American Protest Literature (303.484 Am35) Edited by Zoe Trodd. A collection of “protest documents ranging from the Revolution to present”. Contains a section called “Little Books that Started a Big War, Abolition and Antislavery” which contains five primary sources on the times and five primary sources concerning the legacy of the movement on pages 79 through 129.
The Destruction of Slavery edited by Ira Berlin. (973.0496 D476). Part of a series called “Freedom a Documentary History of Emancipation 1861 through 1867.”
The Antebellum Era: Primary Documents on events from 1820 to 1860 edited by David Copeland (973.5 C79).
Life of an American Slave by Frederick Douglas (973.7114 D747n)
The life and Writings of Frederick Douglas (973.7114 D747). Made up of five volumes.
The Frederick Douglas Papers edited by Blassingame, McKivigan, and Hinks (973.7114 D747p)
Agitation for Freedom: the Abolitionist Movement compiled by D.G. Mathews. (326.973 M422). A compilation of abolitionist themed primary documents.
The following books are less specifically related to abolitionism but will likely be of some use to those who are interested in the subject.
A Thrilling Narrative of the Sufferings of Union Refugees, and the Massacre of the Martyrs of Liberty of Western Louisiana by Captain Dennis E. Haynes of the Louisiana Scouts (973.717 H333). A memoir.
Union Pamphlets Of the Civil War edited by Frank Freidel (973.71 F881)
Southern Pamphlets on Secession edited by John Wakelyn (973.713 So88)
Online Sources:
Considerations on slavery. In a letter to a friend. Printed in Boston 1767. http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/Evans/?p_product=EAIX&p_theme=eai&p_nbid=H4CJ4BYBMTM3ODg1NjEzNC41MTY4MzU6MToxNDoxOTIuMjA0LjEwNi4xMg&p_action=doc&p_queryname=2&p_docref=v2:0F2B1FCB879B099B@EAIX-0F3015D3C0315CB8@10546-0F8068E17A449870@1
Observations on the inslaving, importing and purchasing of Negroes; with some advice thereon, extracted from the epistle of the Yearly-Meeting of the people called Quakers, held at London in the year 1748. Clearly, as these observations were made in London, they are not ideal. Yet, I suppose they hold some relevant insight. http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/Evans/?p_product=EAIX&p_theme=eai&p_nbid=A62Y61KXMTM3ODg1NTc3MC4yMDE3Njc6MToxNDoxOTIuMjA0LjEwNi4xMg&p_action=doc&p_queryname=2&p_docref=v2:0F2B1FCB879B099B@EAIX-0F301888962BE740@8542-102F2BB4B5001998@1
Lincoln on Slavery. http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/slave07.htm#Free%20them
American Abolitionism. A website which provides primary documents related to sources. By clicking on the keywords (highlighted in text as seen on Wikipedia) you can find a section of related primary documents to the subject if you scroll down. Very good website (it’s an .edu!). http://americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu/brief.htm
Voices of the Old South. Edited by Alan Gallay. Book. 975.03 V87
A collection and reaction to eyewitness accounts of Southern culture, specifically with black slaves and Emancipation from 1528-1861.
A. G. Curtin. "PA Civil War Soldiers' Diaries." Schuylkill County Draft Riots. Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013. <http://www.pacivilwar.com/draftletter.html>.
Andrew Gregg Curtin, the governor the Pennsylvania, is writing to Edward M. Stanton about the draft riots happening in Schuylkill County during the war. The rioters had been trying to oppose the draft but by the time in 1862, the riots have ceased. Also during this time Curtin is in the process of appointing someone to help enforce the draft because nobody is currently forcing men to obey the laws set down. The letter also addresses the idea of fines and punishment for draft dodgers as an alternative to jail.
Booker, James, and John Booker. "University of Virginia Library." Letters to Chloe Unity Blair (n.d.): n. pag. Virgo. University of Virginia Library, 2012. Web. 11 Sept. 2013. <http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=legacy_mss/uvaBook/tei/booker_letters/Boo3i27.xml>.
Two brothers, John and James Booker, from the South write letters to their cousin, Chloe Unity Blair, during the course of the war. Both men update their cousins on their activities as soldiers and in turn, express their wishes for the war to be over soon and for them to be home soon.
