April 12, 2011, marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War— a war from which 13,589 Iowa men, and countless others, never returned home.
Our Special Collections Center, is home to many interesting primary and secondary resources for those interested in learning more about the War of the Rebellion (or the War of Northern Aggression, if you are so inclined):
—The Daily Democrat and the Davenport Daily Gazette are the local newspapers that cover the relevant time period
—Returns from U.S. Military Posts, 1800 – 1916: Camp McClellan, Iowa
—The Roster of Union Soldiers 1861 – 1865, by Janet Hewett.
—Camp McClellan During the Civil War by Seth J. Temple.
—Roll of Honor – U. S. Quartermaster’s Department.
—War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
—Adjutant General’s Reports. State of Iowa.
—Roster and record of Iowa soldiers in the war of the rebellion, together with historical sketches of volunteer organizations, 1861-1866, Adjutant General’s Office.
—Guide to Tracing Your African American Civil War Ancestor by Jeanette Braxton Secret.
—A User’s Guide to the Official Records of the American Civil War by Alan C. and Barbara A. Aimone.
—County publications including Wayne, Decatur, Van Buren, Keokuk, Linn, and Mahaska counties.
One of Special Collections more recent acquisitions is the Iowa Volunteer Civil War Enlistment Papers collection on microfilm. These original forms provide detailed information enlistees from counties across the state of Iowa starting after August 1862. This collection has also been indexed on our website at www.qcmemory.org. Just click on Local Index Databases in the left hand column to start your search.
These resources and much more are waiting for you in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. Our staff looks forward to assisting you in your search!
(posted by Amy D.)
