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The documents transcribed and reprinted here can be downloaded. I have been able to make them available through the generosity of the historical societies and libraries who have custody of them. In virtually all cases they represent the "tip of the iceberg," many more similar, valuable pieces being available in each repository. For the compulsive Civil War enthusiast like me, I urge you to visit in person or through an available website the collections and individual pieces in the possession of each historical society or library represented here. A visit in person will be, by far, the most productive method.
 Click below to download an article from the Maryland Historical Society:
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
Record of the Past ( pdf format, 32k)
by Ann R. Shaeffer
The Maryland Historical Society has a collection of Reverdy Johnson papers, including letters from
Fitz-John Porter; a small collection of John Gibbon letters; and a small collection of documents and correspondence of John R. Kenly. All will reward review.
MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
201 West Monument Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-4674
(410) 685-3750
c/o Mary E. Herbert
Acting Associate Director for Special Collections
Assistant Curator of Manuscripts
 Click below to download an article from the Western Reserve Historical Society:
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
VENI VEDI VICI ( pdf format, 56k)
by John P. Brogan
The Western Reserve Historical Society, whose name appears distressingly infrequently in bibliographies, has a massive amount of inform-
ative Civil War material, including a very large collection of Sigel letters, documents, diaries, etc. The William P. Palmer Miscellaneous Civil War Collection, at least as large and as good as the….The society, unlike some other organizations, is willing to copy items and transmit them at a reasonable price and quite promptly in spite of its heartfelt protestations of overwork and insufficient staff and its dutiful warnings of delays.
WILLIAM P. PALMER CIVIL WAR MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPTS
THE WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
10825 EAST Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
(216) 721-5722
c/o Michael McCormick
Head of Manuscripts
 Click Below to download an article from the Mugar Library, Boston University:
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
Ropes Field Letter ( pdf format, 68k)
An unlikely place, it seems, the comfortable Mugar Library and the indefatigable “Charlie” await the Civil War researcher with anticipation. Among other things, the library has Edward W. Hicks papers and the invaluable letters of John C. Ropes, which he received in response to inquiries he made of major participants. Unlike most collections, in which many letters will produce a few nuggets, the Ropes letters almost all have valuable, usable information. But beware! If you look in the card catalogue or ask someone for the “Ropes” letters, you will receive a blank stare or a few useless pieces. The “real” Ropes letters are part of the manuscripts of the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts. Ropes’ correspondence contains one personal, contemporaneous letter about First Bull Run from a son of Alexander Dallas Bache. To give the novice the truth regarding the lie about the beautiful handwriting of the Nineteenth Century, is to attack one inscrutable page from young Bache’s letter to Ropes. In the frustrating style of the Nineteenth Century, Bache conserved paper by writing in two directions on a single side, and the decoding requires infinite patience.
MUGAR LIBRARY
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts
Dr. Robert A. Gottleib
Curator of Manuscripts
 
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