Home for the Holidays... and History: With Special Guest Carolyn Ivanoff as Clara Barton!

About this event

2PM-3PM | Celebrate 2026 & Look Ahead to 2027

Before we turn the page to a new year, let's take a moment to celebrate all that made 2026 memorable. Join us for a look back at the programs, events, exhibits, and moments that brought us together throughout the year. We will offer a special thank you to our members, volunteers, and supporters who continue to help make the New England Civil War Museum a special place. We'll also share a preview of what is ahead in 2027, along with a toast to the coming year and all the history still waiting to be discovered.

Presented by Executive Director Dan Hayden, Board President Hank Cullinane, and Director of Outreach Chris Biggs

3PM-4PM | Featured Presentation: Clara Barton: The Life & Legacy

The Angel of the Battlefield. A pioneering reformer. A woman who refused to stand on the sidelines.

Presented by Carolyn Ivanoff

Most people know Clara Barton as the Civil War nurse who became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield.” But that title tells only part of her remarkable story.

During the Civil War, Barton went where the wounded were. Her post, as she described it, was “the open field between the bullet and the hospital.” She brought food and supplies, cared for the wounded, and wrote letters home for soldiers who might never make the journey themselves. But Clara Barton also saw a side of war that history often overlooks. She wrote not of the glory of conquering armies, but of those left behind to confront the human cost, the wounded, the dying, and those who followed in the wake of battle with “hearts breaking with pity.”

Her courage and determination did not end when the war was over. Barton challenged convention, fought for equal pay, championed humanitarian relief, and went on to found the American Red Cross. Her work would help shape how generations of Americans respond when others are in need. Join historian Carolyn Ivanoff for an engaging look at the life of a woman who found her purpose in the middle of one of America's most difficult moments, and whose determination to help others continues to make a difference today.

About Carolyn Ivanoff

Carolyn Ivanoff is a retired high school administrator, educator, and independent historian. She writes and speaks about American history in a variety of formats and venues. As an author, researcher, and presenter, her work focuses on 19th-century America, including social, medical, and material culture, the American Civil War, and Connecticut history. At the heart of her research and published work are firsthand, primary-source accounts that bring the people of the Civil War generation to life.

4PM-4:30PM | Meet & Greet with Carolyn Ivanoff

Following the presentation, stay and meet Carolyn Ivanoff.

This is an opportunity to continue the conversation, enjoy light holiday treats, ask questions, and spend time with one of Connecticut's engaging historians before we bring this special December afternoon to a close.

Home for the Holidays... and History is more than a presentation. It is an opportunity to gather with friends, celebrate another memorable year at the New England Civil War Museum, and share an afternoon of history as we look ahead to all that is still to come. Limited seating is available for this special event. Admission is free.