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American Civil War Documents, Manuscripts, Letters and Diaries and Grand Army of the Republic Collections

 Collection
Identifier: spe-w00073

Scope and Contents

Material in this collection predominantly relates to the American Civil War—its battles, rank and file soldiers, leaders and veterans. A large portion of this material focuses on the experience of soldiers and leaders from Illinois. Included are letters and diaries that capture not only important information about troop movements, battle strategies and leaders’ decisions, but also the often difficult and mundane life of the rank-and-file soldier marching great distances, waiting for something to happen and missing life back home.

Other major topics in this collection include slavery throughout the world in the centuries leading up to the Civil War; Abraham Lincoln; and the veterans’ group, the Grand Army of the Republic, especially its Illinois Departments. These subjects are documented through official papers and publications. Further documentation of the Civil War appears in ephemera, songs and poems, images, patriotic envelopes and currency.

Dates

  • 1785-2005
  • Majority of material found within 1860 - 1866

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.

Biographical / Historical

Near the end of 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Within a few months, ten more states had seceded. The American Civil War officially began April 12, 1861, at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Illinois participated on the Union side by sending hundreds of thousands of troops into battle. Many military and political leaders trace their roots to Illinois. The war lasted nearly four years, ending on April 9, 1865, when the Confederacy surrendered. A few days later, on April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Not long after the war ended, veterans began forming organizations. One of the longest-lasting was the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), begun in April 1866 in Decatur, Illinois. Posts were established in different places, grouped under state-level departments, in turn grouped under a national commandery-in-chief. The GAR disbanded in 1956 when the last veteran died.

In Chicago, the GAR Memorial Hall Association shared space with Chicago Public Library (CPL). In 1883, the Library Board chose the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street as the location for its future building. At the time, the site was vacant and known as Dearborn Park, named for its proximity to the site of Fort Dearborn. Because of this, many people believed the land was reserved for the GAR. Ultimately, legal action determined the library could have the land, but it had to make room for the GAR, which wanted a memorial hall for its members. CPL gave the GAR extensive rooms and signed a fifty-year lease that expired in 1947. At that time, the Library took over caring for the GAR's significant collection of art, artifacts, papers, weapons and more. With the GAR’s material as a base, the library has continued to build its Civil War collection over the years, with a focus on the Illinois experience.

Extent

12.5 Linear Feet (in 23 boxes, includes 7 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Material in this collection predominantly relates to the American Civil War—its battles, rank and file soldiers, leaders and veterans. A large portion of this material focuses on the experience of soldiers and leaders from Illinois through letters and diaries. Other major topics in this collection include slavery throughout the world in the centuries leading up to the Civil War; Abraham Lincoln; and the veterans’ group, the Grand Army of the Republic, especially its Illinois Departments. Further documentation of the Civil War appears in ephemera, songs and poems, patriotic envelopes and currency. Selected items from this collection are available in the Library's Wayne Whalen Digital Archive of the Grand Army of the Republic and Civil War Collections.

Arrangement

Items have been arranged into two series: Series 1: Letters and Diaries, 1852-1951 and Part 2: Documents and other Materials, 1785-2005, undated.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These materials are gathered together because they are all related to the American Civil War. They were acquired through a variety of means over the years. Those items with accession numbers beginning with “72” were originally part of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Collection. The items with accession numbers beginning with a number other than “72” were either donated to or purchased by Chicago Public Library.

Related Materials

American Civil War Era Newspapers

American Civil War Era Sheet Music Collection

American Civil War Photographs and Images and Grand Army of the Republic Photographs and Images

Army of the Potomac Reports

Grand Army of the Republic, Wilcox Post No. 668 Records

Henry Bass Papers

Civil War Round Table Records

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865, Records

Otto Eisenschiml Papers

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the American Civil War Documents, Manuscripts, Letters and Diaries and Grand Army of the Republic Collections
Status
Completed
Author
Johanna Russ, February 2015, February 2018. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2022.
Date
2015 February
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository

https://www.chipublib.org/special-collections/
Contact:
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875

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Special Collections Unit
Harold Washington Library Center
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org

Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection
Woodson Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
9525 S. Halsted Street
Chicago IL 60628
(312) 745-2080
harshcollection@chipublib.org

Northside Neighborhood History Collection
Sulzer Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
4455 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago IL 60625
(312) 742-4455
northsidehistory@chipublib.org