More than a Monument Edited by Jack Dempsey

Austin Blair, Ex-Governor—In His Own Words

Equal Rights Leader Takes Center Stage for America’s 250th Anniversary in Jack Dempsey’s More Than Monument

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN— As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a powerful new book revisits the life and words of one of America’s most principled—and most overlooked—statesmen, Austin Blair.

As a political scientist, attorney, and co-founder of the nonprofit the Michigan Civil War Association (MCWA), editor Jack Dempsey has been fascinated by the Civil War and its effects on the democratic principles that define America since childhood. He didn’t discover Blair, however, until decades later, because of his work as an attorney in Lansing.

“Blair’s statue is the only one honoring an individual on the grounds of the Michigan Capitol,” Dempsey explained. “On the back are several quotations, including one identifying slavery as the cause of the Civil War, and it always intrigued me about his full story.”

A Delusion and a Snare

In More Than Monument: Austin Blair, Ex-Governor—In His Own Words, readers reunite with the influential Michigan governor who helped the Union to victory in the Civil War, championed racial equality, and fiercely defended the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Per Dempsey, Blair mobilized the state’s enormous contribution to the fight for human liberty as Michigan’s wartime governor. In the post-war Congress, he advocated for equal rights and battled political corruption, and as a college regent, he ended his public career as a champion of education.

Critically, Blair also viewed the Declaration of Independence as the “Cornerstone of Liberty” (even embracing it as the source of his first “ideas of radicalism” for its defense of human rights, promotion of self-government, and resistance to tyranny), and staunchly upheld the Constitution’s protection of the citizen, “without which all government is a delusion and a snare.”

“Through Blair’s speeches and writings, More Than Monument offers readers direct access to the convictions, intellect, and moral clarity of a leader whose message remains strikingly relevant today,” Dempsey said.

The fifth release in the MCWA’s series on Michigan in the Civil War, the book follows the acclaimed Radical of Radicals: Austin Blair—Civil War Governor—In His Own Words, praised as “an exciting contribution” to American political history. In fact, Dempsey noted that early reviewers are already calling More Than Monument “a remarkable and masterful account” of Blair’s later career and enduring legacy.

“As the 2026 elections approach, Blair’s example offers a timely reminder of what principled public service can—and should—look like in American life,” he added.

Advance Praise

“For anyone interested in Michigan history, politics, and the Civil War era, More Than Monument is a must-read. Jack Dempsey’s review of Governor Austin Blair’s remarkable career brings one of our most distinguished governors to life. Blair’s insights into northern Republican anti-slavery passion and corresponding Confederate denials of its overwhelming dependence on cheap and inhumane labor give us a needed human dimension of the turbulent times of the 1860s.” —James J. Blanchard, former Governor of Michigan, US Congressman, and Ambassador to Canada

“This series is in the finest tradition of historical research. By bringing these untold stories to light, the books deepen our understanding of the past and offer valuable insight for the future. The MCWA ought to be highly commended for its significant contributions to Civil War scholarship through this publication.” —Edward D. Surovell, graduate, Columbia University, member, Grolier Club, board member, Library of Michigan Foundation, Michigan Historical Commission, Historical Society of Michigan, and Ann Arbor District Library

The Editor

Jack Dempsey is a distinguished author specializing in Civil War, cultural heritage, and Michigan history. A Detroit native and graduate of Michigan State University and George Washington University National Law Center, Dempsey has held leadership roles including Chairman of Michigan’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and President of the Michigan Historical Commission. His work has significantly contributed to the preservation of Michigan’s heritage through eleven published books, numerous articles, and acclaimed presentations on platforms such as C-SPAN and public radio. Dempsey is actively involved in several historical organizations and is a member of the Society of Civil War Historians, Society for Women and the Civil War, Society of Midland Authors, and Military Writers Society of America. Proceeds from this volume support the Michigan Civil War Association, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Michigan’s role in the American Civil War, including efforts to erect a monument commemorating Michigan’s contributions at the Battle of Antietam.

The Book

More Than Monument: Austin Blair, Ex-Governor—In His Own Words  

Jack Dempsey

434 pages, 6” x 9”, B/W

Biography & Autobiography/Political, History/United States/Civil War Period (1850-1877), History/ United States/ State & Local/ Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI)

ISBN: 978-1-968761-54-7, $29.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-968761-55-4, $18.95 (Softcover)

Mission Point Press, September 15, 2026

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org and Amazon. On its September 15, 2026, publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at jack@jdbooks.org or visit jackdempseybooks.com.

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