Davis, Jefferson. "Stragglers and Deserters." Valley of the Shadow: Civil War-Era Newspapers. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.
Jefferson Davis's call for deserters and stragglers who are currently avoiding their military responsibilities to come back to their ranks. Davis is using the public to try to rally the Confederate troops back into fulfilling their duty and that if they continue to help these troops, they are ultimately aiding in desertion of the army.
Lee, Robert E. "General Robert E. Lee’s “Lost Order” No. 191." Civil War Trust. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/lostorder.html>.
Robert E. Lee issued Special Order 191 before the Battle of Antietam. Union soldiers then found a copy of this order in Maryland and provided the Union Army with valuable information concerning the Army of Northern Virginia's movements and campaign plans.
N.d. Photograph. Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War, Various. Valley of the Shadow: Civil War Images. Web. 11 Sept. 2013.
Photos, drawings, etc. of soldiers, battle grounds, camp sites, churches, homes, etc. have been uploaded to help explain what the Civil War was like.
United States. War Department. Adjutant General's Office. War Department General Order 143: Creation of the U.S. Colored Troops. Civil War Trust, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2013. <http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/war-department-general-order.html>.
General Order 143, issued May 22, 1863, established the United States Colored Troops (USCT). This order explains how the inspection and building of colored regiments were to done.
The view from the ground : experiences of Civil War soldiers primary?
Author - Sheehan-Dean, Aaron Charles.
Call Number - 973.74 V679
The soldier's pen : firsthand impressions of the Civil War
Author - Bonner, Robert E
Call Number - 973.74 B643
Simple story of a soldier : life and service in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry
Author - Hankins, Samuel W.
Call Number - 973.7462 H194
The Civil War soldier : a historical reader
Barton, Michael, ed.
Call Number - 973.783 C499
This source is a collection of various primary sources that either soldiers wrote, or others during the Civil War wrote about soldiers.
ISBN: 0814798799
John Richards Boyle (author)
Soldiers true: the story of the one hundred and eleventh regiment Pennsylvania veteran volunteers and of its campaigns in the war for the union, 1861-1865
This source is a book that looks at the stories told by soldiers who fought in the Civil War for the Union and everything they went through.
Shelf Number: 973.7448 B697
J.T. Spink (author)
Civil War Diary, January 3-October 17, 1862
This source is a diary of a man who was in the war and his company moved all around.
http://www.worldcat.org/title/civil-war-diary-1862-jan-3-oct-17/oclc/708034854&referer=brief_results
James D. Gay (author)
Union Soldiers Song
This source is a written song that a union soldier wrote about his experience being in the war.
http://www.worldcat.org/title/union-soldiers-song/oclc/60777073&referer=brief_results
On the altar of freedom : a black soldier's Civil War letters from the front by Gooding, James Henry, ISBN: 0870237454
Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln
John G. Nicolay and John Hay
973.7 L638
Lincoln Speaks to Pennsylvania: a selection of Abraham Lincoln’s Speeches and writings to Pennsylvanians
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
973.7 AB822
In Lincoln’s hand: his original manuscripts
Abraham Lincoln
973.7092 L638I
Lincoln in The times: the Life of Abraham Lincoln, as originally reported in the New York Times
David Herbert Donald
973.7092 L638T
Dear Mr. Lincoln: letters to the president
Harold, Herzer
973.7 D347
Gettysburg Address (Nicolay Copy)
Abraham Lincoln
There are 5 known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address. This is the copy that was given to Lincoln’s secretary, John G. Nicolay.
Transcription of Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Transcription of Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech
Abraham Lincoln
Speeches and Writings 1832-1858: Speeches, letters, and miscellaneous writings: the Lincoln-Douglas debates
Abraham Lincoln
973.68 L638S
Lincoln’s report to the House of Representatives after meeting with Confederate diplomats in Hampton Roads, VA.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/lincolnmeeting.htm
Vice President Stephens’ (of the Confederacy) report to President Davis after meeting with Lincoln.
http://www.civilwarhome.com/davishamptonroads.htm
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS1864p1
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS1864p2
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS1865v01
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS1865p1
These papers include the state department’s position on foreign affairs during the Civil War. They also include correspondence to England about the Confederates and the Civil War
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS186566p2
These papers include issues on foreign affairs along with correspondence to England, France, Russia, Netherlands, China and Spain about the rebelling south.
