Anthony Gibbs to Present at Civil War Weekend

Dressed in the period uniform of the United States Colored Troops who fought in the Civil War, Anthony Gibbs will be a featured presenter at Sidney, Ohio’s Civil War Living History Weekend. Gibbs is scheduled to speak on Saturday, September 15 at 11:00 a.m.

A number of presenters have already been engaged for Sidney, Ohio’s Civil War Living History Weekend,
Planning Committee Chair Mike Barhorst announced today. The event, scheduled for September 15-16,
will include a presentation by Anthony Gibbs, a teaching artist who has taught and presented history
programs and character impressions in many venues.
Gibbs’ presentation will detail the story of the black troops who fought for the Union in the Civil War.
Entitled Fighting for Freedom: The Story of the United States Colored Troops, Gibbs will detail the efforts
of the more than 179,000 black soldiers who donned the uniform of the American Army during the
conflict.
“These men were freedom fighters who fought for emancipation and for full citizenship rights,” Gibbs
stated. “I will discuss events significant to these men that led up to the Civil War, and what made these
men different from the other thousands who fought and died in the War Between the States.”
“Their efforts have long been overlooked, even in their own home towns,” Gibbs continued. “An example
is the research that Mayor Mike Barhorst has been conducting over the course of the past couple of years
about local troops who enlisted and fought, bled and died only to be forgotten once the war was
concluded.”
Gibbs has traveled widely around the region sharing dramatic historical stories in schools, libraries,
museums, and other venues.  Gibbs is a gifted storyteller who captures his audiences with spellbinding
performances that keep listeners on the edge of their seats.
“I am delighted that Anthony has agreed to participate in this year’s Civil War Living History Weekend,”
Barhorst stated. “He engages the audience in his presentations with his commanding presence, historical
knowledge, authentic props, and excellent oratorical skills.”
“Anthony has a tremendous knowledge of history,” Barhorst continued. “He loves history, and leaves his
audiences with a greater respect and appreciation for the power of storytelling and the timeless
messages we can all learn by studying history.”
For more than a dozen years Anthony has presented historical workshops and performances on the
United States Colored Troops and their participation in the Civil War. Gibbs has portrayed living history
characters such as John Parker, an Underground Railroad conductor from Ripley, Ohio, Milton Holland, a
soldier and Medal of Honor recipient of the 5 th United States Colored Troops, and other key figures in
African American history.
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Gibbs works for Ohio History Connection (formerly the Ohio
Historical Society) as the Manager of Local History Services. Gibbs has been a frequent presenter at the
Shelby County Historical Society’s Civil War Day held each year for eighth grade students at the Shelby
County Fairgrounds.
Gibbs resides in the Columbus area with his wife and children.