Chapter I: Mid 19th Century America

1/31/2018

Above is a previously unpublished image from the private collection of Juanita Leisch. This is what she had to say about the image:
"I call it the 'The Burnt School.'
The back has a label for H. F. Warren, Photographer, Waltham, MA, and an inscription
'Arthur C. Willington
Little boy leaning against rocks - about 8 yrs old'
It's a photo that really wants to tell a story. If you look at the left, that building looks like it's had a recent fire.... you can see the rafters.
Everybody is standing outside. There's snow, but few people have coats .
Some people (mainly girls) have books and a couple are trying to read.
Some people (mainly boys) are celebrating their freedom, and a couple have climbed trees.
Many people are huddled near what appears to be a church door. There is a Historical Society in Waltham, and I am hoping that by contacting them I might get 'the rest of the story'."

Many thanks to Mrs. Leisch for all of the work which she has done for the book and for working with this study group. As you can see, Mrs. Leisch has provided us with supplementary material and will work with me to form assignments for the book study.

Assignment Instructions
In the comments below, please answer the following questions and respond to someone else's comment.
1. What information stood out, or surprised you, in Chapter I?
2. What sources of information would be best for providing more information on these topics?
3. Look at the image above. How can you use it to grow your knowledge of Civil War civilians?

Please post your comments within a week, so we have the following week to make responses. Please read Chapter II: Everyday Life in America by February 15th and return on that day for the next installment of this exciting discussion.
Thank you for participating.
Den Bolda

40 Comments

Sheridan Brown link

2/1/2018 05:16:42 pm

1. The stand out in Chapter One for me was the Puritanical sense of right and wrong with long term goals. Perhaps once I can find my character's religious connection, it will help me form her better.
2. Family Bibles, handed down stories, church membership, Political affiliations, local taverns or stores where gatherings took place, groups characters belonged to (i.e. Masons) would be helpful to know.
3. I would like to know date of photo above, as well as books they are reading and why are they reading istanding around in groups. perhaps since the school burned, the church housed school until it could be rebuilt.

Annabel Sheron

2/7/2018 08:42:17 pm

Sheridan, I too was struck by the group on the front left reading while standing up. It seems like an odd way to have a study group!

Triah Hasenmueller

2/1/2018 07:41:56 pm

1. I love to be reminded of why people immigrated to America, and why they still do. To be offered the chance to better their lives and the lives of their children must have been irresistible.
2. http://www.merrycoz.org/papers/MM00.xhtml Robert Merry's Museum is a resource I'd like to share with members of the book study. The page at this link is a collection of articles and stories from an early children's magazine. It can shed a light on where children stood in society and what they were expected to internalize as far as their interaction with others. I was reminded of some of the reading stories in Merry's Museum by the story on page 6 about the young girl being encouraged to pray for the unfortunate rather than helping them in a material way.
3. This photo is outstanding! It does tell many stories and I'm eager to learn what the Waltham Historical Society has to say about it. On a personal note: That. Girl's. Plaid. Coat!!! We don't see many plaid coats in photos from the era and it's pretty cool to see this one!

Marie McNamara

2/6/2018 05:06:21 pm

I agree with you, I'd love to know if the Waltham Historical Society has some context for the location or story of this photo. And wouldn't it be fun to see a side-by-side picture today of that valley or the church if it still exists, from the same viewpoint?! ...The plaid coat caught my eye as well. :)

Trish Hasenmueller

2/6/2018 07:34:28 pm

Yesss!

Juanita Leisch

2/2/2018 10:42:04 am

Several folks have indicated an interest in schools of the period. I love sharing sources, so wanted to post information on a couple books I've found particularly helpful on that topic:
This first is pre-war, covering the period 1830s and 1840s, but has lots of nice details: Mister Andrews' School 1837-1842. The Students' Journal Transcribed and Illustrated by Ellen Swartzlander. Doylestown, PA: The Bucks County Historical Society, 1958.

This second is war-time, and Valley of Virginia: A Civil War Marriage in Virginia, Reminiscences and Letters by Carrie Esther Spencer, Bernard Samuels and Walter Berry Samuels. Boyce, VA: Carr Publishing Company, 1956.

