Primary Sources Access – Foundation (Plan E): ProQuest Civil War Era

ProQuest Civil War Era is the resource American history scholars have been waiting for—comprehensive primary source materials that were previously unavailable digitally, cover a vast range of topics including the formative economic factors and other forces that led to the abolitionist movement, the 600,000 casualties, and the emancipation of nearly 4 million slaves.

ProQuest Civil War Era was developed in conjunction with librarians and expert Civil War scholars to meet valuable research needs as no other resource can. It combines continuous runs of regional newspapers, as well as pamphlets covering a wide range of topics. It's a deep set of primary sources, with documents that encompass the buildup to and evolution of the war that shaped the nation's identity, all in original article and page image. ProQuest Civil War Era focuses on the entire era, from Manifest Destiny through the end of the Civil War—enabling researchers to investigate not just the battles, but also the rising tensions that led the country to war.

Newspaper and pamphlet sources—never before available online: Researchers will get the full story from pamphlets and complete runs of eight newspaper titles, covering 1840–1865, that were specifically selected for the regional and diverse perspectives they offer.  The pamphlets expand on individual perspectives of government officials, clergy, social reformists, and others. Newspapers are a perfect complement to these sources offering insights on a broader range of events. The newspapers included in Civil War Era provide a variety of editorial perspectives reflecting different regions and political orientations.

Newspaper Sources (1840–1865): ProQuest Civil War Era allows researchers to follow the development of issues leading to the Civil War as recorded in the papers of the South, North, Mississippi Valley, and Border States.  Many interrelated forces influenced the course of events during this 25-year period, and Civil War Era allows serious researchers to discover the details.

• Southern Titles: Richmond Dispatch (Virginia), Charleston Mercury (South Carolina), New Orleans Times Picayune (Louisiana)
• Northern Titles: Boston Herald, New York Herald, Columbus State Journal (Ohio)
• Border State/Mississippi Valley Titles: The Kentucky Daily Journal, Memphis Daily Appeal
• Pamphlets from two important collections:
  • Slavery and Anti-Slavery Pamphlets from the Libraries of Salmon P. Chase & John P. Hale includes 166 pamphlets, speeches, reports, legal opinions, and convention proceedings covering slavery and anti-slavery movements, and the conditions of African Americans after the Civil War.
  • Civil War Pamphlets 1861–1865 includes pamphlets illustrating the "war of words" during the conflict. These pamphlets provide a broad ranging view of the issues and attitudes that led to the war and its impact on American society. Included in the collection are biographies, campaign literature, government documents, journals, presidential addresses, sermons, and speeches.

Pamphlets (often 20–40 page treatises) were the op-ed pieces of their day. They provided an outlet for individuals to express their views through an alternative channel. These respected pamphlet collections are a perfect complement to the variety of editorial perspectives included in the newspapers.

ProQuest Civil War Era is available on the ProQuest Historical Platform, allowing users to cross-search it with other products such as ProQuest Historical Newspapers and American Periodicals Series Online.  Users can also record their search history, save records and searches to My Research, and mark, print, or email records. Advanced search and browse options are also featured.

Keyword Search Examples: abolition, Confederate troops, Crittenden Compromise, Dred Scott, Emancipation Proclamation, Fort Sumter, Fugitive Slave Act, General Lee, Homestead Act, Kansas–Nebraska Act, Lincoln, Missouri Compromise, Morrill Act,  Trent Affair, Union troops.