"Surgeon General William Alexander Hammond and the Civil War History of Homosexuality" presented by Andrew Donnelly, PhDAbout this Event
2026 John E. Pless, MD Memorial Central State Circle Lecture
Surgeon General William Alexander Hammond
& the Civil War History of Homosexuality
Sunday, February 15, 2026
2pm (Eastern)
COST: $5
FREE for Donors at the Central State Circle Level or Higher
presented by Andrew Donnelly, PhD
The U.S. Civil War transformed nearly every aspect of American lives, so much so that historians refer to the decades following as “the world the Civil War made.” Meanwhile, historians of sexuality view these same postbellum decades as the period in which the categories of homosexuality and heterosexuality emerged within medicine and the law. So where is the experience of the Civil War, with its transformations of American medicine, in the history of homosexuality’s emergence? This presentation will look for an answer in the biography of doctor William A. Hammond, the Union Army’s Surgeon General from 1862-1864, a pioneer in the fields of neurology and psychology, and a medical writer whose case studies on same-sex desiring patients are cited in nearly every work of sexual science through the early twentieth century.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Andrew Donnelly is a literary and cultural historian specializing in the periods of the U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction and in the field of Southern Studies. He is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Memphis. He received his PhD from the English Department at Harvard University in 2020. His work has been supported by research fellowships from the Boston Athenaeum, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Center for Mark Twain Studies, and the Library Company of Philadelphia. His book, Confederate Sympathies: Same-Sex Romance, Disunion, and Reunion in the Civil War Era, was published by University of North Carolina Press in 2025.
***Important information for attendees:
Advanced registration is required. In-person seating is limited. This is a hybrid event with ticket options for both in person and virtual attendance. Please make sure you are registering for the correct ticket type. Virtual attendees will receive a link to join the event via Zoom 24 hours prior to the event. If you don't receive it by then, check your email junk folder or email us at [email protected]. Doors open for in person attendees at 1:30pm.
Grounds Entrance and Parking: Some GPS guides will provide a route that directs you to turn into the property from Vermont St. That entrance is now closed, but there are 2 options for entering the former Central State Hospital Grounds. 1) From Warman Ave. Turn west onto Kirkbride Way (look for the blue Mounted Horse Patrol sign). Follow Kirkbride through one stop sign then around the curve to arrive at the Museum. 2) From Tibbs Ave. Turn east onto Kirkbride Way. The Museum is on the left at the stop sign.
IMHM Event Disclaimers: 1) The views and opinions expressed by the speaker(s) in this presentation are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Indiana Medical History Museum or its affiliates. 2) The content of the presentation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment. 3) The Indiana Medical History Museum is housed in a historic building, and as such, may present certain risks and/or physical restrictions. Please let us know if you require special accommodations, and we will do our best to meet your needs.
IMHM Photography Policy: Attendees should respect both presenters and their proprietary material during formal presentations; therefore no still photographs nor video or audio recordings are allowed, unless explicitly permitted by IMHM Staff. To read our full IMHM Photography Policy, visit our website at www.imhm.org/visit.
Event Venue
Indiana Medical History Museum, 3270 Kirkbride Way, Indianapolis, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 7.18
