Seventh Annual James Caster Symposium on the Civil War
Wednesday, October 4
8:30am - 4:00 pm
Mabee Auditorium, Randall University
Randall University to Host 7th Civil War Symposium
Randall University, located at 3701 South I-35 in Moore, Oklahoma, will host the 7th annual Dr. James G. Caster Symposium on the Civil War on October 4th. The sessions will begin at 8:30 p.m., and continue each hour until 11:30 when there will be a break for lunch from 11:30-1. Then, starting at 1 p.m., there will be three more sessions, with each session lasting one hour.
The symposium is free and open to the public. This year's programs will begin at 8:30 a.m., with 8:30 a.m., with T.S. Akers, a director of the Oklahoma History Society, speaking on his ancestor, Chilly McIntosh, who was an officer in the army in Indian Territory during the war. At 9:30 a.m., Vernon Pierce will speak on "Margaret Mitchell and her book Gone With the Wind." That will be followed at 10:30 with a presentation by Mark "Beau" Cantrell on the Election of Jefferson Davis, as president of the Confederate States of America.
After lunch, the afternoon sessions will begin at 1 p.m., with Craig McKinley speaking on Civil War Prisons; Then, Ben Odom will offer a presentation on General Earl Van Dorn. The symposium will conclude with Dan DeKalb and his presentation, Railroads in the Civil War.
Randall University is the sponsoring institution for the symposium. It is a liberal arts college associated with the Free Will Baptist denomination. It was founded in 1959, and has grown steadily over the years, adding programs, faculty, and students. Recently, Randall has added a Bachelor of Arts in History designed to advance the overall Christian mission of the university.
The late Dr. James Caster said that the naming of the symposium after him was one of the three proudest moments of his professional life. Dr. Caster was the epitome of a Christian gentleman and a scholar, and was greatly admired, respected, and loved by Civil War buffs in Oklahoma.
If one would like to eat in the Randall Cafeteria, please contact Steve Byas, the superintendent of the symposium. Byas is the director of the history program at Randall, and any questions about the lunch or any other aspect of the program should be directed toward him, at sbyas@ru.edu.
High school students who participate are eligible to enter an essay contest for a $500 scholarship and 2nd, 3rd place gift cards. More details and the submission box can be found below the schedule.
Schedule of Sessions
| Time | Workshop | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30am | Chilly McIntosh, Officer in the Army in Indian Territory during the War | T.S. Akers |
| 9:30am | Margaret Mitchell and her book Gone With the Wind | Vernon Pierce |
| 10:30am | The Election of Jefferson Davis | Mark "Beau" Cantrell |
| 11:30am - 1:00pm | Lunch Break | |
| 1:00pm | Civil War Prisons | Craig McKinley |
| 2:00pm | General Earl Van Dorn | Ben Odom |
| 3:00pm | Railroads in the Civil War | Dan DeKalb |
Essay Contest Details and Submission
For More Information
If you would like to know more about the symposium, please contact the symposium organizer, Steve Byas, at sbyas@ru.edu.
