Mother of Social Work” and the first American woman recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Laura Jane Addams.

For registration information, call 814-269-2099. The deadline for the luncheon registration is Friday, February 2. Additional information is available on-line by clicking on the Great Americans Day link at www.upj.pitt.edu/Outreach.

The Office of Outreach and Professional Services at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown delivers quality educational programs and services to our region. Through a strong commitment to developing community partnerships to meet educational needs, the office offers enrichment programs for adults as well as a variety of educational opportunities for children. Operating within the Outreach Office is the John P. and Joyce Murtha Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development, which offers graduate-level study and professional development programs.

Posted by Shook, Kimberly on 1/8/2007 2:00:00 PM