IN PERSON: This course explores the full arc of Robert E. Lee’s life — beyond the battlefield — through the lens of his family legacy, public service and personal convictions. One of the most prominent figures in American history, Lee descended from a distinguished line of Virginia aristocrats whose leadership helped shape the Colonial and Revolutionary War eras. While his role in the Civil War will be discussed, greater emphasis will be placed on Lee’s work as a civil engineer, prewar military officer and, later, educator and symbol of reconciliation in the postwar South. The course also offers a close look at Lee’s domestic life, including his marriage to Mary Custis (a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington), his children and the family’s connections to the early republic. Through lectures, documentary footage and live appearances by historical reenactors portraying members of the Lee family, participants will gain a fuller understanding of this complex and often mythologized figure. | Lecture + Q&A, Facilitated discussion.
Max enrollment: 25.
Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705
