History professor to speak in Brunswick on Chamberlain and Declaration of Independence
Georgetown Professor to Speak on Joshua Chamberlain at Brunswick’s Chamberlain Legacy Lecture
A lecture by Georgetown University’s Chandra Manning will examine the life of Civil War hero Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence this Friday night at the Brunswick Hotel. The event, part of the Pejepscot History Center’s sixth‑annual Chamberlain Legacy Lecture series, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception, followed by Manning’s talk at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online or by phone.
Manning, a well‑known scholar of American history who has taught courses on the American Revolution and the Civil War, will present “Something Abides: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the Declaration of Independence.” The lecture will analyze three of Chamberlain’s most important speeches—issued at different points in his career and in the nation’s history—to illuminate how his thoughts reflected, and at times challenged, the founding ideals of the United States.
“We’re looking forward to having Dr. Manning bring together the two pivotal eras she studies so deeply,” said Pejepscot History Center director Larissa Picard. “In this 250th‑anniversary year, it’s fitting to explore Chamberlain’s legacy through the lens of the Declaration.”
Chamberlain, a former U.S. Army officer, served as a lieutenant colonel during the Civil War and later as governor of Maine. His leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg and his eloquent speeches have made him a celebrated figure in American history. Manning will delve into how his rhetoric at three key moments—during the war, in the Reconstruction era, and in his later years—both echoed and expanded upon the principles laid out in the 1776 declaration.
Manning’s scholarship is widely recognized. Her first book, What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and the Civil War (2007), received the Avery O. Craven Prize from the Organization of American Historians and earned an honorable mention for the Lincoln Prize. Her second work, Troubled Refuge: Struggling for Freedom in the Civil War (2016), was awarded the Jefferson Davis Prize by the American Civil War Museum. Both titles will be available for purchase at the event.
In addition to her research, Manning has earned accolades at Georgetown, including the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Gerald M. Mara Graduate Mentoring Award. She co‑founded Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian and has experience as a National Park Service Ranger.
The lecture will feature a cash bar and light refreshments. During the event, the Pejepscot History Center will display and auction collectible framed artwork depicting Chamberlain and scenes from the Civil War. Proceeds will benefit the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum, owned by the history center.
Tickets cost $25 for the general public, $15 for Pejepscot History Center members, and $5 for students and active military personnel. Advance registration can be done online at pejepscothistorical.org or by calling 729‑6606. The event is sponsored by The Times Record and supported by Bowdoin College, which encourages community engagement through historical knowledge.
The lecture promises a thoughtful exploration of a Civil War hero’s enduring influence on American identity—an event not to be missed by history enthusiasts in the region.