This third provides some peripheral comments from a short-tenured teacher who did not seem to enjoy his work, and becomes a soldier instead: Young Ward's Diary by Lester F. Ward. New York: G. P. Putnam, 1935. This one, at least, can be had as an ebook.

Annabel Sheron

2/7/2018 08:36:01 pm

I am most happy to see one of the sources has an ebook version. Thank you so much Mrs. Leisch!

Sheridan Brown link

2/10/2018 07:30:27 pm

Thank you for sharing those resources!

Den Bolda

2/12/2018 09:31:03 am

Great references. Thanks for the direction.

Daniel Sauerwein link

2/3/2018 12:43:23 am

1. What stood out to me was the reference to morality tales in children's books, as this reminded me of a couple of my undergraduate history courses, where we examined sections of the old McGuffin Readers, which were the primary reading textbook used in many schools in the 19th century. The stories not only taught children to read, but also presented them morality tales to also impart those lessons to them.

The first chapter presented a wonderful introduction and overview to civilian life. I will say that the degree to which American society during the Civil War was "Puritanical" seems a little over-exaggerated. Certainly, religion was still very much an important facet of life for a majority of Americans (still is today), but the growth of non-Congregational denominations by the mid-19th century would seem to tone this down a bit, especially outside New England. Keep in mind that you had the rise of transcendentalism and other non-Christian religious movements at that time too. The information on the family was familiar to me.

2. One book that is a great source for understanding how American culture developed by the 19th century that I have read is Richard Bushman's The Refinement of America: Persons, Homes, Cities. This book examined how American culture developed in the 18th and into the 19th century. I will tell you that it covers a wide variety of topics, including literature, furniture, churches, and many other subjects.

3. The above image provides a lot of great insight into civilian life during the Civil War era. What is important to note about the image is the greater degree to which different age groups mingled at that time compared to today. While children were certainly regarded differently then versus now, they also engaged with other children of varying ages much more than now. Consider how we divide kids in schools now by age much more than back at that time when most kids attended school with all grades in one room. Plus, you can see the emerging nature of the changing working world and growing middle class inherent in the leisure activities being undertaken in the image. The above community certainly is probably tied to farming to a greater degree than now, but you can also note that greater specialization of work is present too. Most appear to be from the same socio-economic class. In addition, the church does illustrate the importance of religious institutions to communities in 19th century America. I would argue that the photo was probably taken on a Sunday after either Sunday School, or the church service let out.

The building on the left does also show how a community will attempt to rebuild from a tragedy, like a fire.

Paula Perry

2/9/2018 08:29:47 pm

In studying genealogy, I have found both Puritans and Quakers in my immigrant ancestors. I agree that most of North American was no longer Puritanical by the 19th century.

Belief in God and morality were however much more stressed, in most of society, than it is today.

I agree with the author that, "Today many Americans would be hard-pressed to name that (warning in Scripture that Lincoln would be assassinated)--or many other--unfulfilled biblical prophecies. This difference is just one example of the way in which American culture has changed since the Civil War."

Thank you for the reference to Richard Bushman's The Refinement of America: Persons, Homes, Cities.

Cindy Conley

2/4/2018 04:35:27 pm

1) I was very happy to see the importance that faith stood/held in each individual’s personal life, with teachings beginning very early in life; and abundantly so. Also, how its understanding was so strongly applied as ‘absolute’ throughout daily life and through all ages. I like that they “lived” their faith.
The family caring for family in virtually all aspects provided such a stark contrast to the mindset of society today. This accomplishes strong families, which produces strong community, which makes way for strong local government, which in turn may support a strong nation … rather than the tendency to the needlessly draining of resources and overburdening of the people. Instead, it creates an environment of inspiration to strive to be one’s best at all levels rather than the down-troddening stagnant viewpoint of a “stuck” victim. But instead, inspiring unto strength and wisdom and looking forward to a continual hope in growing to higher and better.
2) I’m sure others have said, or at least considered, a further source for information particularly for this time period and in the capacity of our current given book of study, would be the Holy Bible. If the Civil War Era daily lifestyle and education of all ages was so intricately interwoven and indeed dependent upon the teachings thereof, the Bible would simply have to be referenced as the ultimate source of all of life in all directions/facets.
I also, like to look back at actual photos of the era. There is so much to be gleaned from seeing real life scenes and what the putting together of previous studies and the imagination can create … archives/antiquities, clothing, household items, varied locations, backgrounds, how life was dealt with on an everyday day to day basis … good and bad. For instance, we hear so much about how the war was dealt with on a large scale. But how was it handled and how did it effect at the smaller level … individuals and families, local communities? We can find such intimate understanding from photos, letters, journals, drawings, day to day items, archives, even maps of the day, the disasters and times of devastation and grieving/mourning. And, yes, even the happy/joyous times too … weddings, birthdays, holidays, celebrations of all kinds … the struggles, the laughs and sorrows. Ah, to be able to see into “those” moments, to be able to imagine the sounds, to able to physically feel/touch the antiquities of the day, to imagine the mental and emotional ups and downs, to within one’s self, experience as best as one can, the swirling of such historical impact.

