A 2 ½-day convocation of leading experts on and devotees of the Civil War era, the Library of Congress symposium "The Civil War and American Memory" was held November 12–14, 2002. Commemorating a crucially important era in American history, the symposium also celebrated the publication of The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference, a unique, illustrated, one-volume resource on the Civil War era.

Beginning with a keynote address, "A Contested Historical Landscape: Understanding and Interpreting the Civil War," by Professor Gary W. Gallagher, and ending with an address, "The New Birth of Freedom: The Central Meaning of the Civil War," by Professor Paul Finkelman, "The Civil War and American Memory" featured 8 sessions in which historians, biographers, and other informed contemplators of the Civil War era considered a wide range of Civil War-era subjects–from its causes, through its military and political conduct, to its aftermath and Reconstruction. There was time for questions from the audience at the end of each panel session. Special evening events included a Civil War concert, films, and a reading of Civil War diaries and letters drawn from the Library of Congress collections. (SEE the schedule of events, for each day)

"The Civil War and American Memory" was made possible in part by financial support from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Transportation was generously provided by U.S. Airways.