Category Archives: Material Culture

Saving History Saturday: President Lincoln’s Bible Donated to the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Emerging Civil War

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 →

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Richmond Reports on General Stuart’s Ride Around McClellan

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Emerging Civil War

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 →

Posted in Cavalry, Material Culture, Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Podcast Additional Resources: “Making Civil War Maps”

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Emerging Civil War

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 →

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On This Day: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Emerging Civil War

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 , , , | 1 Comment

“Strew the fair garlands where slumber the dead”

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Meg Groeling

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 , , , , | 2 Comments

Green Flags: “There was a certain magic in the light of this old symbol”

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Sarah Kay Bierle

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 →

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Civil War News’ Salvatore Cilella

Posted on March 2, 2019 by ECW Guest Post

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 →

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Roses Have Thorns, Violets Proliferate: Vinegar Valentines During the Civil War

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Meg Groeling

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 →

Posted in Civilian, Holidays, Material Culture | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Paige Gibbons Backus

When it comes to primary resources regarding Civil War medicine, one of the best sources available to researchers is the The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. The history grew out of what was known as … Continue reading →

Posted in Common Soldier, Emerging Civil War, Emerging Civil War Series, Material Culture, Medical, Primary Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

ECW Weekender: Wisconsin Veterans Museum

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Paige Gibbons Backus

While home for the holidays in Wisconsin, I always try to do something historic like visit a museum, explore a city, or go to a brewery. This year, with the World War I centennial and the newly released documentary, They … Continue reading →

Posted in ECW Weekender, Material Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments