Brooklyn in the Civil War
Soldiers Women Slavery Daily Life
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Documents

 

The exhibits in this collection represent a selection of primary source documents about the American Civil War with a special focus on Brooklyn. Most of the images are drawn from the Brooklyn Public Library's Brooklyn Collection. Highlights include:

  • letters by James W. Vanderhoef, a Union Army volunteer from Brooklyn,
  • newspaper articles from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
  • maps of Brooklyn,
  • photographs of camp life, daily life, and important leaders,
  • illustrations of battles, trains, and ferries,
  • and much more.

Below is a list of these primary documents in chronological order. Select images from the list below and click on the link to read more. Each image can be enlarged to view more details. The images can be browsed by clicking on the links next to the icon representing the relevant theme.

Title Categories Date
thumbnail of map of Brooklyn in 1700

Map of Brooklyn in 1700

Document 1

Daily Life

1700

thumbnail of Old Fulton Ferry

Old Fulton Ferry

Document 2

Daily Life

1838

thumbnail of Slave prices

Slave prices

Document 3

Slavery

1847

thumbnail of interior of slave kitchen document

Interior of slave kitchen

Document 4

Slavery

ca. 1850s

thumbnail of Brooklyn City Hall

"Brooklyn City Hall"

Document 5

Daily Life

ca. 1850s

thumbnail of the Original East River Bridge

"The Original East River Bridge. Crossing On The Ice In 1852."

Document 6

Daily Life

Winter 1852

thumbnail of Beecher and slave girl document

"Mr. Beecher selling a beautiful slave girl in his pulpit."

Document 7

Slavery

ca. 1856

thumbnail of Edmonson document

One of the Edmondson sisters

Document 8

Slavery Women

ca. 1856

thumbnail of Fulton Street, from the ferry, Brooklyn, N.Y.

"Fulton Street, from the ferry, Brooklyn, N.Y."

Document 9

Daily Life

ca. 1857

thumbnail of Fireworks at Brooklyn City Hall

Fireworks at Brooklyn City Hall

Document 10

Daily Life

April 28, 1859

thumbnail of $100 Reward! Ranaway document

"$100 Reward! Ranaway"

Document 11

Slavery

1860

thumbnail of Plymouth Church

Plymouth Church, Brooklyn

Document 12

Slavery

ca. 1860

thumbnail of Pinky looking at her Freedom Ring

"Pinky" looking at her Freedom Ring

Document 13

Slavery Women

February 5, 1860

thumbnail of Purchase of a Slave in Plymouth Church article

"Purchase of a Slave in Plymouth Church"

Document 14

Slavery

February 6, 1860

thumbnail of Bill of sale

"Bill of sale" for Sally Maria Diggs, aka "Pink"

Document 15

Slavery Women

February 8, 1860

thumbnail of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

Document 16

Slavery Women

between 1860-1875

thumbnail of Frederick Douglass' Paper

Frederick Douglass' Paper

Document 17

Slavery

May 4, 1860

thumbnail of The Liberator

The Liberator

Document 18

Slavery

January 18, 1861

thumbnail of Barnum's American Museum

"Barnum's American Museum"

Document 19

Daily Life

March 25, 1861

thumbnail of To-Let: Apartments and Houses to rent advertisement

To-Let: Apartments and Houses to rent

Document 20

Daily Life

April 15, 1861

thumbnail of Civil War and its Consequences article

"Civil War and its Consequences."

Document 21

Soldiers

April 15, 1861

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 1, 1861

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 1, 1861

Document 22

Soldiers

May 1, 1861

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 10, 1861

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 10, 1861

Document 23

Soldiers

May 10, 1861

thumbnail of The Bugle Call

"The Bugle Call"

Document 24

Soldiers

ca. 1861

thumbnail of The lure of base ball letter

The lure of base ball

Document 25

Daily Life

July 11, 1861

thumbnail of Clarence McKenzie, drummer boy

Clarence D. McKenzie, drummer boy

Document 26

Soldiers Daily Life

July 1861

thumbnail of Clarence D. McKenzie Monument

Clarence D. McKenzie Monument

Document 27

Soldiers

July 14, 1861

thumbnail of Clarence D. McKenzie Monument (inscription)

Clarence D. McKenzie Monument (inscription)

Document 28

Soldiers

July 14, 1861

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, July 21, 1861

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, July 21, 1861

Document 29

Soldiers

July 21, 1861

thumbnail of Our Union Forever document

"Our Union Forever"

Document 30

Soldiers

1861

thumbnail of L.I. Railroad Tunnel, under Atlantic Avenue

"L.I. Railroad Tunnel, under Atlantic Avenue"

Document 31

Daily Life

Fall 1861

thumbnail of The War at Sea

The War at Sea

Document 32

Soldiers

ca. 1861

thumbnail of advertisement for skirts

"Skirts!"

