Saturday, August 17 – Evening Keynote & Concert – Lawrence Arts Center

• 6:45-7:00 Evening announcements & intro of Tom
• 7:00-7:45– KEYNOTE Tom Rafiner – Order Number 11
• 7:45-8:00 pm– Q & A for Tom
• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Civil War Music – Lawrence Opera Singers.
• 10:00 pm- Closing remarks & dismiss

Join us for a free evening of history and song. No tickets are required. At 7 pm, hear a fascinating presentation by historian Tom Rafiner about the controversial Order Number 11. Then at 8 pm, enjoy a concert of Civil War-era music performed by the talented singers of the Lawrence Opera Theatre.

A broad-based group of historians will travel to Lawrence on August 17^th, 2019 to examine the conflict and casualties of one of the most divisive periods of American history.  Titled “Disorder on the Border” the day-long symposium held at the Carnegie Building will examine topics such as Women on the Border, Slavery in Missouri, Bleeding Kansas, the Occupation in Civil War Missouri, Guerrillas as Combatants, and Order Number 11 among a series of presentations.

The symposium brings together presenters highlighting different and often combative elements of the history of the time.  “We believe that examining the conflicts of the past from all sides will help all of us better understand the conflicts we face in our society today,” said Jim Ogle, Executive Director of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area and one of the sponsoring organizations for the symposium.  “Coming together in this way is the first step in helping those with conflicting viewpoints to work toward an understanding of each other.”

The “Disorder on the Border” symposium features several noted historians from both sides of the border.

The day time presentations will be held at the Carnegie Library at 900 West 9^th Street in Lawrence.  The symposium costs $35 to attend the presentations at the Carnegie.  That evening, the keynote of the conference on “Order Number 11” will feature historian Tom Rafiner and a concert of period music.  That event will begin at 6:45 pm at the Lawrence Art Center.  It is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.  Tickets will be available shortly.

The “Disorder on the Border” symposium is a unique consortium of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area and its partners the Douglas County Historical Society and the William Clarke Quantrill Society – Missouri Partisan Rangers based in Harrisonville, Mo.

The “Disorder on the Border” symposium expands the Douglas County Historical Society’s annual “Civil War on the Western Frontier”, a day of presentations, exhibits, and tours focusing on the Civil War and life in early Lawrence, at the Watkins Museum of History.  That program first started in 1995.

This Is the first time the Quantrill Society has participated in a symposium such as “Disorder on the Border.”

Both “Civil War on the Western Frontier” and the “Disorder on the Border” symposium encourage participants to gain a better understanding of the events of the late 1850s and early 1860s that shaped our region and influenced national history. Co-locating both events presents an opportunity to expand understanding of this history from multiple perspectives—a goal of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

“One of Freedom’s Frontiers guiding principles is to be tolerant and respectful of diverse stories from multiple perspectives,” said Ogle.  “Both of the Douglas County Historical Society and the William Clarke Quantrill Society join us in presenting this symposium in that spirit.”

The Boards of Directors of all three organizations are pleased to offer this opportunity to foster greater understanding of our shared history. More information about the planned programs will be available in early summer on the Watkins Museum and Freedom’s Frontier websites. 

ADDITIONAL SYMPOSIUM EVENTS OUTSIDE THE ARTS CENTER

Friday, August 16 – Watkins Museum of History

• 6:30 – 7:15 pm  – Walking Tour of Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence, KS
• 7:15 – 8:00 pm  – Rebuilding Lawrence, Steve Nowak
• 8 pm – 8:45 pm – When Eyewitnesses Disagree, Chris Edwards
• 8:45 pm – 9:00 pm – Q & A

Saturday, August 17– Morning Session, Carnegie Building

• 8:15 a.m.- 9:15 a.m. Doors open for check-in, book sales, exhibit areas & seating; Hospitality Room open (continental breakfast available)
• 9:00-9:20 a.m. Welcome, announcements, Intro of speakers for a.m. session
• 9:20 -10:05 a.m. Kay Barnes – Women on the Border

• 10:05 a.m.-10:50 Diane Mutti-Burke – Slavery in Missouri
• 10:50 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Break / Vignette
• 11:00 a.m. -11:45 a.m. Randy Mullis – Bleeding Kansas
• 11:45 a.m. -12:00  –Q & A for Diane & Randy & Kay,  & announce  afternoon sessions

Lunch Break 12:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Lunch provided for speakers in hospitality room

• Book sales open until 1:00 pm

Saturday, August 17– Afternoon Session, Carnegie Building

• 1 :30 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. Welcome back & announcements, Intro for all Afternoon speakers
• 1:40- 1:50 p.m. Short Vignette while reassembling (maybe just music)
• 1:50 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. Chris Phillips “Netherworld of War: The Contours of Occupation in Civil War Missouri”
• 2:35 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Bill Piston “Guerrillas as Combatants: A Call for Research”
• 3:20p.m. – 3:35 p.m.  Break / Vignette
• 3:35 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.  Jeremy Neely “Moral Bushwhacking, Political Quantrellism, and the Shadows of Border War Memory”
• 4:20p.m.-4:35 p.m. Q & A for Jeremy, Chris, Bill
• 4:35-5:00 Closing remarks for afternoon session announce evening session & Social Hour.
• Last chance-Book sales open until 6 pm
• 5:00 – 6:45 p.m. DINNER ON YOUR OWN