April 12, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War in which some 620,000 Americans lost their lives. When the war began Connecticut regiments were called to arms by decrees from both President Abraham Lincoln and Connecticut’s Governor William Buckingham.
Connecticut sent 55,000 men, or 47% of its male population between the ages of 15-50, in the most massive war mobilization in state's history.
The Godfrey Memorial Library, a private, non-profit library open to the public, has in-depth resources for those wishing to research Civil War history and biography in general, and family histories of those who served or were affected by the Civil War.
Among the specialized resources held by The Godfrey is the American Civil War Research Database, with information on more than four million soldiers and thousands of battles, along with more than 16,000 photographic images. The Civil War Letters and Diaries Database contains diaries, letters, and memoirs by more than 2,000 authors who lived during those climactic events. Additionally, the library has databases containing many 19th century newspapers with first-hand accounts of politics and battles. These newspaper resources include seven African-American newspapers 1827 to 1902, offering a seldom-seen perspective on the conflict.
The Godfrey Library is a unique resource for genealogists and historians. “The Godfrey is one of the best kept secrets in Connecticut,” said library director James Benn. “It is a premier research site for family history research, and perfect for anyone wanting to work on Civil War research during the 150th anniversary.”
The Godfrey maintains an extensive collection of essential resources to help in genealogical and historical research. Library staff is available to help users locate relatives through city and business directories, vital records, printed census records, state, county, and local histories as well as numerous family histories, family bible records, and service and pension records. The library is free and open to the public. Subscriptions to database resources can be purchased to allow for off-site research.
As part of the Sesquicentennial, The Godfrey is offering a Civil War publication at a significant discount.
“A Noble and Glorious Cause: The Life, Times and Civil War Service of Captain Elijah W. Gibbons”, originally published by The Godfrey Memorial Library in 2005 and priced at $35.00 is now available for $15.00 at the library. Follow the war experiences of Captain Gibbons of the Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and his men from Middletown as they respond to the call to arms and until the battle of Fredericksburg. Call the library to order or stop in to pick up your copy by April 30th.
The Library is located at 134 Newfield Street in Middletown, Connecticut. For information, see:
For information about Connecticut’s upcoming observance of the Civil War anniversary events, see:
http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=2296
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