Speaker: Shae Smith Cox, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Texas A&M University

Military uniforms, badges, flags, and other material objects have been used to represent the identity of Americans throughout history. In this lecture, based on her book and UNLV dissertation, Shae Smith Cox examines the material culture of America’s bloodiest conflict, offering a deeper understanding of the war and its commemoration. She traces the influence of sewn materials during and after the Civil War and Reconstruction as markers of power and authority, as cherished objects, and as influencers of historical memory for both the Union and Confederacy.

Through these lenses, Cox sheds new light on a variety of Civil War topics, including preparation for war, nuances in relationships between Native American and African American soldiers, the roles of women, and the rise of postwar memorial societies.