Civil Life in an Uncivil Time

Paula Tarnapol Whitacre is a professional writer and editor for organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Sciences. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, she is a former U.S. Foreign Service officer and staff writer for the Washington Post. Visit her website paulawhitacre.com.

"Whitacre has crafted a strong narrative history that should be of interest not only to scholars of the Civil War era, wartime emancipation, and women's reform and benevolence efforts but also to students and casual readers."-Anne Y. Brinton, Journal of Southern History "Julia Wilbur's life could easily have slipped into historical anonymity, unnoticed and unappreciated by modernity. Fortunately her highly descriptive diaries and letters fell into the hands of Paula Whitacre, who recognized a remarkable woman when she found one. . . . By skillfully incorporating Wilbur's own words into a scrupulously organized, elegantly written narrative, Whitacre brings to life Wilbur and the scores of historical figures she encountered during the war."-Civil War Times "In her biography of Julia Wilbur, Paula Whitacre focuses on a woman who actively supported two political movements that shook the foundations of American life in the nineteenth century, abolition and women's suffrage. . . . Whitacre paints an intimate portrait of her subject. In doing so, she reveals the challenges and struggles of an ordinary single woman doing extraordinary work during a tumultuous period of political and social change in American history."-Mary Lynn Bayliss, Virginia Magazine "Julia Wilbur's life and struggle took place more than 150 years ago, but remain relevant. This book presents tensions that continue to challenge individuals who seek their life purpose while negotiating societal expectations in a landscape rife with racism and social injustices."-Gwen Gosney Erickson, Friends Journal "Julia Wilbur is not a well-known abolitionist. That lack of familiarity is one thing that makes Paula Tarnapol Whitacre's A Civil Life in an Uncivil Time so interesting. . . . Readers who will appreciate this book include those interested in the Civil War, abolitionism, and early feminism. Residents of both Rochester, New York, and the DC area will appreciate the detailed descriptions and historical photographs of their communities. Finally, we can all be inspired by the significant contributions made by a woman who was brave, relentless, and-comfortingly-ordinary."-Robin Talbert, Washington Independent Review of Books "A work with many amusing or insightful anecdotes and observations, this is an excellent read for anyone interested in America at mid-century or the Civil War."-Jerry Trombella, NYMAS Review "Using Wilbur's detailed diary and numerous other sources, independent scholar Whitacre has written a biography that not only tells us of the life and work of this interesting women, but also much about nineteenth century American life, the women's rights and abolitionist movements, and, of course, volunteer war workers and African Americans in the Civil War. . . . A work with many amusing or insightful anecdotes and observations, A Civil Life in anUncivil Time is an excellent read for anyone interested in America at mid-century or the Civil War."-A. A. Nofi, Strategy Page “Paula Whitacre shines a light on a remarkable character, abolitionist Julia Wilbur, who . . . heroically confronted misogyny, racism, and fear in an effort to aid enslaved African Americans making the transition to freedom. Here this important and timely story is empathetically brought to life. I urge everyone to pick up a copy and delve deeper into a chapter of Civil War history that has been overlooked for far too long.”-Lisa Wolfinger, co-creator and executive producer of the PBS series Mercy Street “By illuminating Julia Wilbur’s struggles to end slavery, join the emancipated in the fight against bigotry, and live a life of purpose, Paula Whitacre offers a rich biography and beautifully written history.”-Chandra Manning, author of Troubled Refuge: Struggling for Freedom in the Civil War “Paula Whitacre’s biography captures the extraordinary life and times of this seemingly ordinary American woman.”-Carol Faulkner, author of Lucretia Mott’s Heresy

• List of IllustrationsPrefacePrologue: “The Saddest Sound I Ever Heard”Part 1. Before the War1. “A Peculiar Period in My Pilgrimage”2. “Slavery Is an Evil That Ought Not to Exist”3. “My Plans Overthrown. Life All Changed.”4. “At Alexandria . . . the Potomac Rolls Its Majestic Stream”Part 2. During the War5. “Civil War Is Upon Us”6. “My Way Seems Clear to Go”7. “What a Place I Have Found”8. “Mrs. J and I May Carry Out Our Plans”9. “An Interfering and Troublesome Person”10. “I Wish to . . . Fight It Through”11. “Will It Pay?”12. “As Good a Spot as Could Be Obtained”13. “Things as Usual, Quite Unsettled”14. “Flung My Flag to the Breeze”Part 3. After the War15. “The Paraphernalia of War Is Fast Disappearing”16. “That I Might Be There to See”Epilogue: “The Burial Was at Avon”AcknowledgmentsAppendix: Abbreviated Wilbur Family HistoryNotesBibliographyIndex