Document 33

Women

December 13, 1861

thumbnail of Construction of the Monitor

Construction of the Monitor

Document 34

Soldiers Daily Life

December 21, 1861

thumbnail of Battle between the Ironclads

Battle between the Ironclads

Document 35

Soldiers

March 9, 1862

thumbnail of The Monitor's Great Victory

"The Monitor's Great Victory"

Document 36

Soldiers

March 9, 1862

thumbnail of Sailors on deck of U.S.S. Monitor

Sailors on deck of U.S.S. Monitor

Document 37

Soldiers

ca. 1862

thumbnail of Camp Dodge

Camp Dodge

Document 38

Soldiers

1862

thumbnail of Envelope of James W. Vanderhoef letter

Envelope of James W. Vanderhoef letter

Document 39

Soldiers

October 1, 1862

thumbnail of photo of President Abraham Lincoln at a Union camp

President Abraham Lincoln at a Union camp

Document 40

Soldiers

October 3, 1862

thumbnail of Ten Cent Promissary Note, Brooklyn 1862

Ten Cent Promissary Note, Brooklyn 1862

Document 41

Daily Life

1862

thumbnail of photo of Company

Company "G." Brooklyn Fourteenth Regiment

Document 42

Soldiers

December 1862

thumbnail of Fight in the woods before Fredericksburg

"Fight in the woods before Fredericksburg"

Document 43

Soldiers

December 1862

thumbnail of Private Charles Mitchell (Mathew Brady photograph)

Private Charles Mitchell (Mathew Brady photograph)

Document 44

Soldiers

ca. 1862

thumbnail of slaves in the South

Slaves in the South

Document 45

Slavery

1862

thumbnail of Emancipation Proclamation article

Emancipation Proclamation

Document 46

Slavery

January 2, 1863

thumbnail of photo of Co. E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry

Co. E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry

Document 47

Soldiers Slavery

ca. 1863

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, January 31, 1863

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, January 31, 1863

Document 48

Soldiers

January 31, 1863

thumbnail of Life Among Fifty Thousand Sick Soldiers article

Walt Whitman, nurse: "Life Among Fifty Thousand Sick Soldiers"

Document 49

Soldiers

March 19, 1863

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 17, 1863

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 17, 1863

Document 50

Soldiers

May 17, 1863

thumbnail of Map of the Consolidated City of Brooklyn, 1863

Map of the Consolidated City of Brooklyn, 1863

Document 51

Daily Life

1863

thumbnail of photo of the beach at Coney Island

Strolling on the beach at Coney Island

Document 52

Daily Life

Summer 1863

thumbnail of lithograph of baseball game - Play ball!

Play ball!

Document 53

Daily Life

Summer 1863

thumbnail of The Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg

Document 54

Soldiers

July 3, 1863

thumbnail of photo of Brooklyn 14th Regiment Kepi

Brooklyn 14th Regiment Kepi

Document 55

Soldiers

ca. 1863

thumbnail of The Draft Ordered article

"The Draft Ordered"

Document 56

Soldiers

July 10, 1863

thumbnail of Our Prisoners in Rebel Hands article

"Our Prisoners in Rebel Hands"

Document 57

Soldiers

November 6, 1863

thumbnail of The National Cemetery at Gettysburg article (Gettysburg Address)

"The National Cemetery at Gettysburg" (Gettysburg Address)

Document 58

Soldiers

November 20, 1863

thumbnail of photo of General Grant on Lookout Mountain

General Grant on Lookout Mountain

Document 59

Soldiers

November 25, 1863

thumbnail of photo of Unknown Drummer Boy

Unknown Drummer Boy

Document 60

Soldiers Slavery

ca. 1864

thumbnail of Winter quarters at Brandy Station

Winter quarters at Brandy Station

Document 61

Soldiers Women

February 1864

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, February 14, 1864

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, February 14, 1864

Document 62

Soldiers

February 14, 1864

thumbnail of photo of Libby Prison

Libby Prison

Document 63

Soldiers

ca. 1864-65

thumbnail of The Sanitary Fair in 1864

"The Sanitary Fair in 1864"

Document 64

Women

February 22, 1864

thumbnail of Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, 1864

"Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, 1864"

Document 65

Slavery

February 22, 1864

thumbnail of New England Kitchen at the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair

New England Kitchen at the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair

Document 66

Women

February 22, 1864

thumbnail of Universal Clothes Wringer brochure

Universal Clothes Wringer

Document 67

Daily Life Women

February 22, 1864

thumbnail of A Hint for the Sanitary Fair

"A Hint for the Sanitary Fair"

Document 68

Women

March 19, 1864

thumbnail of Recruiting for the War

"Recruiting for the War"

Document 69

Soldiers

March 19, 1864

thumbnail of photo of Miss Pauline Cushman

Miss Pauline Cushman

Document 70

Women

ca. 1860s

thumbnail of photo of Major Pauline Cushman

Major Pauline Cushman

Document 71

Soldiers Women

ca. 1860s

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, March 27, 1864

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, March 27, 1864

Document 72

Soldiers

March 27, 1864

thumbnail of Colored People in Railroad Cars article

"Colored People in Railroad Cars."

