Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Part Two of Discovering the Civil War opens at the National Archives in Washington, DC, on November 10! Rarely seen footage of Civil War veterans, intelligence gathering with balloons, prosthetic limbs, two different Thirteenth Amendments, and the Confederate States of … Continue reading Inside the Vaults – Discovering the Civil War
Tag: civil war
A midterm referendum on Abe Lincoln
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. History tends to show that midterm elections are never particularly good for the sitting President. In 2006, many Republicans were moved from their seats due to dissatisfaction with George Bush's policies. In 1994, Republicans swept the House as a referendum … Continue reading A midterm referendum on Abe Lincoln
Ten things you didn’t know about the Civil War
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Part two of Discovering the Civil War opens at the National Archives in Washington, DC, in just 10 days! Spies, code breaking, personality conflicts over balloons, prosthetic limbs, two different Thirteenth Amendments, and the Confederate States of Mexico are just … Continue reading Ten things you didn’t know about the Civil War
Before there was broadband, there was a beard
Long before the push to make high-speed Internet available across America, Samuel Morse was tap-tap-tapping information across America. By 1838, his telegraph machine was using a dot-and-dash system to send messages of up to 10 words a minute. He even convinced Congress to come to up with $30,000 to help him wire America. Morse was … Continue reading Before there was broadband, there was a beard
Facial Hair Friday: A bushy beard, a murder, and a missing arm
Today's Facial Hair Friday is not a case of mistaken identity. Jefferson Davis was arrested for murder. But this Jefferson Davis was not the president of the Confederate States. This one was a Union officer, with nearly the same name. Jefferson Columbus Davis was a brigadier general in the Union Army when he shot and … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: A bushy beard, a murder, and a missing arm
Facial Hair Friday: Boldly going where no beard has gone before
In the Facial Hair Friday spotlight today is a man with a truly impressive set of whiskers. Norton P. Chipman also has a fascinating story to go behind that beard. Chipman was born in 1834 in Ohio, later lived in Iowa, and joined the Union Army after finishing law school. He didn’t spend the entire … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Boldly going where no beard has gone before
Facial Hair Friday: Howe you doin’?
It's Friday, and it's time for facial hair! But it's not entirely clear if Col. Howe qualifies, as his "beard" seems to extend upwards from his neck, skipping his chin entirely. What do you think?
Happy belated Juneteenth, everybody!
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Juneteenth is actually June 19, the day on which word finally made it to Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War was over and that Abraham Lincoln had freed the slaves. As the story goes, these 250,000 slaves were the last … Continue reading Happy belated Juneteenth, everybody!
Facial Hair Friday: Tribute to Mathew Brady
With his goatee and mustache, photographer Mathew Brady himself is an excellent addition to Facial Hair Fridays. In fact, he is the reason we have so many follicle follies to celebrate. There are 6,066 photographs by Brady and his associates in the National Archives collections. Many of the images we’ve looked at and been inspired … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Tribute to Mathew Brady
What should I read next?
Boy reading a magazine at the Manzanar Relocation Center (538076)Four times a year in Prologue magazine, we feature an interview with an author who has written a book that draws on the holdings of the National Archives. So, far I have learned about the naval aspect of the Civil War and the unexpected connection that … Continue reading What should I read next?