The Civil War Collection

The Civil War Collection brings together newspapers, memoirs, regimental histories, military narratives, and firsthand accounts that document the conflict from multiple perspectives. Explore the war as it unfolded through Union and Confederate newspapers, examine the experiences of soldiers and officers in the field, and trace the political, social, and military issues that shaped the nation during one of the most transformative periods in American history.

More than a military history resource, the collection captures everyday life during the Civil War era. Coverage includes politics, slavery, public opinion, commerce, transportation, community life, and the experiences of people on both the battlefield and the home front. By combining contemporary reporting with postwar memoirs and regimental histories, The Civil War Collection provides a rich primary source foundation for studying the people, events, and ideas that defined the Civil War and its lasting legacy.

Examples of coverage:

• The Copperheads, Northerners sympathetic to the South who advocated the violent overthrow of the governments of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri in 1864
• Events occurring in other states
• Analysis of the transcontinental railroad and its effect on the region
• General news articles from around the world, including a humorous, in-depth description of a 7-foot-long, 3.5-ton piece of cheese on display at the Toronto Agricultural Fair in 1866
• Letters from correspondents traveling with the troops, describing their daily activities in detail
• An issue titled “Abraham Lincoln Death,” with the type in bold black
• Articles discussing slavery

Perspectives

The content is organized to allow an understanding of the period through various perspectives:

• A Newspaper Perspective
• The Soldiers’ Perspective
• The Generals’ Perspective
• A Midwestern Perspective
• Iowa’s Perspective
• Northeast Regimental Histories
• Abraham Lincoln Library Abolitionist Books