Public Reception: The Official Launch of Dignity of Duty: The Journals of Erasmus Corwin Gilbreath, 1861-1898

An evening dedicated to the official launch of the Museum & Library's book and accompanying exhibit, the event features remarks from Susan Gilbreath Lane and other family members, Museum & Library President Kenneth Clarke, and Museum & Library Founder, Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired).

A personal odyssey of service from the Civil War to the Spanish-American War, Dignity of Duty: The Journals of Erasmus Corwin Gilbreath, 1861-1898 offers a firsthand glimpse into the life of a 19th Century American citizen soldier. From the blood-stained battlefields of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg to the Reconstruction-era South and the vast wilderness of the western United States, Dignity of Duty paints an illuminating picture of a nation seeking its identity in the wake of the most devastating event in its history.

Inspired by the publication of the Journals, the Museum & Library's new original exhibit by the same name includes a wide range of photographs, maps, artifacts, and books on 19th Century America, with a focus on the American Civil War, the Indian Wars, and the Spanish-American War. Featuring a robust audio tour and online gallery, the exhibit is complete with items from Gilbreath's personal scrapbooks and photo albums.