John William Huelskamp, Founder and Chairman of EMA, is a Civil War historian and author. He began his professional writing career by contributing articles to several Civil War periodicals including CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS and the Journal of the American Civil War. His publication, Never Forsake the Colors!,brought back to the public eye the sacrifice of Union Colonel Holden Putnam and the 93rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, a famous Civil War Regiment that made a critical and famous stand at Missionary Ridge. This important milestone in Civil War battlefield history was subsequently “captured” on canvas by historical artist Keith Rocco in 1993. Seventeen years later… the painting and story were showcased to America on WGN 9 News on Memorial Day weekend.
Mr. Huelskamp’s most recent book is a narrative nonfiction Civil War story entitled Friends of the Wigwam which chronicles the life and times of citizens and soldiers from Galena, Freeport, Rockford and Chicago. Noted Illinois citizens brought to life in the novel include Elmer E. Ellsworth, Abraham Lincoln, General U.S. Grant, and Elihu Washburne, Congressman and President of the Chicago Historical Society from 1884 to 1887. All of these important Illinois personages are prominently featured in what is perhaps the first Civil War novel that brings to life its characters using actual letters and diaries of historical significance. On this note, during Mr. Huelskamp’s twenty years of research on famous and not-so-famous “actors” on the Northern Illinois Civil War “stage”, the importance of the friendship between Elmer Ellsworth and Lincoln became paramount, and Ellsworth’s ultimate sacrifice as the first martyr of the Union cause seemed another worthy reason to permanently establish his legacy by creating a memorial in Chicagoland (please see EMA tabs for additional information).
Along with the credentials listed below, Mr. Huelskamp is a contributing lecturer to Civil War roundtables and historical societies, and has provided Civil War authors including Peter Cozzens, The Shipwreck of Their Hopes… Wiley Sword, Mountains Touched with Fire… and Rob Girardi, Campaigning with Uncle Billy with rare primary source documents and diaries that have contributed greatly to an understanding of civilians and soldiers during the climactic four years of the American Civil War. Mr. Huelskamp is a resident of Barrington, Illinois and has resided in northern Illinois for over 27 years.
- Board Member, Lieutenant General James Longstreet Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park – Dedicated July 3, 1998
- Research Historian for Civil War Artist, Keith Rocco
- Appraiser/Consultant to Bureau Co. Museum, Princeton, Illinois
- Appraiser/Consultant to DuPage Co. Museum, Wheaton, Illinois
- Appraiser/Consultant to Stephenson Co. Museum, Freeport, Illinois
- Consultant to Fort Knox Historical Museum
- Consultant for Civil War Library, Philadelphia, PA
- Adviser to Chickamauga/Chattanooga Military Park
- Consultant to National Archives and Records Administration, Wash., DC
- Consultant to Vicksburg and Warren County Historical Society
- Consultant to Old Court House Museum, Vicksburg, MS.
- John Carroll University, Ohio, BA 1974
- Graduate Studies University of Colorado (MA Program), 1975-76
- Graduate Studies Loyola University of Chicago (MBA Program), 1980-81