Gilot Provides Insight to Fight for Freedom of Dangerfield Newby

Jon-Erik Gilot provided Lunch with Books audience members with insight into the life and fight for freedom of Dangerfield Newby, recognizable member of John Brown's raid. Gilot's presentation followed Newby's life from his early days in Virginia to his tragic death during the raid. Newby's life in the Ohio Valley and fight for the freedom of his family members, who remained enslaved in the area, was especially interesting to the Lunch with Books audience. 

Gilot's upcoming book John Brown's Raid: Harpers Ferry and the Coming of the Civil War, October 16-18, 1859 (Emerging Civil War Series) is available for pre-order HERE. 

Jon-Erik Gilot History as an undergraduate at Bethany College and for the past fifteen years has made a career in the field of archives, earning a Masters at Kent State in 2011. Jon-Erik currently works as an archivist and records manager in Wheeling, West Virginia for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, where he lives with his wife and daughters. Together, they are restoring a ca. 1901 house in a national historic district.

Jon-Erik also works closely with local and regional history organizations. A longtime interest in historic buildings preservation led to a role as a Historic Landmarks Commissioner for the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, and a board member position for the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation, an organization instrumental in the restoration of the original custom house in Wheeling.

Additionally, Jon-Erik has been an Emerging Civil War fan since its beginnings, carefully following the blog and eventually writing guest posts for a few years. His interest in the Civil War goes back to childhood, growing up in a small historic town in eastern Ohio steeped in Civil War history. The local historical society encouraged him from an early age, sparking an interest in working hands-on with historical records and artifacts.

His research has been published in numerous books, magazines, and journals.