San Francisco Civil War Round Table

Mission

The San Francisco Civil War Round Table promotes a positive learning environment for those interested in the Civil War era. Topics under discussion recently include the Gullah and Geechee people of the Carolinas and Georgia coast during the Civil War and immediately afterward; Jessie Benton Fremont and the cell of abolitionists that she led in the 1850s at Black Point; Emory Upton: Civil War Hero and Presidio Tragedy; burying the dead and clearing the battlefield after the destruction of battle during the Civil War.

Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide range of interests. We meet on the third Thursday of most months at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco’s Sunset District. Meetings begin with a social hour in the pub, followed by a dinner gathering and then a presentation.  Many of our speakers have published books and articles on their topics.  Some past and future speakers include:

T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer winner:  Cornelius Vanderbilt and the Union Navy, and George Custer’s Civil War battles.

Walter Stahr: Lincoln cabinet members William Seward and Edwin Stanton.

Elaine Elinson:  Jessie Benton Fremont, Thomas Starr King, and their abolitionist salon.

Meg Groeling:  Burial practices during and after the Civil War.

John Horn:  Petersburg and Weldon Railroads and the Petersburg campaign.

Bob Chandler:  California and the Civil War.

Sherri Patton:  Civil War Diplomacy.

John Martini:  Alcatraz and the Harbor Forts.

Featured Fun

For San Francisco History Days 2020, the San Francisco Civl War Round Table is presenting several vignettes about Civil War topics that relate to San Francisco and the Bay Area. These include exhibits displayed at the Old U.S. Mint in 2019. Learn about where the Round Table meets, see highlights of past speakers, and hear about books published by several of their members.

SF Attorney Henry Halleck + First SF Mayor John W. Geary