Historical Society
Gettysburg, in south central Pennsylvania, was the site of one of the decisive battles of the American Civil War (July 1-3, 1863). Gettysburg College, founded a year earlier, had a front row seat to the battle, providing a makeshift hospital for some of the wounded soldiers in a then new building, now still in active use, known as “Old Dorm.”
Andrew Dalton (“AD”) was born and raised in Gettysburg, where he followed his passion for history into his self-supporting, adult career.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
AD’s father was a journalist, intrigued by unearthed accounts of historical events, specifically the Battle of Gettysburg. His grandfather was a farmer-carpenter in the area, who crafted and protected historical tales through his handiwork.
Both instilled in AD their work ethic and a love for the power of storytelling.
AD’s mother was a professor of political science at Gettysburg College.
CHILDHOOD
AD grew up walking the Gettysburg terrain, battlefield and cemeteries teeming with historical tales. He was surrounded by storytellers.
Early on, AD was enraptured by the Adams County (where Gettysburg is located) Historical Society’s collection of more than a million historical artifacts. When AD volunteered as a research assistant at the historical society during his high school years – working on projects ranging from genealogy to The Battle of Gettysburg – he found his favorite artifact by accident: an original program from President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. “No one knew that it was in our collection, and only a handful are known to exist,” he said.
As a child, AD was often brought to the college campus by his mother, a college professor, exposing her son to the college’s and town’s rich history. His grandfather also worked part-time as a “Clerk of the Works” at the college, often preserving the college’s history by overseeing construction and renovation projects on campus.
AD’s extended family “helped me understand that good history is storytelling,” AD has said.
At age 16, AD wrote and had published a book “Beyond the Run: The Emanuel Harmon Farm at Gettysburg.” Within a positive review of the book, the Frederick (Md.) News-Post disclosed the young author’s college aspirations: “He even hopes to go to Gettysburg College, so he doesn’t have to leave his battlefield and his research.”
EDUCATION
AD’s education dream came true in 2015 when he enrolled at Gettysburg College to pursue a career in historical storytelling, inspired by several connections: his familial ties and the college professors he met along the way, one of whom was the late professor of history, Charles Glatfelter, the first Executive Director of the Adams County Historical Society.
A history and political science double major, AD honed many of his research and leadership skills during his college student years. As a 2016 grant recipient from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, he documented the history of campus buildings under the guidance of his history professor, Michael Birkner, who became a mentor to AD, during and after his college graduation.
Other college educators (Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Ian Isherwood and Anthropology and Classics Professor Benjamin Luley plus Civil War Institute Associate Director Jill Ogline Titus) were also instrumental in helping AD develop a foundation in historical scholarship and research, later lending their expertise as AD spearheaded a significant, nonprofit business venture.
FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION INTO A CAREER
Having volunteered first as a researcher and then as an intern at the Adams County Historical Society for many years, AD’s dedication to and passion for pursuing the details of historical research was well known to the Society’s management when AD applied for full-time employment upon his college graduation.
Starting as an entry-level staff member, AD soon demonstrated his broad sense of the non-profit business world by contributing his mature judgment and perseverance to the never-ending priority for every business: raising money to support its physical assets and retention of workers. AD has been credited as “the force” behind the $10.5 million capital campaign to build a new home for the Society.
As a youth volunteer, AD never imagined earning a leadership role at the historical society, where he became the youngest Executive Director in its 80-plus year history.
CHALLENGE – LEADERSHIP AT A YOUNG AGE
There may be a few examples of 25-year-olds leading organizations – most likely business entities (profit or non-profit) that they created for themselves or were family owned. Rare indeed is any 80-year-old, non-family business led by such a youthful newcomer.
AD was able to gain the trust of the staff of the historical society by having well performed many of its basic tasks over a long period of time plus credibly communicating his vision of management: not as an arbitrary “boss” but instead, leadership by example, open to suggestions while still retaining the ultimate responsibility to make decisions in the best interests of the organization.
AD’s goal for the historical society is to make history “so much more than just names and dates on a page; our job is to make history come alive.”
PASSION AND CREATIVITY CAN LEAD TO BUSINESS SUCCESS
Driven by the siren’s call of untold stories, AD launched the Lincoln Cemetery Community Database, a digital platform that documents the lives of hundreds of Black men, women and children buried at Lincoln Cemetery in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including 30 members of the U.S. “Colored Troops” who were denied burial in the Gettysburg National Cemetery due to segregation. Prior to this database, little to no information existed about many of these unmarked burials.
A year later, the fear of losing more priceless history sparked AD to coordinate giving the Society a new home – and a new museum to succeed its existing site, which was in dire need of a climate-controlled and fireproof environment.
“We are Gettysburg and Adams County,” said AD. “We have one of the most remarkable stories of any place in this country. It’s imperative that we preserve this history.”
Three Gettysburg College students (Gus Brouillard ‘22, Autumn Menzock ’23 and Alexander Remington ‘23) helped AD to brainstorm the museum’s design and exhibits when they were, like AD before them, Historical Society interns.
The new museum features 12 galleries of immersive exhibits that explore more than three centuries of American history in Gettysburg. Visitors can walk through the prehistoric era – with some of the rarest artifacts on display for the first time, including dinosaur footprints and a meteorite – and travel through time up to the Eisenhower years (Dwight Eisenhower was U.S. President from 1953 to 1961 following his distinguished military career leading Allied Forces to final victory in World War II; his home was a farm in Gettysburg, today a tourist attraction), exploring the founding of Gettysburg, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War.
In 2020, award-winning documentarian Ken Burns got wind of the capital campaign for the Adams County Historical Society’s planned new museum. Burns, who has won 16 Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations for his acclaimed historical documentaries, filmed an impassioned video in support of the capital campaign and then offered Gettysburg College its first-ever film festival dedicated solely to his work at the local town theater. AD was thrilled that Burns stopped by for AD to lead him on a private tour of the new museum.
“Preserving and sharing history needs to be a collaborative effort,” AD said. “I’m inspired by Ken Burns’ ability to connect with a broad audience using dramatic and emotional storytelling. This is the gold standard for how to do history.”
To date, AD and his team, with the support of generous donor-alums of Gettysburg College (David W. ’85 and Cynthia LeCompte ’84, Salisbury P’15, David LeVan ’68 and others) have raised more than $11 million – exceeding the initial goal – to build a 29,000-square-foot complex just north of the Gettysburg College campus.
CAREER SATISFACTION
“If anyone had told my 10-year-old-self that one day I’d be working with people like Ken Burns and Jeff Shaara (author of many critically acclaimed books involving military battles), I would’ve been ecstatic. My late grandfather’s presence drives me to continue to Do Great Work for this community.”
While AD may have been surprised by his success, his professor mentor was not. “Andrew combines a deep love of history – especially Adams County history – with a passion for sharing the county’s richly textured storyline. His vision for the future of the Adams County Historical Society and remarkable success in raising money to make this vision real exemplifies what makes him an outstanding public historian.”
Said the Salisbury family donors about AD, “His enthusiasm is simultaneously inspiring and contagious, resonating well with donors and contractors alike. It’s even more magical to have a Gettysburg native, recent Gettysburg College graduate, local history buff and author come together in one package to pull off a project only a hometown hero could.”
Looking back, AD notes that Gettysburg “is a very special place. I owe everything to my family and this community, both of which are intertwined with Gettysburg College and will be forever. I’m so lucky. I love this place, the people, and the mission. Now I’m allowed to work on a project I’ve dreamed about for years.”
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This career story is based on an article written by Katelyn Silva, published in The Gettysburg College Magazine, Winter edition, 2023.
