Primary Source Archives
The Civil War Trust
The Civil War Trust is a non-profit that is dedicated to preserving the battlefields of the Civil War. This online resource contains official records, speeches, bills, maps, and photos regarding the Civil War. The website also contains activities and quizzes that can help you better understand the war.
National Archives
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration has a vast collection of historical documents that relate to our nation. This website has various letters, telegrams, and photographs illustrating factors that affected the Civil War.
Duke University Libraries
The university has digitized its collection of primary sources that relate to women and their role in the Civil War. The website also has a collection of letters and diary entries of individuals affected by the war.
Emory Libraries & Information Technology
Emory University has a digitized collection of newspapers published during the Civil War. The newspapers range from local newspapers to international coverage of the war.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has developed several collection of primary sources that associate with the Civil War. The database has artifacts from the Lincoln administration, Civil War music, as well as photos of the soldiers who fought in the war.
The Civil War Trust is a non-profit that is dedicated to preserving the battlefields of the Civil War. This online resource contains official records, speeches, bills, maps, and photos regarding the Civil War. The website also contains activities and quizzes that can help you better understand the war.
National Archives
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration has a vast collection of historical documents that relate to our nation. This website has various letters, telegrams, and photographs illustrating factors that affected the Civil War.
Duke University Libraries
The university has digitized its collection of primary sources that relate to women and their role in the Civil War. The website also has a collection of letters and diary entries of individuals affected by the war.
Emory Libraries & Information Technology
Emory University has a digitized collection of newspapers published during the Civil War. The newspapers range from local newspapers to international coverage of the war.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has developed several collection of primary sources that associate with the Civil War. The database has artifacts from the Lincoln administration, Civil War music, as well as photos of the soldiers who fought in the war.
Document Analysis Tools
Lesson Plans
PBS Lesson Plan: Civil War Letters
Based off of the film by Ken Burns, PBS created a lesson plan that coincides with The Civil War video series. In this lesson plan, students analyze letters that have been written by ordinary citizens. The group work will reflect the different lived experiences of a variety Americans. Not only is this lesson plan applicable because it coincides with the same content, but also students will be analyzing letters written by individuals who were affected by the war.
Middle Tennessee State University
The university, in conjunction with the Library of Congress, developed a lesson plan that highlights the importance of technological advancements to the war. In particular, this lesson plan looks at the role the telegraph had with communicating with one another in the battlefields. Students will be able to assess the advantages and disadvantages of this technology and be able to compare it to today's methods of communication.
Based off of the film by Ken Burns, PBS created a lesson plan that coincides with The Civil War video series. In this lesson plan, students analyze letters that have been written by ordinary citizens. The group work will reflect the different lived experiences of a variety Americans. Not only is this lesson plan applicable because it coincides with the same content, but also students will be analyzing letters written by individuals who were affected by the war.
Middle Tennessee State University
The university, in conjunction with the Library of Congress, developed a lesson plan that highlights the importance of technological advancements to the war. In particular, this lesson plan looks at the role the telegraph had with communicating with one another in the battlefields. Students will be able to assess the advantages and disadvantages of this technology and be able to compare it to today's methods of communication.