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS186566p3
These papers include correspondence to the countries of Prussia, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Rome, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, Egypt, Barbary States and Mexico.
Gallay, Allen, Voices of the Old South, call. (975.03 V87)
This book gives first hand description and accounts of the civil war. People such as Fredrick Douglas, Thomas Jefferson, and several other political figures are named and quoted.
Chesnut, Mary Boykin Miller, A diary from Dixie : the Civil War's most celebrated journal, written 1860- 1865 by the wife of James Chesnut, Jr., an aide to President Jefferson Davis and a brigadier-general in the Confederate Army, Call (973.782 C425)
Written by a wife of one of Jefferson Davis’s aides. Give a first-hand account of what was going on with Jefferson Davis during the Civil War
“THE AMERICAN WAR.: IMPORTANT LETTER FROM JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.” New York Times (1857-1922); Jun 6, 1861;ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2009)
Englishman’s view on Lincoln and the American Civil war during the period.
Author: Paul M. Angle
Created Equal? The Complete Lincoln – Douglas Debates of 1858
Call Number: 973.68 L6C8c
Description: This source is a compilation of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglass during the year of 1858. Lincoln, a republican, and Douglas, a democrat engaged in many debates with one another in regard to their opposing views on slavery and its expansion. This anthology is a collection of all of the debates between the two and serves as a primary source. It features primary documentation because the author of the text collected speeches from President Lincoln’s scrapbook. This source relates to my topic because the title questions if all Americans (including blacks) were created equally. This source can definitely be beneficial because it will help me get a better understanding (from both Lincoln and Douglas’ perspective) the opposing viewpoints on this particular topic.
Author: Don E. Fehrenbacher
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858
Call Number 973.68 L638s
Description: This is a relevant primary source to use because it is a compilation of writings and speeches by Abraham Lincoln. Within the text, there are tons of written pieces of historical evidence from Abraham Lincoln during his time of presidency. This source is relevant to my topic because there are sections that are dedicated to my topic of slavery.
Author: Frederick Douglass, John W. Blassingame, John R. McKivigan, and Peter P. Hinks
The Frederick Douglass Papers Volume 1
Call Number: 973.7114D747pv.1
Description: This source is a narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass. Douglass is commonly known as a former slave turned abolitionist and published many inspiriting anti-slavery writings. This autobiography can help provide insight into the topic of slavery through the eyes of a slave as well as an abolitionist. A source like this is tremendously beneficial because its duality. I figured using a source written by a slave would be tremendously beneficial toward my research through a primary document like this.
Author: Philip S. Foner
The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass
Call Number: 973.7114D747v.5
Description: Like the source before, this is an anthology of writings published by Fredrick Douglass. It is a compilation of letters, published articles, and speeches he made in regard to the topic of slavery.
Author: Samuel Ringgold Ward
Autobiography of A Fugitive Negro
Call Number: 973.7115w217
Description: As the title of the books states, this source is an autobiography of Samuel Ringgold Ward, a fugitive Negro. This would be a beneficial source to use because it presents the life story of a fugitive black slave during the time of the civil war. I would imagine it presents all the trials and tribulations of his life and assume it can be very helpful in regard to understanding what it meant to be a fugitive slave and how he overcame his obstacles.
Author: President Abraham Lincoln
The Emancipation Proclamation
URL: http://www.nps.gov/ncro/anti/emancipation.html
Description: The URL features a link to the Emancipation Proclamation that was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln in the effort to abolish slavery.
Author: Frederick Douglass
Title: “What to The Slave is the Fourth of July?”
URL:
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/chambspeeches/what_to_the_slave_is_the_fourth_of_july
Description: This is a speech by Frederick Douglass that was delivered on July 4th, 1852. It is a famous speech where Douglass questions what the concept of the Fourth of July means to a slave. This primary document provides a slave’s perspective on celebrating an American holiday that embraces independence, an element of society slaves were deprived of.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Title: The Gettysburg Address
Description: Perhaps the most famous speech given by Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address was an attempt to achieve freedom for all inhabitants of the United States of America. This iconic speech sought true equality amongst all American people.
