“A House Divided: The Civil War in West Virginia”will be the theme of a May 31 symposium sponsored by the Mason-Dixon Civil War Round table. The event will be 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Morgantown.

The symposium will focus on the diverse forces at work in mid-19th century northwestern Virginia and how the citizens of that time and place dealt with these forces on a daily basis. Topics of discussion will include the creation of West Virginia in the midst of the war, how armies organized, camp life and treatment of the wounded and sick.

David Bard, professor of history at Concord College and a noted speaker and writer on the Civil War, will give the keynote address. His speech will be on”Soldiering in the Mountains: A Look at the Civil War Soldier in Camp, in Motion, in Battle.”

Other featured speakers include:

  • Kenneth A. Fones-Wolf, associate professor of history, WVU
  • Barbara J. Howe, director, WVU Center for Women’s Studies
  • Richard A. Wolfe, president, Rich Mountain Battlefield Civil War Site
  • Kenneth A. Dietreich, lecturer and graduate student, WVU
  • Dr. Matt Lively, professor of medicine, WVU
  • Forest J. Bowman, Jackson&Kelly and WVU professor of law emeritus

Co-sponsors for the symposium are the WVU Department of History, Pricketts Fort Foundation and Stonewall Jackson Civil War Round table.

The symposium is open to the public. Registration is $40 and includes lunch. To pre-register or for more information, call 304-366-1534.