JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN
CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE
BRUNSWICK, MAINE
Welcome to the Joshua L. Chamberlain Roundtable. Founded on January 28, 1986, the roundtable seeks to foster our common interest in the War Between the States and the era in which it was fought. The roundtable meets from September through June on the second Thursday of the month 7:00 p.m., at the Brunswick High School, 71 Dragon Drive in Brunswick. Our monthly meetings provide an opportunity to share news and experiences, to chat about a good read or new research and, of course, to enjoy the scheduled presentation. Our meetings are free and open to the public and we hope that you will join us soon.
Chamberlain portrait courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Civil War Photographs, reproduction number, LC-DIGF-cwpb-05799. Copyright © 2025 Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Roundtable
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SCHEDULED PROGRAMS FOR 2026 – 2027
Figure 1. Lincoln’s Address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Courtesy Library of Congress.
September 10, 2026 – Mark H. Dunkelman, “Adventures of a Civil War Historian.”
October 8, 2026 – Ashley Whitehead Luskey, Saving Private Ryan: Recovering One Soldier’s Journey Through Gettysburg, PA to Brockport, NY.”
November 12, 2026 – Derek Maxfield, “Man of Fire: William Tecumseh Sherman in the Civil War.”
December 10, 2026 – Troy Ancona, “Chamberlain’s Centennial Oration in Philadelphia.”
January 14, 2027 – “The Annual Phil Schlegel Trivia Challenge.”
February 11, 2027 – Jared Peatman, “Almost Worn Out: The Post War Lives of the 20th Maine Gettysburg Veterans.”
March 11, 2027 – Dan Michel, “Your Top Five.”
April 8, 2027 – Kevin M. Levin, “Remembering Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts During the Civil War Era.”
May 13, 2027 – Curtis Weber, “Lincoln and Stanton.”
June 10, 2027 – Richard Lewis, “Cloaked in Mystery: The Curious Case of the Confederate Coat.”
ABOUT US
Figure 2. President Lincoln and his cabinet, with Lieut. Gen. Scott. Courtesy Library of Congress.
The Chamberlain Round Table is administered by a board of trustees consisting of four elected officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer), two officers appointed by the president (program director and information director), and four elected at-large members. The officers and members-at-large are elected annually at the regularly scheduled meeting held in June. The duties of the officers and the board at large and other administrative details are spelled out in our by-laws. A copy of the round table by-laws by be obtained by request to the secretary. The board of trustees meets three times per year (August, November, and April) and otherwise as necessary. The Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Round Table is an incorporated non-profit in the State of Maine under Title 13-B and is a tax-exempt organization under federal Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
The board of trustees for 2026 – 2027 are: President, Mike Bell; Vice-President, Janice Smith; Secretary, John Wagner; Treasurer, Harvey Lipman; Program Director, Bill Attick; At-Large Members, Peter Cole, Bill St. Louis, William Digiulio, and Tyler Ayotte. Round table members are encouraged to join the leadership team. Your input and support are important to leading our CWRT into the future!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Figure 3. JLC CWRT President Mike Bell.
As we look to another year of our roundtable programing, I am thankful for the great presentations we have had thus far this year. The wide range of topics have provided those who attend our monthly meetings with insights into some new aspects of the Civil War. We certainly have another round of speakers that will be fascinating in the 2026-2027 season. There are fewer groups like ours each year, but I believe programing makes all the difference. (Thanks Bill Attick)
I hope that members of our group will continue to find ways to serve. We are going to need new board members and continue to ask folks to pay their dues so we can have a bright future. To paraphrase Ben Franklin, it’s your group, if you want to keep it.
Mike Bell, President
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Figure 4. “Greenback.” Courtesy Federal Reserve Board.
Membership with the Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Round Table is open to all interested persons. An active membership is vital to maintain quality programming, to bring in new ideas as to how we move into the future, to provide leadership, and to maintain overall financial viability so that we may continue to provide the level of activity that we now enjoy. Perspective members may complete the membership form [MEMBERSHIP FORM] and submit it with the appropriate dues for one year to the treasurer by mail or in person at any scheduled meeting of the round table. Effective July 1, 2024, dues for new members and renewals for current members are: Individual Member $35, Family Membership $45, Student Membership $15. Annual renewals are due September of year.
THE BOOK CLUB
Figure 5. Josiah Burnham Kinsman, Aide-de-Camp. Courtesy Library of Congress.
For many years the round table has sponsored a book club. Everyone is invited to join and participate in our discussions and debates. The book club meets at 7:00 p.m. at People Plus on Union Street in Brunswick. We know you will enjoy the reads and the lively discussion. Anyone interested in participating in the discussions should contact the book club coordinator by email at JLCCWRTmembership@gmail.com. Book selections and dates are subject to change as determined by the book club.
CONTACT US
Figure 6. Signal telegraph machine and operator. Courtesy Library of Congress.
To contact the Joshua L. Chamberlain Round Table by mail:
Chamberlain CWRT
P.O. Box 1046
Brunswick, Maine 04011-1046
For more information regarding membership:
JLCCWRTmembership@gmail.com
Image Credits
Figure 1. Lincoln’s address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, November 19, 1863. Sherwood Lithograph Co., c1905. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-19926. (Cropped for presentation.)
Figure 2. President Lincoln and his cabinet, with Lieut. Genl. Scott. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-pga-01778. (Cropped for presentation.)
Figure 3. Photo provided by Mike Bell.
Figure 4. “1862 United States Notes,” The History of U.S. Currency, U.S. Currency Education Program, Federal Reserve Board, https://www.uscurrency.gov/history.
Figure 5. Major General Josiah Burnham Kinsman, Aide-de-Camp, U.S. Volunteers Infantry Regiment, on the staff of General Benjamin Butler, in uniform seated behind desk with open book. George Kendall Warren, photographer. Liljenquist Family collection. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-96365. (Cropped for presentation.)
Figure 6. Signal Telegraph Machine and operator – Fredericksburg. Alfred R. Waud, artist. Morgan collection of Civil War drawings. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-21043. (Cropped for presentation.)