Instructor: Christina Smith

Christina Smith
 Biography:

Christina Lea Smith holds a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also completed her master's degree in history from Illinois State University in 2015. Her thesis, titled "Joseph Addison Turner: The Countryman and Confederate Nationalism," won the 2015 James C. Bonner Award for the best master's thesis. Christina has published an article titled "Elizabeth Parsons Wade Packard's Challenge of True Womanhood" in the peer-reviewed Journal of Illinois History.

Christina has been teaching for over twenty years at various colleges in Illinois. Her areas of focus include nineteenth-century American history and Civil War seminars. She is also a volunteer instructor for Bradley University's Osher for Lifelong Learning Institute. Christina often speaks at historical societies, women's groups, and other associations.

Courses by this instructor


Beginning Microsoft Word

Beginning Microsoft Word
Learn how to efficiently use the Word window; edit documents; move and copy text; distinguish between character and paragraph formatting; create and manage tables; control page layout features.
Friday, October 2, 2026, WDC*D122

Celebrating Thanksgiving During the Civil War

Thanksgiving stands as one of the most American of holidays honoring the harvest feasts of the earliest arrivals during the colonial days. Yet, Thanksgiving as an American holiday was influenced and created out of efforts during the American Civil War. This class examines the first thanksgiving harvest feasts, its origins in the Civil War, Lincoln's efforts to federalize the holiday, and how politicians still struggling economically with the Great Depression altered Thanksgiving forever.
Friday, November 6, 2026, WDC*D123

Christmas Carols: A History of Holiday Music

Christmas is a time of listening to and singing our favorite Christmas carols and songs. Why do we call Christmas songs "carols?" We don't have birthday carols or Halloween carols. We use the word carols in association only with Christmas. This class will examine the history behind many of your favorite Christmas carols. We will learn about the song then listen to it while we enjoy a few Christmas cookies. Come spend the day with us celebrating the wonderful music of Christmas.
Friday, December 4, 2026, WDC*D123

Desertion in the Civil War

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, armies on both sides had an abundance of recruits. But by 1863, the North and the South had instituted conscription policies that led to desertion and bounty jumping. Today most people know the story of mass desertion rates among the Confederate ranks; however, Union soldiers also deserted. This class examines how desertion was precipitated by a devotion of family, greed of money, and fear of battle. Both armies felt the impact.
Friday, October 16, 2026, WDC*D123

Innovations and Technological Advancements in the Civil War

The American Civil War was one of the 1st wars that ushered in the advent of the industrial revolution and its application to the battlefield. Nineteenth century technological marvels resulted in advances in the fields of industrial production, transportation and communications. These technologies shifted from civilian everyday life to waging war. This class examines those technological advancements and how they were used by both the Union and Confederate armies.
Friday, September 18, 2026, WDC*D123

The Escape, Capture and Imprisonment of Jefferson Davis

The President of the Confederate States of America along with many of his Cabinet members fled Richmond after Lee evacuated Petersburg. Jefferson Davis was on the run from the evening of April 2 until May 10. After his capture by Union cavalry, Davis was transported to Fortress Monroe being held prisoner for two years. This class examines the escape from Richmond, the capture, the imprisonment as well as the treason trial that never happened. We will also discuss Jefferson Davis's post war life.
Friday, October 2, 2026, WDC*D123