PCPL welcomes Wilson for an evening with James Riley Weaver

Friday, May 31, 2019

Local history buffs have the chance for an intimate look at the life of a Civil War officer Tuesday at the Putnam County Public Library.

At 6:30 p.m. at the library, Wesley Wilson will present a program on the book “James Riley Weaver’s Civil War: Diary of a Union Cavalry Officer, 1863-1865,” recently published by Kent State University Press.

Originally handwritten on 707 pages, James Riley Weaver’s Civil War diary provides an unbroken 666-day record — from June 1, 1863 to April 1, 1865.

Wesley Wilson

One of the book’s editors, Wilson will describe James Riley Weaver’s experiences as a Union cavalry officer in the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry and prisoner of war in Confederate officers’ prisons as well as his return to civilian life — first as a diplomat in Europe and then as a DePauw University professor from 1885 until 1917.

Wilson is professor and coordinator of archives and special collections at DePauw University since 1984. He received the Sister M. Claude Lane, O.P., Memorial Award from the Society of American Archivists in 2017.

The program is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.

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