MINUTES
OF
THE MASSACHUSETTS CIVIL WAR
SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014
I.
CALL TO ORDER
A Meeting of the MA Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission was held on Tuesday,
December 2, 2014, in Room 511 of the MA State House. The meeting was called to
order at 2:50 pm.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Thomas Turner
Rose Adams
Joseph G. Bella
Michael Comeau
Mark Episkopos
Julie Watt Faqir
Dna. Maria St. Catherine
McConnell
Matthew McKenna
Cheryl Poppe
David L. Smith
Vice-Chair
Designee-Chief of Staff of Senator Stanley
Rosenberg
Designee of Rep. Linda Dean Campbell
Executive Director, MA State Archives
Commission Intern
Designee of Rep. Chris Walsh
Secretary, Advisory Member & The MA State
House Historical Society
MA Dept. of Veterans Services
Supt. Chelsea Soldiers’ Home (Via Teleconf)
Civil War Roundtable -Boston
READING, REVISION AND APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING
MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded to approve the Minutes of the Commission’s
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Meeting with the one change noted below.

II.
Correction to the last name of Kate “Lassen” to “Larson” on page 2.
OLD BUSINESS
A. COMMISSION ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS & PUBLIC OUTREACH
NONE.
B. CIVIL WAR HISTORY RELATED PROJECTS & EVENTS
1.
STATE HOUSE CIVIL WAR TOUR PROJECT
Julie Watt Faqir and Maria McConnell reported that Barbara
Berenson and Mark Episkopos are scheduled to conduct the
Commission’s inaugural State House Civil War tours as part of the
Civil War Christmas event on Tuesday, December 16th.
2.
CIVIL WAR LECTURE SERIES AT THE STATE ARCHIVES PROJECT
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
3.
CIVIL WAR THEMED STATE HOUSE CHRISTMAS 2014 EVENT
a.
b.
c.
III.
The Civil War Lecture Series will kick-off on April 1, 2015.
The film distributor for “The Conspirator” has been found enabling
a showing of the film.
The film will be shown on April 1st and Tom Turner will speak as a
consultant to the film. Lunch will be included. High School students
will be invited to attend.
Approximately 25 seats will be reserved for the general public.
The Commonwealth Museum will absorb some of the costs and
will serve as the site host for the Commission’s presentation being
held to observe the anniversary of Lincoln’s Assassination on April
15, 2015.
On April 15th Kate Larson will speak on Mary Surratt- 6 p.m.
On April 29th Frank J. Williams, Justice Emeritus of Rhode Island,
will speak on Military Trials for Civilians – 6 p.m.
On May 13th John Stauffer will present photos of Lincoln’s
assassination.
Julie has distributed the flyer via the State House e-mail system
Maria is working on a press release
A paper flyer of the event was shared and all Commission members
present were reminded of the event and encouraged to attend.
NEW BUSINESS
A. REVIEW OF THE STATUS OF THE OFFICE SPACE FOR CIVIL WAR
VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE HOUSE
1.
Matthew reported that he has investigated the issue of office space for
veterans organizations as stipulated in the Massachusetts General Laws
(MGL) and reported that according to State House Operations staff
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there is no available office space for veterans organizations. A more
detailed report is forthcoming.
2.
An exhibition of Grand Army Republic historical artifacts will be put on
exhibition at the State House using three display cases in Doric Hall.
Themes include the MA 6th Regiment. State House Curator, Susan
Greendyke and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at BC, Ian Delahanty are
conducting the research and assisting with the selection of GAR papers
and artifacts for the Doric Hall exhibit. They have digitized some of the
GAR historical records for preservation. The exhibition will commence on
January 29th, the same date that the State House Tours Division is set to
commence a regular schedule of State House Civil War tours.
3.
There was further discussion about the status of the Grand Army
Republic civil war archives and the heirs to the GAR, the Sons of the
Union of the Civil War (SUVCW) and their legal right to have a shrine or
museum in the State House as authorized in the MGL, and whether or not
this matter should be given further review. The archives of the GAR and
the SUVCW are now under the custodial care and legal authority of the
State House Curator, Susan Greendyke. After extended discussion it was
decided that in April 2015 the Commission would invite State House
curator, Susan Greendyke and members of the local chapter of the
SUVCW (i.e., Dexter Bishop, Kevin Tucker) to a meeting to discuss
whether there is any interest of the SUVCW in assuming custodial
oversight of the GAR archives at the State House, and/or whether there is
any interest in the transfer of custodial control of the GAR archives to the
SUVCW from the State House curator. It was noted that the records and
archives of the GAR, while stored in the State House, are not in the
optimum condition of preservation required for display as museum
artifacts. The MGL also stipulates that the GAR space in the State House
may be used for meetings by civil war veterans organizations associated
with the GAR subject to State House administration.
B. TREASURES IN THE ATTIC
The “Treasures in the Attic” project is an effort by the staff of the
Commonwealth Museum to create a digital database of Civil War museum
collections and archives which includes archival finding aids. The intent is to
publicize the initiative via the Museum’s connections through the State
Historic Records Advisory Board (SHRAB). The Museum has experienced
some return as a result of its SHRAB connections, and next steps will be to
cite the data in the appropriate place.
C. DVS GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE RENOVATION OF
MUNICIPAL CIVIL WAR MONUMENTS & MEMORIALS
1. Matt McKenna reported that due to the FY15 Commonwealth
budget deficit of approximately $329M and the subsequent
execution of budget cuts in the Department of Veterans Services
that would not impact the delivery of services to state veterans, the
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DVS Grant Cycle funding the renovation of Civil War memorials
and monuments has been suspended indefinitely.
2. Matthew and Tom said that they would work together to draft a
statement to be sent out to municipalities that have inquired about
the DVS grant program for the renovation of municipal civil war
monuments and memorials; and a disclaimer would be posted to
the Commission’s website.
3. McKenna reported that no new applications have been received for
civil war monument and memorial renovation since the new 2015
Application for Grants was launched online.
4. Poppe reported that the DVS FY2015 budget cuts made did not
impact either of the state soldiers’ homes.
V.
NEXT MEETING DATE
Vice-Chair Turner stated that the next Meeting of MA Civil War
Sesquicentennial Commission will be held January 20, 2014 at 2:45pm in
Room 511 of the MA State House.
VI.
FUTURE MEETING DATES
The Commission ‘s meeting dates from February to June 2015 are listed below:
FEBRUARY 3, 2015
MARCH 3, 2015
APRIL 7, 2015
MAY 4, 2015
JUNE 2, 2015
VII . ADJOURNMENT
There being no further old or new business, a motion was made and seconded to
adjourn the meeting. The meeting of, December 2, 2014 was duly adjourned at
3:55 pm.
Dna. Maria St. Catherine McConnell
Dna. Maria St. Catherine McConnell
Secretary & Advisory Board Member
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