November 8, 2023
Acclaimed biographer of President James Garfield, C. W. Goodyear, offered a talk and signed books at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education auditorium on Wednesday, November 8, at 7 p.m. This event was co-sponsored by the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War and Shepherd’s Lifelong Learning Program.
In this outstanding biography, President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier, Goodyear charts the life and times of one of the most remarkable Americans ever to win the presidency, James Garfield. Over nearly two decades in Congress during a polarized era—Reconstruction and the Gilded Age—Garfield served as a peacemaker in a Republican Party and America defined by divisions. He was elected president to overcome them. He was killed while trying to do so.
C.W. Goodyear was born in Louisiana. He moved between Australia and the United Kingdom while growing up, before returning to the U.S. to attend Yale University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
In this outstanding biography, President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier, Goodyear charts the life and times of one of the most remarkable Americans ever to win the presidency, James Garfield. Over nearly two decades in Congress during a polarized era—Reconstruction and the Gilded Age—Garfield served as a peacemaker in a Republican Party and America defined by divisions. He was elected president to overcome them. He was killed while trying to do so.
C.W. Goodyear was born in Louisiana. He moved between Australia and the United Kingdom while growing up, before returning to the U.S. to attend Yale University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Anna Steig, an English major from Hagerstown, Maryland, digitizes documents in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.
Author and historian C.W. Goodyear is conducting research for a biography of Sen. Robert C. Byrd at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education at Shepherd University. Goodyear, author of “Garfield: From Radical to Unifier,” a critically acclaimed biography of the 20th President of the United States, has also donated to the center to facilitate work on Byrd’s biography.
“I’m excited that my next book will be an authoritative biography of Sen. Byrd,” Goodyear said. “He is the ideal subject: someone whose remarkable political career both shaped the trajectory of our country as well as reflected its transformation over a crucial period of history. I am blessed to be partnered in this effort with the Byrd Center—a place where a world-class collection is matched by the professionalism, diligence, and kindness of its staff.”
To facilitate the research, Goodyear donated approximately $12,000 to cover stipends for two Shepherd students to digitize some of Byrd’s papers. The donation also covered the cost of new digitization equipment.
Interns Joanna Schoonover, a history major from Preston, Maryland, and Anna Steig, an English major from Hagerstown, Maryland, are digitizing the papers. Their work will benefit Goodyear’s research and help with the center’s desire to make Byrd’s papers more widely available.
“There are numerous beneficiaries to Charlie’s generous donation,” said Tish Wiggs, Byrd Center archivist. “He is receiving invaluable help with his future project; the Byrd Center is getting time and funding to begin a mass digitization project; and Shepherd students are learning valuable technical skills working with a major congressional archive. We are grateful for Charlie’s trust in us and look forward to our continued partnership.”
“We are honored and delighted that Charlie Goodyear will be writing a biography of Sen. Byrd using our resources as the foundation of his work,” said Ray Smock, Byrd Center interim director. “He has established himself as a major biographer, and Sen. Byrd’s story is a rich and complex one that needs to be told.”
The first leg of the project will run through the end of the spring 2024 semester, with the possibility of renewal.
“I’m excited that my next book will be an authoritative biography of Sen. Byrd,” Goodyear said. “He is the ideal subject: someone whose remarkable political career both shaped the trajectory of our country as well as reflected its transformation over a crucial period of history. I am blessed to be partnered in this effort with the Byrd Center—a place where a world-class collection is matched by the professionalism, diligence, and kindness of its staff.”
To facilitate the research, Goodyear donated approximately $12,000 to cover stipends for two Shepherd students to digitize some of Byrd’s papers. The donation also covered the cost of new digitization equipment.
Interns Joanna Schoonover, a history major from Preston, Maryland, and Anna Steig, an English major from Hagerstown, Maryland, are digitizing the papers. Their work will benefit Goodyear’s research and help with the center’s desire to make Byrd’s papers more widely available.
“There are numerous beneficiaries to Charlie’s generous donation,” said Tish Wiggs, Byrd Center archivist. “He is receiving invaluable help with his future project; the Byrd Center is getting time and funding to begin a mass digitization project; and Shepherd students are learning valuable technical skills working with a major congressional archive. We are grateful for Charlie’s trust in us and look forward to our continued partnership.”
“We are honored and delighted that Charlie Goodyear will be writing a biography of Sen. Byrd using our resources as the foundation of his work,” said Ray Smock, Byrd Center interim director. “He has established himself as a major biographer, and Sen. Byrd’s story is a rich and complex one that needs to be told.”
The first leg of the project will run through the end of the spring 2024 semester, with the possibility of renewal.
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