3) As for the image, again much as in the above. From this particular image, I would foremost study the clothing for my personal interpretation. I would like to “see” the landscape and buildings to possibly discover some likely locations, for the location will determine so very much. These location possibilities may then open up so much as to the what, where, why, and so forth of the subject. Only then, could one begin to imagine the emotions (again, positive or negative) and the thoughts of those depicted within the image. Oh my goodness, so very much to be discovered!

Sharon Cossaboon

2/6/2018 07:47:09 pm

Cindy, I could not agree with your more with all you have said here. Life was faith and faith was life for our ancestors. As for the emotional impact on the lives of these people, so many times the emotional impact can be found in personal and family diaries. Even family Bibles. For example: my great grandmother had lost her first born child (daughter) on August 1, 1906, buried the child on August 2, and gave birth to another child (daughter) on August 3. You can almost feel the emotion as the names, birth and death dates were written in my great grandfather's Bible. As for the clothing in the above image, read articles written by Maureen Taylor who is a professional photo detective by dating photos using fashion.

Cindy Conley

2/9/2018 07:44:05 pm

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing. I will need to check further into some articles written by Maureen Taylor. Sounds very interesting.

Jerusha

2/5/2018 11:19:25 am

Well, first off, I'm not so sure that burnt building is a school, I think it may just be a house. Second, what is so odd about people holding books outside of the church? Perhaps few remember the old days when you brought your own bible to church and then had to notice the altar board to learn which scriptures and gospels were read during that Mass. Today, most people do not bring their own bible simply because the readings are already published with the date of that particular Sunday's date. Remember, in the past many went to Mass daily, and sometimes several times a day for Mass and Communion. Sadly, I think that only the Catholics today do daily Mass. And the circle drive in the center, is just that, the place where the coaches turned around, so I would guess that this was at a time when horses were scarce, and the men were away fighting?

Nothing surprised me about the intent to remain "Christian" and have high moral ethics. People are often shocked by such things now, but it is simply because they were not raised with the same sort of religious education. "Chap books" or books from the American Tract Society were tiny little paper booklets given away to children and the poor so that they would have illustrated religious reading and always learn to "do the right thing." I wish more of this happened today, and religious books are just as plentiful, but many simply are not interested in such things. The comment that "God and Satan were everywhere" hasn't changed, they are still here, but do people notice?

In everyday work, people were encouraged to "offer up prayer to God." In other words, if you were exhausted from ploughing a field, you were encouraged to offer up your aching pains to God while yo worked. Few think like this today, but this is how children were raised, to always keep the Lord foremost in your mind and guide your daily life with faith and family in that order.

And let us not forget that your Priest or Reverend was like a member of your extended family. This person came and went into your home at the best and worst times, knew every member of that household, and often would have meals with you and when visiting would pay a call on each person living and working on that property. Knowing that man also helped because he just might be the one who helped send your young son off to some other job around or outside the community, a letter of recommendation from your Priest was a great form of introduction into a new society.

