College of Charleston sets conference

Professor and Civil War historian James McPherson will give the keynote lecture at the College of Charleston’s “Civil War—Global Conflict” conference. The lecture is part of a three-day (March 3-5, 2011) conference that considers the war in a global context, and is the academic kickoff for a series of commemorative events marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. • Article

If in Rome (Ga.), share your stories

Rome, Ga., including Fort Norton, saw its share of action during the Civil War before its capture in May 1864.

The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) has partnered with the Rome- Floyd County Library to record a oral history of county residents.

Stories, both spoken and written, will be posted on a Civil War heritage website.

According to a statement, stories should relate to Rome or Floyd County in some way. Stories may reflect an ancestor’s involvement in the war, military action within the county or life during and after the war.

Oral stories stories can be recorded at the libary on Feb. 17 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 11a.m. Written stories should be less than 1,000 words. Stories may be submitted to civilwar@romegeorgia.org.

For information, call 706-295-5576.

Va. exhibit focuses on human stories

Although nearly 60 percent of the Civil War's battles were fought in Virginia, an exhibition opening Friday does not entirely focus on the fighting. William M.S. Rasmussen, lead curator and the Lora M. Robins curator at the Virginia Historical Society, said the war is difficult to tell in its entirety. • Article

Dentists were keen on extraction

A Galveston, Texas, museum is showcasing a rare dental kit believed to originally have belonged to a Confederate soldier trained as a dentist and features more than 50 instruments, including forceps, dental elevators and picks, in a hand-fabricated rosewood box. • Article

Illinois launches website Thursday

According to the Evansville Courier & Press, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will launch a website that includes a comprehensive 150th events calendar. Agency director Jan Grimes says she hopes the website will become an official guide for "all that's going on in Illinois." • Website