Ninth Annual James Caster Symposium on the Civil War
Wednesday, October 1
8:30am - 4:00 pm
Mabee Auditorium, Randall University
Randall University to Host 9th Civil War Symposium
Randall University, located at 3701 South I-35 in Moore, Oklahoma, will host the 9th annual Dr. James G. Caster Symposium on the Civil War on October 1st. The sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m., and continue each hour until 11:30 when there will be a break for lunch from 11:30-1. Then, starting at 1 p.m., there will be three more sessions, with each session lasting one hour. The symposium is free and open to the public.
Randall University is the sponsoring institution for the symposium. It is a liberal arts college associated with the Free Will Baptist denomination. It was founded in 1959, and has grown steadily over the years, adding programs, faculty, and students. Recently, Randall has added a Bachelor of Arts in History designed to advance the overall Christian mission of the university.
The late Dr. James Caster said that the naming of the symposium after him was one of the three proudest moments of his professional life. Dr. Caster was the epitome of a Christian gentleman and a scholar, and was greatly admired, respected, and loved by Civil War buffs in Oklahoma.
If one would like to eat in the Randall Cafeteria, please contact Steve Byas, the superintendent of the symposium. Byas is the director of the history program at Randall, and any questions about the lunch or any other aspect of the program should be directed toward him, at sbyas@ru.edu.
High school students who participate are eligible to enter an essay contest for a $500 scholarship and 2nd, 3rd place gift cards. More details and the submission box can be found below the schedule.
Schedule of Sessions
Time | Workshop | Speaker |
---|---|---|
8:30am | “Southern Steel at Shiloh” | Erik McBroom |
9:30am | “Researching an Infantry Company” | Dan DeKalb |
10:30am | “Blunt’s Raid on Van Buren” | Tom Wing |
11:30am - 1:00pm | Lunch Break | |
1:00pm | “The Dred Scott Case” | Beau Cantrell |
2:00pm | “The Crucible: The Impact of the Mexican War on Civil War Leadership” | Ben Odom |
3:00pm | “Confederate Indian Troops in the Trans-Mississippi: Were They Relevant” | Jeff Massey |
Essay Contest Details and Submission
2024 Winning Essay

For More Information
If you would like to know more about the symposium, please contact the symposium organizer, Steve Byas, at sbyas@ru.edu.