A comical thing that I find was about "keeping house" as the full time occupation. You were doing well if you had a larger house with separate rooms for various tasks, if you had a home that was simply one room (open concept) you were poorer. I think it's funny how everyone wants to live open concept now, but it was hoped to be avoided in the 19th Century. If you had clean clothes, a nice parlour set, plenty of books on display, and a huge table service, than you were doing pretty good for yourself, this meant that you had some coin saved up, and a bit for extras, but of course it was vulgar to flaunt your wealth in the face of God, so just buy enough to read. (wink).

As for which books to read, well it's kinda short notice, but I would suggest that you seek period written books. Another thing that might help with your Christian education is to try going to your flavour of religion and take religious classes, such as: RCIA is the rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults which basically teaches you church history and the meaning of all of the sacraments. (You don't have to be a member of that church to attend the classes, nor are you required to be confirmed, but the education is remarkable). Two modern books pop into mind, such as; "Inside the Victorian Home" by Judith Flanders which describes everything you might use in a period home, and "How To Be A Victorian - A Dawn To Dusk Guide" by Ruth Goodman which explains what you would be doing if you were living in a fine or poor home daily.

Last thoughts on religion now and then. Churches still have daily Mass. I know that the Catholic and Episcopal churches still do because I live in a small town where our old churches are merely blocks apart. In the old days, you easily would have seen folks attending around the same time simply by looking down the old roads or across fields. Perhaps someone might comment if their "brand" of church has daily Mass and weekly evening education.

Oh, and pardon my typos, it's early in the morning.

Jerusha

2/5/2018 11:56:06 am

I just shared the photo with a family member, we counted 18 women, 11 children so think that the ratio might be wrong for a "school." Could be the burnt building was a hotel? Perhaps the photograph was taken from an upper window of the school? The returns are too early to count, but I'm sticking with a Sunday scene.

Cindy Conley

2/9/2018 07:55:41 pm

Yes, the number of men/boys vs women/girls struck me also, though later after I'd already submitted my initial comment. With the snow on the ground and books in some hands of certain groups, but not others, I'm wondering if it may possible they were out caroling in the community? I also find it interesting that it seems almost all are well aware they are being photographed (just the idea that all are either directly facing or at least toward the source of the photograph. Another point I've further discovered as I return to the image, I'm not so sure on the ages of the people. Yes, there are obviously some children of varied ages present. However, looking closer, it appears the majority of the people are in fact adults. For example, the man with the facial hair in the lower left group. Looking at others around the image, I'm convinced many, maybe even the largest number, are indeed adults.

Marie McNamara

2/5/2018 04:07:04 pm

1. Not surprisingly, Christianity and the beliefs and values of it were a foundation of the country and strong in the 1800's with most occupied with farming. Death was so common as far as child mortality, shorter length spans, and casualties of the war--dead, missing, and wounded that eventually perished. Diaries, letters, and accounts speak about wounded soldiers or those attending the wounded being most concerned about a person's spiritual life being in order for the next life ahead. Mortality and a high percentage of farm-based work meant larger families, as explained. I'm on a farm and there is physical labor demands where then, as now, more hands are appreciated. However, then, more than now, a death in the family was common, unexplained and frightening, and a death of livestock was a real blow. An old expression in our family (German and Irish) from way, way back was, "Better there is sickness in the barn than the house." Fears loomed large then, and faith was important to people. I enjoyed Chapter 1. 2.) A couple book sources I have enjoyed that explain civilian family life and community & society, are: "American Woman's Home" by Catherine Beecher, "The Ties of the Past" Gettysburg Diary of Salome (Sally) Myers Stewart (who taught school and was in the town during the battle), and "The American Ballot Box in the Mid-Nineteenth Century." Oh, and the work by Drew Gilpan Faust (sp? Can't find the book here) on Death and Dying. 3.) The photograph is interesting for showing so many people. Looks to be a spring thaw being enjoyed. They look youthful, as being students out on a break from temporary school in the church, or Sunday teachings. In the diary I reference of Sally Meyers, she recounts how she and friends attended various churches to hear the sermons and lectures. They all strike me as student ages, rather than families. The lady to the right front looks like she is dressed more fully with bonnet or hood, fur collar, fur muff and stands to one side. Is she a teacher? Is the burned building the former school? We can speculate. Few people have on hats or mittens/gloves. The boys are more wearing hats. I enjoy the plaid dresses and looks like maybe one knitted hood. Many with books and the photographer is on a hillside or in another building up high. The rock wall in the back is impressive. Thanks for the book study!

