Central Library Hosting October 11 Talk "More Than Ectoplasm: A Study of Civil War Memory and Southern Ghostlore"

More Than Ectoplasm: A Study of Civil War Memory and Southern Ghostlore

Saturday, October 11 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Central Library, 1st Floor 
2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203

Many Southern ghost stories are rooted in the American Civil War. This talk will examine these tales alongside historical sources, exploring how they have shaped public perceptions of the conflict and its lasting aftermath.

The presenter, Kayla Jordan, is a PhD student in History at the University of Alabama, researching 19th- and 20th-century Southern ghostlore and its connections to social, cultural, and ideological trends in the region. Her work often focuses on identity formation, Civil War memory, and cultural rituals surrounding death and mourning.

Jordan earned her B.A. (2020) and M.A. (2022) in History from Mississippi State University. She brings nearly a decade of experience in Alabama museums and archives as a docent, intern, and volunteer archivist and conservator. She is also a participant in the AHA Young Scholars Program, which connects young historians with audiences through the Speaker’s Bureau.

For more information:
Contact Catherine Oseas, Head of BPL’s Department of Archives
📧 catherine.oseas@cobpl.org| 📞 (205) 226-3630