Harold Washington Library Center - Special Collections Unit

SITE

Located within the Harold Washington Library Center.

Mon-Thu 9am-8pm
Fri-Sat 9am-5pm
Sun 1pm-5pm

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COLLECTIONS

American Civil War Photographs and Images and Grand Army of the Republic Photographs and Images
‍Special Collections Unit
Identifier - spe-w00074
Material - 1861-1866

Images in this collection predominantly relate to the American Civil War—its battles, rank and file soldiers, leaders, veterans, politics and symbolism. A large portion of this material focuses on soldiers and leaders from Illinois, with a wider focus on soldiers from the American Midwest. Many formats are represented, from early photographic formats like tintypes to postcards to oil paintings.

NOTABLE PIECES:

General George H. Thomas, 1873
Artist - Alden Finley Brooks (1840-1932)
Chicago Public Library, Grand Army of the Republic Collection, 72.254
Identifier - spe-w00074

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Grand Army of the Republic oak altar, 1897
Artist -A.H.Andrews Company, Chicago
Chicago Public Library, Special Collections, 84.72

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American Civil War Documents, Manuscripts, Letters and Diaries and Grand Army of the Republic Collections
Special Collections Unit
Identifier - spe-w00073
Material - 1860-1866

Material in this collection predominantly relates to the American Civil War—its battles, rank and file soldiers, leaders and veterans. A large portion of this material focuses on the experience of soldiers and leaders from Illinois. Included are letters and diaries that capture not only important information about troop movements, battle strategies and leaders’ decisions, but also the often difficult and mundane life of the rank-and-file soldier marching great distances, waiting for something to happen and missing life back home.Other major topics in this collection include slavery throughout the world in the centuries leading up to the Civil War; Abraham Lincoln; and the veterans’ group, the Grand Army of the Republic, especially its Illinois Departments. These subjects are documented through official papers and publications. Further documentation of the Civil War appears in ephemera, songs and poems, images, patriotic envelopes and currency.