Eileen Alix

2/6/2018 12:39:44 pm

1. What stood out most in the first chapter of the book was that families cared for each other in all aspects. Stronger family units (whatever their make up) makes for a stronger community.
2. I would love to read more diaries and newspapers from the time. I also want to read more books from the time period as it would help me understand more about 19th century everyday life as well as understand more about how my persona would behave.
3. Further studying the picture can help me to understand how different groups of people interacted with each other.

Sharon Cossaboon

2/6/2018 08:15:48 pm

I love to read old newspapers and the stories they printed. They always wrote with so much detail. I have not spent much time reading diaries and really would like to do so. I have read books that were written based on a diary. They are always so interesting.

Lenora Gillespie

2/8/2018 12:10:01 am

I too was impressed by the extended family situation! I think we are beginning to see a trend of people going back to this family situation!

Colleen Pappas

2/6/2018 01:52:52 pm

1. What stood out for me was the strength of family and faith, the strong work ethic, and the role of religion in all aspects of life. I can’t say that anything was a surprise after studying civilian life during the war years for over 20 years. Rather, for me, it was a concise overview of salient points repeated over and over in primary source materials.
2. I first read Children of Pride, the letters of the Rev. Dr. Colcock Jones’ extended family, over 20 years ago. This work presents detailed descriptions of the daily lives of a plantation family in Georgia during the war years and their interactions with the family members fighting in the war. I have been intending to go back and read it again with the perspective of many years of study of the war lives of southern civilians and this book study will spur me on!
I was fortunate to inherit school texts handed down through my family with copyright dates from 1849 to 1914. I pulled out those that reflect the mid-1860’s (1849-1865) and looked at them in relation to work ethic and religion. Of the seven of these, five were arithmetic and spelling texts that did not reflect these. One of the remaining texts was a United States Primer published by the American Tract Society in 1864 and work ethic, morality, and religion figured heavily in every lesson, as one would expect. The last text is McGuffey’s New Eclectic Reader, copyrighted 1857 and 1866. Again, full of proverbs, morality tales, religious poetry, and lessons on work ethic. I would love to read a greater variety of school texts of the era to gain a broader perspective.
3. What can be gleaned from the image has already been mentioned: clothing, the various activities, and the makeup of different groups.

Sharon Cossaboon

2/6/2018 08:21:24 pm

Colleen
I also love the old text books. I do have a few. Wish I had the room to store more that I could buy when I find them at yard sales and flea markets. I find the old text books fascinating to read the details that they include. I come from a family of educators but unfortunately I did not finish my education to teach. Both my parents were teachers. I do work full time in education as an assistant. I love the school environment.

Paula Perry

2/9/2018 09:12:05 pm

A book like this, with pictures and historically correct information is a wealth of source material for us.

I look forward to reading Children of Pride, the letters of the Rev. Dr. Colcock Jones’ extended family.

It would be lovely, if you could scan some of the texts you inherited and put them online.

I have read online the plantation journals of my ggggrandmother's brother. I find the war years fascinating
- John Houston Bill's Papers 1843-1871.
They are archived at UNC
http://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/02245/

I have also read journals and letter from members of the regiments that my husband's gggrandfathers served in. Even though the letters are from the soldiers they discuss what is going on in the homefront. We have only found one letter from one of our kin, so there letters give me information about neighboring families and even confirm when our family members are wounded or killed.

Since my persona is the mother of 4 of these men and mother-in-law of 3 more, I can gleam a lot about how she was affected by events of the war.

As an aside - it is wonderful that people who inherited Family Bibles are scanning the birth/death pages and putting them online.

Colleen L. Pappas

2/10/2018 08:56:04 am

It also occurred to me that school texts passed down in one branch of my family from the mid-1800’s to the teens demonstrates the importance of education in that family. The family names written in are both genders and include my great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother, so they obviously met in grade school. School was another foundation in a sense of community.

