Dr. Peter Carmichael Appointed New Director of Civil War Institute

By James White

Dear Members of the Gettysburg College Community –

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Carmichael as the new Director of the College’s Civil War Institute (CWI) and as the Robert C. Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies. He will begin his roles with the CWI and the Department of History in August.

Peter, currently the Eberly Family Professor of Civil War Studies at West Virginia University, earned his doctorate and a master’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. He has published a number of books, most recently 2005’s study of Southern college students during the Civil War era, The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion, and is currently researching the experience and wartime representation of Confederate slaves.

The search for the new Director began last August. From a rich and impressive pool of applicants, a small group was chosen for preliminary interviews. From those, three candidates were selected for on-campus interviews. Peter was chosen from them. More information on him and his appointment is available at http://www.gettysburg.edu/news_events/press_release_detail.dot?id=2712098&crumbTitle=Gettysburg%20College%20names%20new%20director%20of%20Civil%20War%20Institute.

It is also important that I thank Dr. Michael Birkner for serving as the CWI’s Interim Director since the 2009 retirement of long-time Director, Dr. Gabor Boritt. Michael and the CWI’s staff have done a marvelous job in the past year, including important work during the search for the new, permanent Director of the CWI.

Please join me in welcoming Peter (Peter.Carmichael@mail.wvu.edu) to Gettysburg College!

Sincerely,

Jay White