|
Author |
Title |
One Sentence Description |
Library Call # or URL |
|
Frank Moore |
The Rebellion record |
A collection of periodicals, poems, and anecdotes from the Civil War Period |
Call Number: 973.7 R24 V.01
|
|
Sallie Seeper Scott
|
“My Precious Loulie” |
A love poem written by a PA woman to her lover in Washington DC |
|
|
P.T. Barnum |
Barnum’s Letter to the Editor, New York Times,November 27, 1864 |
This was published the day after the scattered fires, a Confederate plot to burn down New York City failed. He detailed the fire safety measures he had taken to protect his establishment and the many patrons who visited the American Museum daily. |
|
|
Frank Vizetelly |
The Riots in New York: The Mob Burning the Provost Marshall's Office, July 13, 1863 |
Picture showing the riots in NY. |
|
|
Gideon Welles |
Diary of Gideon Welles, secretary of the navy under Lincoln and Johnson,
|
Diary of the inner thoughts and daily occurrences of Gideon Welles during the Civil War era. |
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015002360231;view=1up;seq=8 |
|
Life in the North during the Civil War; a source history [edited] by George Winston Smith & Charles Judah. |
A collection of sources about life in the North during the Civil War. |
||
|
Semi-Weekly Dispatch
|
“Our New Enterprise” News Column |
Outlines the intentions of the new Semi-Weekly Dispatch to keep their readership better informed than weekly papers during a time when important events are happening at a rapid pace. Also argues that Franklin County should be able to sustain two Republican papers with no difficulty. |
http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/news/sd1861/pa.fr.sd.1861.04.19.xml#02 |
|
Valley Spirit News Paper |
“What Can be Done for the Country” |
Talks about how the Spirit is "warmly in favor of adjusting our troubles by other means than the sword. |
http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/news/vs1861/pa.fr.vs.1861.06.26.xml#02 |
|
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, |
Uncle Tom’s Cabin |
Novel popular in the North at the time period about slavery. |
Call Number: 813.4 ST78U |
|
Bates, Samuel P. |
History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature |
Tells the story of the PA volunteers and their role in the war. |
Call Number: 973.7448 B319 V.1 |
The first place I looked was within the Virginia Library Archives. These are the documents I found most helpful from within that source.
Letters from numerous members of the Cochran family to other members both preceding and during the war describing life, both from a military and nonmilitary standpoint, in Virginia.
a. Mary Pastor to John Cochran Sr. July 6th 1859
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A1136
b. John Cochran to his mother April 14th 1861
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A0579
c. Benjamin Cochran to his mother May 30th 1861
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A0581
Letters between members of the Evans-Sibert Family. Most of these letters speak about social life, rather than the war. They involve conversations on courtships, friendly conversations, and inter-family gossip. This collection of letters also includes letters written during wartime as well as the postwar years. Most of the postwar letters are a correspondence between Marry Anna Sibert and David Evans describing their love affair.
d. Samuel B. Coyner to Mary Anna Sibert January 20th 1861
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A6508
e. William Evans to David Evans November 13th 1866
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A7516
f. Mary Anna Sibert to David Evans September 18th 1867
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A7524
g. David Evans to Mary Anna Sibert October 15th 1867
i. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/A7528
Diary of Michael Reid Hanger, of Virginia, throughout 1861. These diary entries not only include details of the war effort, but details of everyday life in the south during the time period.
a. http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/AD1001
The second place that was very helpful was the Virginia Military Institute Archives. They contain not only correspondence between family members, but also photographs and legal documents preceding, during, and after the civil war. This site contains hundreds of letters from soldiers to family members and vice versa speaking about life both within the war and back on the homefront.
Campbell-Varner Family correspondence.
a. http://www.vmi.edu/uploadedFiles/Archives/Manuscripts/00282Campbell-Varner/Campbell_letters.pdf
Letter from Julia Pendelton to her husband describing the goings-on of their town in Virginia in 1861.
b. http://www.vmi.edu/Archives/Manuscripts/Allen_Julia/Julia_Allen_Civil_War_Letter/
A Confederate Girls Diary
Published in its entirety in in 1913 it contains the diary of Sarah Morgan from 1842-1865 detailing home life, social interactions, and the affect the war had on every aspect of a young girls life.
Call number: 973.782 D327
Destruction and reconstruction; personal experiences of the late war
Published originally in 1879, this book by Richard Taylor details Southern life both during and after the war.
Call number: 973.73 T217