Drafting the Past
Episode 61: Judith Giesberg Resists Giving Readers What They Want
Mar 11, 2025
Judith Giesberg, a historian and professor at Villanova University, shares her insights on the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. She discusses her impactful work on the Last Seen project, which helps reconnect formerly enslaved people with lost family members through historical advertisements. Giesberg also reflects on the complexities of editing and mentoring in historical writing, her personal creative process, and the emotional challenges of capturing poignant family narratives. Her dedication to uncovering marginalized voices is truly inspiring.
52:08
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Quick takeaways
- Dr. Judith Giesberg's research exposes the emotional struggles of formerly enslaved individuals seeking to reunite with their lost family members after the Civil War.
- Through her mentoring role, Giesberg emphasizes the necessity of constructive feedback in writing, fostering an environment where emerging historians can develop their unique voices.
Deep dives
The Importance of Family Connections After the Civil War
The podcast delves into the profound impact of the U.S. Civil War on family structures, highlighting the experiences of formerly enslaved individuals who sought to reunite with lost family members. Many freed individuals faced the emotional toll of separation, often resulting from forced sales and the trauma of displacement. The discussion emphasizes the importance of advertisements placed by these individuals in newspapers, where they detailed physical characteristics of their loved ones, demonstrating their enduring memories despite long separations. This process of seeking out family reflects a broader theme of perseverance and the deep emotional bonds that motivated these searches across generations.
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