Sharon Cossaboon

2/6/2018 07:11:31 pm

1. What stood out to me was the issue of ethics. Ethics played a role in every part of life. Every person was expected to be responsible for their own behaviors and set an example in the family and community atmosphere. The lives of people did not look to the future of life or country but the future priority was eternity. How they lived life on earth determined their eternity.
This chapter focused on the family unit and religious inspirations. While education in schools was not mentioned, it is widely known the Bible was a major piece of literature in the educational process. I believe education and the Bible taught the ethics while the church taught of the eternal life of the future. In both the family unit and community, young children were brought up with education and eternity being a priority. Education used the Bible as literature to teach the right/wrong and good/bad. These ethics were a result of the Good of God and the Bad of Satan. The ethics lesson was applied to the spiritual future of eternity while attending church. There were also great authors and literature written that focused on the ethics that were expected to exist in people's lives.
Life centered around the family unit that was self supporting. The family unit, education, and spiritual teachings used ethics to teach responsibilities at home to build the character of each young child into adulthood. It was not if or when but it was expected. It almost seemed that each person and/or family was expected to be a watchdog for the community.
2. I have found from genealogy research that a great resource of details and stories can be found in newspapers written in the time period of interest. Newspapers wrote and printed the juicy details leaving nothing out. Whether it was good/bad or right/wrong, it was usually printed. Whatever the story, a person's name or family name was left blessed by the good or tarnished by the bad written in newspapers. Newspaper stories wrote about how people's lives and behaviors held life together or how broken rules created a scandal. Another source would be diaries. Diaries shed light on the emotions and opinions of what was happening within a family or community.
3. Maureen Taylor is a professional photo detective. She is a highly sought after speaker at genealogy seminars. She has great tips, tricks and advice on dating photos. One thing I have learned from her is dating a photo based on the clothing. Just noticing the clothing in this assignment photo can create further interest and study into historical fashion.

Jerusha

2/7/2018 07:39:39 pm

Every day I read the historical diary of Julia Lawrence Hasbrock and today she started her first paragraph in this manner " Wednesday, 4th Feb. 1852. Bright, warm, and clear. How delightful to arise from our beds, in health and meet around the breakfast table, in good spirits and grateful hearts. This is my first thought, as each morning brings our little circle together. A kind Father spares us yet, a season, but we must prepare for a sadder hour, for death is the portion of all." Yowwee, that about sums up our current conversation of how our faith was first, and foremost above family.

Paula Perry

2/9/2018 09:25:26 pm

I agree, this is an excellent example of faith and morality in the everyday life of a mid-nineteenth century woman.

I love the idea of following her diary daily.
What if you kept a companion diary?

Annabel Sheron

2/7/2018 08:39:12 pm

1. What stood out for me was the idea of constant confrontation between good and evil and how it influenced daily life. I was also struck by the mid-19th century definition of family. The concept for the time is very much in keeping with modern Asian families where you often find several generations in one household.

2. I would think that personal diaries of the time would be a good source of information on civilian life.

3. Several of the women seem to be carrying quite heavy books so that seems to indicate more than a bible. I wonder about the fact that several in the group on the left are reading standing up! Are they looking up something or it is a discussion group? The photo makes me realize that if a persona is in the works, context matters in how you portray that person.

Jessica

2/8/2018 01:24:19 am

I’m not surprised to read of the simpler times; that of a tighter unit, both family and community. That ability to be connected to one another draws me in. Having four young/small children of my own gives me a Closer look at families and their interrelationships and pushes for me to grow as a family unit. I must develop tasks for the little ones while at camp to make them be more cohesive and natural to the way things were.

Den Bolda

2/12/2018 09:29:00 am

A friend of mine, Elaine Wojcinski, is also a teacher and mom. She has a great number of period correct games and activities for children.
The Ragged Soldier has toys and games, too.
http://www.raggedsoldier.com/

Sharon Cossaboon

2/14/2018 07:41:31 pm

Thank you for sharing this web site. The Ragged Soldier. I was looking over what was available on the web site and find it all very interesting. It gave me some ideas for the DUV national convention every year.

Daniel Sauerwein link

2/8/2018 11:07:42 pm

I love that many of you are looking to the primary sources, especially newspapers. When I was researching camps of instruction in Illinois and their role in the transition from civilian to soldier, newspapers were a great source to illustrate how these sites were important to the communities near them and the larger Union war effort.

