The Gettysburg community is mourning the loss of Peter Carmichael, a renowned Civil War scholar and educator who passed away recently at the age of 58. Carmichael was a beloved member of many communities, including his neighbors on Tiffany Ln., former and present constituents of Gettysburg College, and the broader community of Civil War scholars, students, and enthusiasts.
Carmichael is perhaps best known for his work as the longtime director of Gettysburg College’s Civil War Institute, a weeklong, intensive conference that combined battlefield studies with academic presentations and panels. He was also a Robert C. Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Era Studies at the college for 14 years, where he mentored young talent and contributed to the literature.
Carmichael was a prolific writer, with several books to his name. Perhaps his most famous work is “The War for the Common Soldier.” He earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and his doctorate from Penn State University in 1996, and held positions at Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and West Virginia University before joining Gettysburg College in 2010.
In notifying the college community of Carmichael’s passing, Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano wrote that “Pete’s impact on this community and in the community of Civil War scholars has been immeasurable… He has helped us to see the Civil War through a broader and more nuanced lens and along the way guided legions of Gettysburg College students into the field of public history.”
Friends and colleagues alike remember Carmichael’s encyclopedic knowledge of the Civil War, his unlimited energy, his spellbinding storytelling, and his commitment to nurturing young talent. Several colleagues and friends shared stories of their personal connections with Carmichael, his boundless energy, and his million-dollar smile.
Carmichael will be remembered as a passionate and gifted educator, researcher, mentor, and storyteller, whose contributions to the literature and to public understanding of the Civil War will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.
Featured image caption: Carmichael in his favorite activity: showing students around a battlefield.
I just learned of Mr. Carmichael’s passing. I enjoyed the CSPAN Civil War Programs that he facilitated . Without ever meeting him in person, the passion, the energy and of course, the storytelling all jumped beyond the borders of a tv screen. Thank you for giving and to all Family and all Friends may his memories only inspire in learning and in deed.
So very saddened to hear about this. He enriched the understanding of Gettysburg and the Civil War, in general, for so many of us.
I so enjoyed Pete’s 40th Civil War Institute hosting 288 people from around the world for 5 days! What an inspiring Gettysburg College educational leader!