Dan Showalter: California's Arch Rebel: November 2017

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 When I had finished my research -- which included the discovery of several previously unpublished items as well as obtaining the only known photograph from a Showalter descendent -- I had so much material that Susan exclaimed, "You've got a whole exhibit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, November 2, 2017

If requesting publication notice...

We've had a congratulatory comment come in (thank you), but received one of those undeliverable notices when I tried to reply and put the sender on our list of email addresses for notice upon publication. If you write and wish to receive that notice, please be sure you indicate an accurate email address. As mentioned previously, even though sent in a comment on this blog, they are reviewed by me personally before appearing anywhere, and I will not publicly post any comment with an email address. Thanks!

We are in Publication!

The process for publication of the biography of Dan Showalter by Gene Armistead and myself has finally begun!

We are contracted with McFarland & Co., Publishers, Inc., of Jefferson, North Carolina, to publish the book. McFarland is a leading independent publisher of scholarly books and publisher of Gene's previous Horses and Mules in the Civil War (2013).

The process of publication for that book was exactly one year. We hope that steps taken by ourselves in light of Gene's previous experience and my own editing skills (a legal editor-proofreader by trade) will advance that timing somewhat, but a primary determinant will be the number of manuscripts at McFarland awaiting publication. McFarland is, though, a diligent and timely publisher.

At this point, we would estimate publication not sooner than August 2018, but almost surely in time for delivery by Christmas 2018. As we reach various milestones in the publication process, we will continue to post updates on this blog.

If you would like personal notification of the book's publication, feel free to send your email address in a comment to this posting. All such comments are reviewed prior to posting on the blog itself, and no comment containing a personal email address will be posted. Your privacy will be respected.

Hooray!