History proper, or academic history, means archival (primary source) research served with context drawn from existing historiography (historical writing) and new interpretations offered by the researcher/writer.
If Arkansas had extended its Civil War Sesquicentennial commemorations through Reconstruction, we would be in 1873 by now. In fact, we would be getting ready for Brooks-Baxter 150. I imagine the Old State House Museum will offer some lectures on the subject next year.