Carter Van Vleck

Carter Van Vleck had practiced as a teacher, a merchant, a homeopathic physician, and a lawyer in the years before he enlisted in the 78th Illinois Volunteer Regiment. Acclaimed as a skilled orator, his persuasive ability had led him into local politics two years before hostilities began. As an officer, his ability to clearly recognize conflicts involving both his superiors and the men under his command and to articulate fair resolutions gained the respect of everyone with whom he came in contact.

Teresa K. Lehr earned her BA at the University of Albany, and MAs in English and History at the State University College at Brockport, NY. In addition to teaching at the College at Brockport, she has researched and authored five published institutional histories, researched and created exhibits on 20th century epidemics for Rochester (NY) General Hospital, and composed numerous articles and delivered presentations of historic interest, particularly about the Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918.

Philip L. Gerber received his PhD from the University of Iowa. Named Distinguished University President of SUNY in 1999, he taught American Literature at SUNY College at Brockport before his death in 2005. Dr. Gerber’s publications include analyses of the works of Frost, Cather, and Dreiser. His most comprehensive work, Bachelor Bess, The Homesteading Letters of Elizabeth Corey, 1909-1919 has been augmented through the posthumous publication of An Iowa Schoolma’am: Letters of Elizabeth “Bess” Corey, 1904-1908.