Dan Showalter: California's Arch Rebel: January 2015

Welcome!

In late 2010, having volunteered to assist Drum Barracks Civil War Museum in Wilmington, California, with research in pro-secession activity in California, director Susan Ogle handed me a list of names, places and events for possible investigation. One of those names was that of Dan Showalter, a California politician turned Confederate cavalry officer of whom I'd never heard.

Becoming fascinated just after reading the barest outline of Showalter's life, the next year found me hunting down everything I could find about this largely forgotten character. When I had finished my research -- which included the discovery of several previously unpublished items as well as obtaining the only known photograph from a Showalter descendent -- I had so much material that Susan exclaimed, "You've got a whole exhibit right here!"

And with her guidance, on November 5, 2011, co-curated by myself and Susan Ogle, my "Dan Showalter: California's Arch Rebel" exhibit went on display at the Drum.

Now being slated for removal in August 2012 in that ongoing round of ever-successive new exhibits that mark good museums, I've started this website as a place where, over time, I can memorialize and expand upon all the material accumulated on this remarkable Californian.

Hope you'll return often as this website expands and enjoy!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

For the latest on publication

I have been receiving comments on this blog requesting notice when the Showalter book publishes. These comments do not come to me with e-mail addresses, but through the blog host. They do come to me for moderation before posting, so if anyone would like to include an e-mail address, I will be happy to send out word once there's any definite news. I assure you that I will not post any e-mail addresses on the blog itself.

Publication is a long process. The book has been under submission to a publisher for the better part of two months, so we should be getting close to hearing from them. Even if the book is accepted, it will still be quite some time -- often as long as a year -- before the actual printed book is available.

In the meantime, I will periodically update with status reports here on the blog, as I have previously done. So by all means, please do check back periodically, whether you might choose to send an e-mail address or not. In fact, sending me your e-mail address may well help publication, as many publishers look to see how many pre-orders or how much interest there might be in the book to determine speed of publication and the quantity of copies printed.

A big thanks to any and all who have visited this blog!