Will Focus on People Who Lived on the Antietam National Battlefield

FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On Saturday, October 15, 2022 the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (HWHA) will host historian and author Dr. Emilie Amt for a talk entitled "Black Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Antietam," which will focus on people who lived on the Antietam National Battlefield, with special attention to places that can still be seen today. The talk will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 on the front porch of the Newcomer House located at 18422 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, MD.

Dr. Amt's talk directly ties in with her most recent book, "Black Antietam: African Americans and the Civil War in Sharpsburg," a skillfully researched work recounting the personal stories of African Americans, both enslaved and free, who lived on the battlefield and who worked in the armies who clashed there. Since 2010, Dr. Amt's historical research has focused on African Americans in western Maryland in the era of slavery.

She gives frequent talks, leads workshops, and works with local historical, church, and community groups on public history projects. A native of Maryland, Dr. Amt is an emeritus professor of history. From 1998 to 2021 she held the Hildegarde Pilgram Chair of History at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. She earned a B.A. in medieval studies from Swarthmore College and a D.Phil. in modern history from Oxford University.

The Newcomer House will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteer docents will be available to share knowledge about the Newcomer House and offer assistance to visitors to the three county Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.

This is the sixth season of Porch Programs at the Newcomer House, HCWHA's Exhibit and Visitor Center at Antietam National Battlefield. Porch Programs feature presentations, demonstrations, pop-up exhibits, interactives and more from April through December.

The Newcomer House is located at 18422 Shepherdstown Pike in Keedysville, MD. The house is open 10am-4pm weekends in April, May, October and November and daily June through September. For more information, contact Rachel Nichols, [email protected] or 240-308-1740.

Media Contact

Emily Huebner, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, 240-608-5177, [email protected]

SOURCE Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area