We are all familiar with the basic story of the Civil War.  Some of us spend a great deal of time investigating the impact it had on our local communities and families.  For the most part, however, our efforts to understand the Civil War focus the men who fought it, the organization of their regiments, and the impact of the great battles in which they fought.

A neglected chapter in the local story of the Civil War is the way in which it was financed.  Very largely, it was local governments, organizations, and local agents of the federal government that raised the money that ensured the Union victory.  Much of the documentary heritage of that effort is still available at the local level.

The RRLC Regional Archivist, has a new program that explains the documentary heritage of Civil War finance and provides illustrations of documents still found at local, state and national repositories.  Advice on accessing and preserving those documents is an important component of the program. The program, “Bounties, Bonds, Banknotes and Taxes,” takes about 90 minutes.  To schedule a presentation of the program contact Dr. Preston Pierce, Regional Archivist, at the Rochester Regional Library Council.  Email Dr. Pierce at ppierce@rrlc.org.  There is no charge for the program.

A brief reading list on the topic of Civil War financing in New York was recently prepared for a presentation of the program at the annual meeting of the Association of Public Historians of New York State. Click here to download the list [pdf format].