Everyone is welcome at our monthly meetings

NOTICE: We've been moved back (by the hotel chain) to the Holiday Inn Oakbrook for our meetings. Meetings for the 2024-25 Year will be in-person, but will also be simulcast on Zoom. Zoom details for each meeting will be emailed to members via the newsletter.


May 9th
Steve Phan on Asian and Pacific Islanders During the Civil War

To commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015), the National Park Service created the handbook “Asian and Pacific Islanders and the Civil War,” which highlighted the forgotten service of dozens of soldiers who served in the Union and Confederate armies and navies during the Civil War. Historian Steve T. Phan, who was featured in the publication, will present a lecture on the unknown citizen soldiers of Asian descent who participated in some of the war's largest battles, and campaigns in nearly every military theatre from Virginia to California.

Steve T. Phan is a Park Ranger and serves as the Chief of Interpretation at Camp Nelson National Monument. A military history scholar of the Civil War era, Phan's research focuses on military occupation, operational command, African American soldiers and refugees, and fortifications during the Civil War. Steve was nominated for the National Park Service Tilden Award for Excellence in Interpretation in 2019 and 2020. He holds a master's degree in American History from Middle Tennessee State University.



For our 2024-2025 program year, we proudly welcome these outstanding speakers:

Sept. 13th: John Horn on "The Wilson-Kautz Raid, June-July 1864"
Oct. 11th: Larry Hewitt on "The Birth of Combat Photography"
Nov. 8th: Allen Ottens on "The Grant-Rawlins Relationship"
Dec. 13th: Jon Sebastian on "Loyal to a Man: The Civil War in our Backyards"
Jan. 10th, 2025: Bjorn Skaptason on "Shiloh"
Feb. 14th: Hampton Newsome on "Gettysburg's Southern Front"
Mar. 14th: Gerry Prokopowicz on "Civil War Talk Radio"
Apr. 9th (Wednesday): Phil Spaugy on "The 19th Indiana and the Iron Brigade"
May 9th: Steve Phan on "Asian and Pacific Islanders During the Civil War"
June 13th: Dave Powell (Nevins-Freeman Award) on "Lost Opportunities in the Atlanta Campaign"

Copies of recorded meetings are available for a small charge. Click here for a printable list of recorded meetings. More current meetings can be viewed on Youtube.

Our meetings are held at:

Holiday Inn Oakbrook
350 W 22nd St., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Parking at the Holiday Inn is FREE
Map and Directions

Dinner $50.00 Members and Non- Members
Cocktails at 5:30, Dinner at 6:30

Presentation only is $10 per person.
Payable at the door, cash or check. Be there by 7:15. For those attending the presentation only, your reservation is appreciated but not required.
Dinner reservations should be received by Sunday evening prior to the meeting.
Please make your reservation in advance by emailing DinnerReservations@ChicagoCWRT.org with the names of your party or by calling (630) 460-1865
Cancellations: email us at DinnerReservations@ChicagoCWRT.org  or call (630) 460-1865

Dinner choices. The CWRT has gone to a buffet style dinner. The buffet will generally include salad, pasta, garlic bread, two meats and dessert.

Copyright 2009, The Civil War Round Table of Chicago.