'Binding a Nation's Wounds': performers will bring history to life in Joyce Thierer's introductory course

Many students spend the latter weeks of the semester hammering out papers about their semester’s studies. However, for Joyce Thierer’s Intro to Public History course, students have arranged for performers from the Society of Public Historians to come and present portions of historical figures’ lives to audiences.

The event, entitled “Binding a Nation’s Wounds,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Menorial Union Kanza room. The event is free and all are invited.

“Binding” presents pivotal, unique moments in history, brought to life by historian actors. The public history presentation allows the chance to learn more both about the history and the historians bringing them to life.

Anne Hawkins will portray Mary Jane Ritchie, an active abolitionist and supporter of the Underground Railroad in Topeka during the American Civil War. Norman Joy will play the part of confederate general Robert E. Lee, addressing his family in the kitchen after the confederate loss in the Civil War.

Both of the performers have studied their character, integrating into the performance everything from personal nuances to clothing styles. The result is a trademark of public history performers: the meshing of realism with performance.

“As historian researchers, writers and actors, they’re presenting history where you can see it, touch it,” said Joyce Thierer, assistant professor of social sciences. “They take you along a true story through the eyes of a person who is there.”

Both actors will present their character’s pieces before the audience, then return to take questions in character. Because each actor has done very extensive research upon the character they are presenting, it is a unique way for the audience to interact with history.

“We wanted to create a one-on-one dialogue,” Thierer said. “Our goal is to create a safe place to talk about what the American Civil War really meant.”

After the question and answer session with the historical figures, the audience will then be able to ask each historian and actor about their work.

“It’s been very complicated [to arrange],” said Jeffery Hamlin, graduate student in history. “We’ve had to deal with a lot of things. We had a limited crew, but we were able to pull it off with a lot of help.

We’ve also worked a couple of musical groups, with authentic instruments and music. The class wanted to present the performers as a professional venue would. We’re trying to go all out.”

Thierer’s students have spent the past few months bringing the performers to campus and arranging the performance. By negotiating with the actors and organizing each of the event’s details, from advertisement to scheduling, Hamlin said the class hopes the audience will leave with a better understanding and interest into history.

Hamlin looks forward to seeing the performance.

“It’s very interesting for us, as a class, to do something like that, to take our studies outside of the classroom,” Hamlin said.