Oswego International War of 1812 Symposium Schedule Announced

by Contributor | March 24, 2016 11:00 am

OSWEGO – The sixth annual Oswego International War of 1812 Symposium returns to the Port City Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3 at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center, 26 E. First St.

The symposium schedule featuring nine respected historians from across the U.S. and Canada has now been finalized. Fort Ontario State Historic Site Superintendent Paul Lear, chairman of the Oswego International War of 1812 Symposium Committee, will emcee the event and open the program each day.

Registration and check-in will run from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, along with a meet-and-greet social and cash bar.

This reception is a great opportunity to talk to local, regional and international historians and to also observe the third annual student competition featuring the historians of tomorrow.

On Saturday, the day begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome from Lear and a presentation by Oswego County Historian Justin White entitled, “From Cannonballs to Calling Cards: a Look Back at the Amazing Evolution of Oswego County History,” which commemorates the county’s bicentennial.

At 10 a.m., author and historian Dianne Graves continues with “Raids, Alarms and Excitement: The Experience of Civilians in Border Communities during the War of 1812.”

At 11:10 a.m., nationally-acclaimed historical marine artist Dr. Peter Rindlisbacher and Lear present a demonstration of stories and artwork with, “The May 1814 Battle of Oswego: A Tale Told in Field Sketches.”

There will be a break for lunch followed by the 1:10 p.m. presentation, “Shipping and Shipbuilding at Oswego, 1804 to 1820,” from naval historian and author Dr. Gary M. Gibson.

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Dr. Richard Barbuto, author, professor and deputy director of the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, returns to this year’s event with “Daniel D. Tompkins: War Governor, 1812 to 1815” at 2 p.m.

Prominent author and military historian Donald Graves will close out the day with “Bootstrap Soldiers: The Regular U.S. Army and the War of 1812” at 3:10 p.m.

On Sunday, Dr. Richard Weyhing, assistant professor of history at State University of New York at Oswego, opens the symposium at 9:10 a.m. with, “Before 1812: The Establishment of Fort Oswego and the ‘Sixty Year’s War’ for North America.”

Author and retired Canadian Army Maj. Sandy Antal continues with his discussion, “Tecumseh: the Myths and the Facts,” at 10 a.m. and Lear wraps up the event with “The First Battle of Oswego in 1813” at 11:10 a.m.

Registration for the three-day symposium is $50 per person or $35 for students with a valid ID.

The registration fee includes Saturday’s lunch, refreshment breaks on Saturday and Sunday and workshop materials.

One-day registration is also available: $35 for Saturday, including lunch or $25 for Sunday.

For students with a valid ID, one day rates are $20 for Saturday, including lunch or $15 for Sunday.

Advance registration can be done online or by check or credit card through the Friends of Fort Ontario.

For credit card payments, contact Lear at 315-343-4711 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Checks should be made payable to “Friends of Fort Ontario – 1812” and mailed to the Fort Ontario State Historic Site, 1 E. Fourth St., Oswego, N.Y. 13126.

Special room rates for symposium attendees are available at the Best Western Plus Captain’s Quarters Hotel, 26 E. First St., Oswego.

Please call the hotel at 315-342-4040 and mention the Oswego War of 1812 Symposium.

For a complete schedule or to register online, go to www.oswego1812.org.

For more visitor information, go to www.visitoswegocounty.com or contact the Oswego County Tourism Office at 315-349-8322.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/oswego-international-war-of-1812-symposium-schedule-announced/

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