2023 Call for Applications for the 

Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia

Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award 

and the

Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award 

Background

These two awards were created by the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) to honor the life and legacy of one of the nation’s preeminent Civil War historians: the late Edwin C. Bearss. Ed spent more than seven decades crusading for battlefield site preservation, expanding interest and education in the military, political and socio‐cultural history of events leading up to the Civil War, the War itself, and its aftermath. He led countless tours of battlefields and other Civil War related sites.  

Severely wounded as a Marine in the South Pacific during WW2, Ed understood the chaos and horror of battle and therefore was uniquely able to communicate the battlefield experience to his audience.  He authored more than two dozen books on the Civil War, joined the US National Park Service, and served as its chief historian from 1981‐1994 and later as its Historian Emeritus.  Ed was an honorary lifetime member of our Round Table and spoke regularly at its meetings and as its guide during many of its battlefield tours.

Seeking to assist Ed in his mission to protect, preserve and interpret Civil War sites around the country, the CWRTDC for many years made financial gifts for these purposes to an organization Ed selected. With his passing in 2020, the Round Table decided to continue this tradition by creating a new Edwin C. Bearss Awards program.  More information about Ed Bearss and the Awards Program is available at www.cwrtdc.org under the tab “Ed Bearss Award” or by clicking HERE 

(https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/) 

Monetary gifts to support the program are essential for the continuation of this awards and may be made through the CWRTDC website HERE or at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-awards-donation-page.html  All gifts and donations are maintained separately from the Round Table’s regular accounts and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.  

The first recipient (2021) of the new  Edwin Bearss Preservation Award was the African American Civil War Memorial Museum of Washington, DC, which recognizes the contributions of the U.S. Colored Troops and the persons of color who served in the U.S. Navy during  the Civil War. The museum  used the grant for exhibits and youth educational outreach.  The 2021  Bearss Legacy Award, a non‐monetary award, was presented to Wendy Swanson, for her outstanding contributions to the preservation of  Civil War sites, landmarks, and education.

The second recipient (2022) of the preservation award was to the Battle of New Market Battle Heights Memorial and Education Association for assistance in the erection of a monument to honor the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the 3rd Division of the XVII Corps. Among these men were 14 African American soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their gallantry in this important victory for the Union. The 2022 Bearss Legacy Award was posthumously awarded to Burrus “Buzz” Carnahan, a member of the CWRTDC and of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia and its past President. A noted Lincoln scholar, author, lecturer on the International Law of War and with the  Air Force Judge Advocate, US State Department and US Department of Energy and served on the advisory group at the Gettysburg Lincoln Forum. 

Purpose and Amount of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award

A monetary award is presented to an  entity (a non‐profit organization or public entity or agency) to assist in preservation of a Civil War site or history, with “preservation” being used in the broadest sense of the word. This includes but is not limited to, the acquisition of property; the building, repair or restoration of a property; and the promotion, definition or narration of a site through interpretation, information infrastructure, including research and educational materials or displays.

It is the intent of the CWRTDC Board that the Preservation Award in any given calendar year will be $2,500. The grant amount may, at the discretion of the CWRTDC Board of Directors, be increased or decreased.  Use of the Award for financial matching for similar purposes is encouraged.  

Purpose of the Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award

This award, which is non‐monetary, is to be given to a person or persons who exemplify and emulate Ed Bearss’s dedication in their personal efforts and commitment to preserve Civil War historic sites, landmarks, and relevant educational activities.  

Eligibility

Any entity that meets the criteria set forth in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, any other non‐profit entity, or any public entity or agency, is eligible to receive the Preservation Award.  Any person or group of persons is eligible to receive the Legacy Award.

Application Process

  • The call for applications for the 2023 Awards will be issued not later than July 15, 2023.
  • Sharing information about the 2023 Ed Bearss Awards and the application process as widely as possible with appropriate media outlets and with other CW history organizations is encouraged.
  • Applications for the Preservation Award must include a written endorsement from at least one Civil War Round Table or similar group registered on the CWRT Congress website (https://www.cwrtcongress.org/c-registry/websites.php or downloadable HERE). The endorsement letter must include the name, mailing and email addresses, telephone number(s), and website URL if available of the endorsing entity and be signed on its behalf. 
  • Applications for the Legacy Award.  Applications seeking only to nominate person(s) for the Legacy Award must either: (a) be accompanied by a written endorsement described above, OR (b) be submitted or sponsored by a current CWRTDC member. 
  • Applications must be made by completing the form available HERE  (https://drive.google.com/file/d/19nPcYBaNRWgGQFMUU0wvS52ey0c8paSH/view) and sending it via email to admin@cwrtdc.org with a copy  to bill.c.dickinson@gmail.com, Chair of the Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee.
  • Alternatively, applications may be sent by mail to: Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia, 3601 Pickett Road, #2123, Fairfax, VA  22031, with a copy sent via email to bill.c.dickinson@gmail.com. 
  • Applications are due or, if sent by mail, must be postmarked by the close of business November 1, 2023.
  • Selections of the 2023 awardees will be recommended by the Selections Committee and approved by the CWRTDC Board of Directors.
  • Absent unforeseen circumstances, the awards will be presented in person at the joint dinner meeting of the CWRTDC and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia scheduled to be held in or near Washington DC early in 2024.

Follow up by Awardee

The awardee of the Edwin C Bearss Preservation Award should confirm in writing within one calendar year after receipt of the award how the grant was used as described in connection with the nomination process.  If the intended use of the grant is not possible, the awardee should advise the CWRTDC of any change to the requested purpose or return the grant to the CWRTDC allowing it to be reallocated for future awards.  

It would  be appreciated if the awardee of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award publicly acknowledges its receipt of the award from the CWRTDC.   

Questions

Please contact Bill Dickinson, Chair of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at bill.c.dickinson@gmail.com or at 703.403.8721.