New eBook collection from OverDrive
The Civil War Sesquicentennial
My Borrowing History
Shelf Life
Postcard Collection
New eBook collection from OverDrive
The Civil War Sesquicentennial
My Borrowing History
Shelf Life
Postcard Collection

History Blog

Black History Month Events
African-American, Black History Month, Civil Rights Movement, FYI Articles, Gospel, Jazz, LibraryPoint Blog, University of Mary Washington, Virginia Johnson, Teen Blog, History Blog
01/27/2012 - 1:06pm
Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and you and your family can enjoy free events throughout our area that celebrate this special theme.

Calendar of Local Black History Events  
 
Martin Luther King, Jr.2/1-2/29/2012
Exhibition, "Celebrate Black History Month" Location: University of Mary Washington, Simpson Library, First Floor Lobby
Featuring written and digital resources from the UMW libraries collections that highlight prominent African-American women and African-American history and culture; Simpson Library, First Floor Lobby; Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – midnight, Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. – midnight; free; (540) 654-1044.
 
2/1/2012
Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration — 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location: University of Mary Washington, Great Hall, Woodard Campus Center.  Featuring Ewabo Caribbean Steel Drum Band; a Black History Month and Cultural Awareness Series event; free; (540) 654-1044.
 
2/4/2012
New Exhibit Opening: Sesquicentennial in the Context of Identity: Who are You - 1862, 1962 and 2012? 11:30 AM. John J. Wright Educational and Cultural Center Museum. Program with music and more. Student Contest Winners will be announced. Meet and have your photograph taken with the men of the 23rd Infantry USCT. Discuss and buy a copy of one of the new history books by authors John Cummings and James Price.
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"The Sacking of Fredericksburg"
Battle of Fredericksburg, Book excerpt -- CW150, local author, National Park Service, History & Politics, History Blog
12/14/2011 - 10:31am
War So Terrible: A Popular History of the Battle of Fredericksburg, by Donald C.

Excerpt from War So Terrible: A Popular History of the Battle of Fredericksburg, by Donald C. Pfanz, (pp. 44-46)

Donald C. Pfanz is staff historian with Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. He is also the author of Abraham Lincoln at City Point and Richard S. Ewell: A Soldier’s Life.  This chapter is reprinted on CRRL's history site with his permission.

“The Sacking of Fredericksburg”

By the time the fighting ended on Dec. 11, Fredericksburg was desolate.  Fighting in the streets combined with a bombardment by more than 180 cannons had left the venerable old town shattered and ruins.  Those citizens who had not fled Fredericksburg had seen their homes riddled with bullets, shot and shell.

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What Was Christmas Like During the Civil War?
Christmas, Civil War - U.S., Diaries, History Feature Articles, Letters, Linda Peck, Soldiers, Virginia history for kids, History Blog, History, Virginia History
12/08/2011 - 10:16am

Present-day Christmas conjures memories of snow, lighted trees, cinnamon, gifts, parties, and music. If we lived during the Civil War, what kinds of memories would we have? Would they be of family, food, warmth, and parties, or would they be of just trying to survive and stave off hunger? Would there be presents under the tree, or would we be happy just to be present with our loved ones. To learn a bit more about Christmas during the years 1861-1864, explore the items in the library and the Web sites listed below.

In the Library:

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HeritageQuest
family history, federal census, freedman's bank, Genealogy, Jeffrey Garth Edmunds, LibraryPoint Blog, Articles & Databases Blog, History Blog, Families
11/18/2011 - 11:32am
Heritage Quest database

A wave of wonderful new online tools, like the HeritageQuest database from ProQuest, makes doing your family history research much easier than it used to be! Here’s why:

The key to accessing your ancestors is accessing documents, the paper records they left behind as they went through life. You’ll need to look for your relatives in all kinds of documents, like birth, marriage, and death registers; cemetery rosters; and military service records. To locate all these records and get a complete picture of your heritage, you’ll have to visit lots of different libraries, archives, courthouses, and cemeteries.

This is where HeritageQuest becomes a real lifesaver for you because it provides easy at-home access to all kinds of documents, all in one place!

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