The U.S. Civil War (1860-1865) and its aftermath, Reconstruction (1865-1877) are two of the most studied moments in national history. Before one contributes to history it is best to become familiar with what has already been written and what sources are available. This guide introduces readers to major publicly available sources.
Class E United States (by period; roughly chronological)
300-453 Revolution to Civil War. Antebellum
456-655 Civil War.
660-738 Late nineteenth century, 1865-1900. Postbellum
Class F United States. British, French, Latin America
1-975 United States (by state, region)
Explore background sources like encyclopedias, dictionaries. You won't cite these, but they can help you get a picture of events, consequences, factors, and personalities involved--targets for further research
Much manuscript material from individual participants has been published in scholarly editions and is now available through library catalogues. Links to some of the major collections are listed below. Most published material can be acquired through Interlibrary Loan.
This link opens in a new windowMuch manuscript material has been published in scholarly editions, but there is no substitute for going to the manuscript source. Much of the material is now digitally available.
Publications were commonplace sources of information about the war and its progress. Today they provide a window into the way the war was experienced and understood by noncombatants.
Before digital or photographic technology made it possible to duplicate images of a page, publication was the only way to disseminate primary sources. These are some of the significant collections of material on the Civil War.
Often cited as "Official Records" or "OR," this 70v. series was a federal project to collect and publish primary source material relating to the Civil War. It is the defining record for the conduct of the war and of military service.
The Civil War was one of the first conflicts captured photographically. Photographs, prints, and drawings provide some of the most significant records of the conflict and perceptions surrounding it
Most institutions in combatant states publish guides to their library/archives holdings on the Civil War sources they hold. Many include links to digitally available records. It may take a bit of digging, but at Websites of state archives, major universities, and local historical societies you should find plenty to work with.