Document 73

Slavery

June 30, 1864

thumbnail of Andersonville Prison

Andersonville Prison

Document 74

Soldiers

August 1, 1864

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, October 13, 1864

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, October 13, 1864

Document 75

Soldiers

October 13, 1864

thumbnail of Vanderhoef's Military Records

Vanderhoef's Military Records

Document 76

Soldiers

December 1864

thumbnail of Vanderhoef's Prisoner of War notice

Vanderhoef's Prisoner of War notice

Document 77

Soldiers

January 23, 1865

thumbnail of Vanderhoef's Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records

Vanderhoef's Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records

Document 78

Soldiers

March 1865

thumbnail of Grand parade and review of the Union armies

Grand parade and review of the Union armies

Document 79

Soldiers

April 1865

thumbnail of President Lincoln's entry into Richmond

President Lincoln's entry into Richmond

Document 80

Soldiers

April 4, 1865

thumbnail of The Assassination of President Lincoln

The Assassination of President Lincoln

Document 81

Soldiers

1865

thumbnail of The President's Death article

"The President's Death"

Document 82

Soldiers

April 20, 1865

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, June 27, 1865

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, June 27, 1865

Document 83

Soldiers

June 27, 1865

thumbnail of The Irrepressible Conflict Renewed article

"The Irrepressible Conflict Renewed."

Document 84

Slavery Women

September 25, 1865

thumbnail of Harriet Tubman at AME Church article

Harriet Tubman at AME Church

Document 85

Slavery Women

October 23, 1865

thumbnail of Brooklyn Atlantics baseball match

Brooklyn Atlantics baseball match

Document 86

Daily Life

October 30, 1865

thumbnail of Universal Suffrage article

"Universal Suffrage"

Document 87

Women

December 26, 1865

thumbnail of The Dress Question article

"The Dress Question"

Document 88

Women

June 14, 1866

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, December 2, 1866

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, December 2, 1866

Document 89

Soldiers

December 2, 1866

thumbnail of Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, December 28, 1866

Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, December 28, 1866

Document 90

Soldiers

December 28, 1866

thumbnail of Coney Island Beach and Bathers

Coney Island Beach and Bathers

Document 91

Daily Life

ca. 1869

thumbnail of The Revolution newspaper

The Revolution

Document 92

Women

July 8, 1869

thumbnail of The Old Ferry House

The Old Ferry House

Document 93

Daily Life

ca. 1870

thumbnail of Williamsburgh Savings Bank

Williamsburgh Savings Bank

Document 94

Daily Life

ca. 1870

thumbnail of Susan B. Anthony at a Woman's Suffrage Convention

Susan B. Anthony at a Woman's Suffrage Convention

Document 95

Women

ca. 1874

thumbnail of Portrait of Susan B. Anthony

Portrait of Susan B. Anthony

Document 96

Women

ca. 1874

thumbnail of Portrait of Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Portrait of Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Document 97

Women

ca. 1874

thumbnail of Portrait of Frederick Douglass

Portrait of Frederick Douglass

Document 98

Slavery

1879

thumbnail of Portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe

Portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe

Document 99

Slavery Women

1880

thumbnail of Slavery Here article

"Slavery Here. Right in Brooklyn and Out on Long Island."

Document 100

Slavery

December 29, 1891

thumbnail of photo of Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch

Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch

Document 101

Soldiers

1901

thumbnail of photo of MacMonnies's Union Army Sculpture

MacMonnies's Union Navy Sculpture

Document 102

Soldiers

1901

thumbnail of Flags of the Brooklyn 14th Regiment

Flags of the Brooklyn 14th Regiment

Document 103

Soldiers

May 23, 1911

thumbnail of Stephen B. Bartow

"Stephen B. Bartow"

Document 104

Soldiers Daily Life

October 11, 1911

thumbnail of Henry Ward Beecher Statue at Plymouth Church

Henry Ward Beecher Statue at Plymouth Church

Document 105

Slavery Women

1927

thumbnail of Harriet Tubman dress

Harriet Tubman dress

Document 106

Slavery Women

1997

thumbnail of Runaway Slave

Runaway Slave

Document 107

Slavery Women

1997

thumbnail of photo of Brooklyn 14th Regiment Reenactors

Brooklyn 14th Regiment Reenactors

Document 108

Soldiers

Early September, 1997

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