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Category Archives: Material Culture
History in Pieces
History comes in many pieces. My good friend Hal, a retired navy captain, collects Civil War naval artifacts. He acquired items that caught his eye over the years without any particular theme in mind only to find threads and connections … Continue reading
Posted in Material Culture, Memory, Navies
Tagged Charleston Harbor, CSS Chicora, CSS Palmento State, Fort Sumter, USS Housatonic, USS Mercedita
1 Comment
ECW Weekender: Museum at Gateway Arch
The St. Louis Arch is an iconic monument and symbol in the United States, a celebration of frontiers, vision, and courage. But as I entered the museum (which is located underground, below the arch itself), I wondered what type of … Continue reading
Saving History Saturday: President Lincoln’s Bible Donated to the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
This week, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois announced its latest acquisition: one of Lincoln’s Bibles. At a fundraiser for wounded soldiers in Philadelphia on June 16, 1864, the Ladies of the Citizens Volunteer Hospital of … Continue reading
Richmond Reports on General Stuart’s Ride Around McClellan
One of our editors was poking around Newspapers.com the other evening and stumbled across announcements of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s famous (or infamous) ride around McClelland during the Peninsula Campaign. Occurring between June 12 and 15, 1862, the ride gathered … Continue reading
Podcast Additional Resources: “Making Civil War Maps”
Last week we released the podcast episode with Edward Alexander, Dan Welch, and Chris Mackowski talking about Civil War cartography in the 1860’s and the modern era. Edward has recently launched his own business, creating historical maps. He shares about … Continue reading
On This Day: Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Did you know…? On June 5, 1851, the first installation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin appeared in The National Era – an abolitionist paper. The story would run for forty installation, and in 1852, it was published in book form. Harriet … Continue reading
Posted in Civilian, Material Culture, Slavery
Tagged Abolition, Harriet Beecher Stowe, novels, Uncle Tom's Cabin
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“Strew the fair garlands where slumber the dead”
I have always loved ephemera—those bits and pieces of printed paper, originally meant to have only short-term popularity. I particularly like old postcards from the end of the 19thcentury up through the 1920s. Commercial artists like Ellen Clapsaddle and lithographers … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Material Culture, Memory
Tagged Decoration Day, Ellen Clapsaddle, Memorial Day, Tuck and Sons, vintage postcards
2 Comments
Green Flags: “There was a certain magic in the light of this old symbol”
Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and for years I’ve had a historical love for the green flags carried by Irish American soldiers of Civil War. I think it started when I was about nine and discovered my first book of … Continue reading
Civil War News’ Salvatore Cilella
As part of our series with Civil War News, ECW is pleased to welcome Salvatore Cilella. My mother and George H. W. Bush’s mother were cut from the same cloth. I was taught never to talk about myself. Therefore, this … Continue reading
Roses Have Thorns, Violets Proliferate: Vinegar Valentines During the Civil War
All was not hearts and flowers for lovers and others during the American Civil War. Sweethearts were separated, families were torn apart, Valentine’s Day was often a sad day of remembrance or longing unless you were of a certain disposition—a … Continue reading
