Giants of 1809: The Legacy of Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln, and Edgar Allan Poe
A two-day symposium (November 11th-12th, 2009) examining the influences on, and impact, of these three pivotal figures of the early 19th century. The symposium will include presentations by two nationally renowned scholars, panel discussions on various topics, a two-person play about Charles Darwin, and a display from Special Collections at King Library.

The symposium will open at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 11th, with a keynote presentation by Daniel Walker Howe, University of California at Los Angeles.
Dr. Howe will look at the social and historical milieu that gave rise to the work of Darwin, Lincoln, and Poe.

At 1:00 pm on Thursday, November 12th, the symposium will conclude with a capstone presentation by Sheila Ann Dean, Cornell University.
Dr. Dean will discuss the ideas and impact of Charles Darwin. In between these two symposia talks, we plan to have panel discussions on the topics of wonder, time, and conflict.
There will be one panel for each theme and one Darwin, Lincoln, and Poe expert on each of the panels. The panels will include faculty members of various departments at Miami University as well as experts at other nearby institutions.
On Wednesday evening, there will be a two-person play presented at the Art Museum on the life and work of Charles Darwin.

Wednesday, 11/11/09
10:30- 11:30 AM Meet with Emma Darwin, King Library

1-2 PM Daniel Walker Howe, "Lincoln, Darwin, And Poe: Media, Progress, And Society In Mid-19th-Century America" Keynote address. Peabody Hall

2:30 - 4 PM Panel discussions, Peabody Hall


8 PM Re:Design play about life and ideas of Charles Darwin, Art Museum


Thursday, 11/12/09
9-10:30 AM Panel discussions, Peabody Hall

11 AM - noon Sheila Dean, "After the Origin, and Before the Descent," Peabody Hall

Noon Reception, Peabody Hall



In connection with the symposium, Miami University's King Library is planning a special display of materials related to Darwin, Lincoln, and Poe. Items that will be included in this display are an original letter written by Lincoln; a field guide to shells by Poe; and some original Darwin publications.
In addition, the Hefner Zoology Museum will feature an exhibit on Charles Darwin and his contributions to our understanding of the natural world.

We expect participants to come away from this symposium with a new and integrated understanding of these three famous men, all of whom were born in 1809 - the year that also saw the birth of Miami University.
Attendees will better understand the social milieu that influenced Darwin, Lincoln, and Poe and how and why their work, in turn, has had such a profound and lasting influence on science, society, and culture.