Sunday, May 27, 2012

Essay: Women and the Homefront: New Civil War Scholarship

Women and the Home Front: New Civil War Scholarship | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Author Catherine Clinton has written a great essay about how the study of women in the Civil War has gone from almost nonexistent to booming in just the last fifty or so years.  I hope to eventually be one of those who contributes to that field.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Photograph: Confederate States Laboratory

The Confederate Interior

From the Virginia Historical Society is an Alexander Gardner photograph of the Confederate States Laboratory on Brown's Island shortly after the fall of Richmond. Detailed description on the page.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Video: What caused the Allegheny Arsenal explosion?

http://www.travelchannel.com/video/allegheny-arsenal-explosion

Gotta love staying up late...my mother informed me that one of last night's "Mysteries at the Museum" on the Travel Channel talked about the Allegheny Arsenal explosion. This talks about bullets found in the carnage of the Arsenal, now at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. The video features History Center CEO Andy Masich.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Sermon commemorative of the great explosion at the Allegheny Arsenal

Sermon commemorative of the great explosion at ...

Here, you can read the entire sermon given by the Reverend Richard Lea of the local Presbyterian church after the Allegheny Arsenal explosion. It extolls the positives that came from the tragedy, such as how quickly help arrived and how it brought the Lawrenceville community together.

Article: 1862 Allegheny Arsenal Explosion "gruesome"

| TribLIVE | Pittsburgh

This article about the Allegheny Arsenal explosion from the Tribune-Review is a few years old, but still good and relevent. It features Allan Becer, who has done so much to help me in my research by sharing his own.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Article: Pittsburgh's Allegheny Arsenal and the Civil War

Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Arsenal and the Civil War - Pittsburgh American history | Examiner.com

This is a great article by Chuck Stephens from about a couple weeks ago (how did I miss it?)about the history of the Allegheny Arsenal. Check it.

Primary source win

Petition from Philadelphia Women Employed at an Arsenal to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, 07/29/1862

This is a petition from the National Archives from women and children working at the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. They are begging Secretary of War Stanton not to eliminate their jobs, as there was talk of doing. In the abscense of men, these women were dependent on these wages.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Article: "Fayette letters to enhance traveling Civil War exhibit"

Fayette letters to enhance traveling Civil War exhibit | TribLIVE Mobile | Pittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Civil War 150 traveling exhibit is back, and has expanded. Besides the letters from Fayette County soliders (the county south of me) are figures of Pennsylvanians who served in various capacities. Included is one of Kate McBride, the 15 year old daughter of the Allegheny Arsenal main lab superintendant Alexander McBride . Kate was one of the 78 victims of the explosion there in 1862. Looks like I will have to make another trip to it...

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Historical Marker Database - Fayetteville Arsenal

Fayetteville Arsenal Marker

May I just say how much I love this site? It has tons of historical markers from all over, including former arsenals. The Fayetteville Arsenal was destroyed when Sherman came through in March 1865. There were women who worked there, both there and from their homes, making cartridges. It is today on Route 401 and the home of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. I have talked to some of the people there and they are wonderful. I can't wait to visit one day.