I look forward to seeing everyone's reaction to Chapter 2.

Den Bolda

2/9/2018 11:30:04 am

1. What information stood out, or surprised you, in Chapter I?
It stood out to me that people were more involved in their community than staying in the home to watch television/professional athletes. I wonder what it would be like to live in such a close knit and involved community. This one single fact shows a massive difference between our cultures and population.
2. What sources of information would be best for providing more information on these topics?
The Library of Congress is my go to for many primary sources. They have newspapers, images, and product labels from the era.
https://www.loc.gov/
3. Look at the image above. How can you use it to grow your knowledge of Civil War civilians?
By looking at the image, we can see several things. Several of the people are posing with books, showing that it was important for posterity to know that they were well read. The people are not gathered into one group, but several. This may reflect social dynamics, the the group in the rear appears to be men, the group in the near left is mostly female with two males, and the group to the right is predominantly female. There are a few people standing alone, and those all appear to be male. We can speculate their arrangement, but there looks like a roundabout and the folks are bunched together and not standing in the road. The group on the bottom left might be in the road, but it is hard to tell. The shadows are interesting. Based on their angle, I would surmise that the image was taken in the late morning or early afternoon. An image such as this, with so many people, in the middle of the day? Might this be an image of a church congregation after Sunday service?

What can we learn? I would suppose that the people in the image wanted it recorded that a group of people, being well read, congregated at this church. It was important to them that this image was taken in this location, with these people, at this time.

Colleen L. Pappas

2/10/2018 08:48:47 am

My first reaction to the image was that it was taken as a church service had ended and folks were leaving the church and stopping to socialize. It evoked for me that as faith was the foundation of life, the church was often the foundation of community and social life, especially in rural, farming areas. My great-great-grandfather’s journal chronicles the importance of building the church in a rural Ohio farming community (I have lines of German carpenters in two branches of my family). He details the costs and who donated what toward construction. That focus on the building amongst a very few, brief entries underlined the importance of the church in everyday life. The church building served as the gathering place for services but also for fellowship and social life. Also, in the group at the right, it appears a woman is reading a large, white missive: could this be a newspaper? If this image was taken during the war years, news of the war and casualties would have been a focus of any social gathering. Wartime would also explain the preponderance of women and young men and boys. There appears to me to be only one, possibly two, men of maturity in the image. So many questions! Would love to know more about this!

Sharon Cossaboon

2/11/2018 07:48:09 pm

Several people have mentioned about obtaining more information concerning the picture. I am sure all of us would be happy to read what you might learn about this photo topic. Looking at the info concerning the photo, MA is in Maine or Massachusettes? Also I would be very curious about the date and time frame of the photo. Newspapers were mentioned as being a great source to follow up on to find more information about this photo if at all possible.

Paula Perry

2/9/2018 08:47:45 pm

I was taken with the page on families. The women in our family, during this time period, typically had 10 to 16 children. The 1860 and 1870 census bears out that they ususally had mothers, aunts or maiden sisters living with them. How else would a woman having a baby a every year or two manage the household (without servants)?

As a 71 year old grandmother I love the concept of the elders living with the family and helping out, especially with raising the children.

In living history events, that is whom I portray - the grandmother helping mend and sew and teaching the girls to forage and use plants in cooking and healing.

In modern life, I would want my own house though.

Diane

2/10/2018 11:36:24 am

I'm a little late to the party, was having computer issues, but here are my thoughts regarding the discussion.

1. I have done many years of research into this period, so the first chapter was a nice refresher for me, however, there is one thing that stands out, and it is on page 4, "the joy of having another child". I think during this period of history, certainly there was joy, but it is not the joy that we think of having a baby today with our advanced medicine and interventions. This is a time when child birth occurred at home, most of the time without the help of a nearby doctor or without midwives. I think "the joy" was viewed with much trepidation with fear of childbirth and surviving it, or dying of childbed fever. My ggg-grandmother was with her sister when she died in childbirth in the 1860s, and years later her own daughter would die less than three weeks after giving birth. I think in this era one could be hard pressed to find someone that was not touched by childbirth death, whether they be family, friend, or neighbor. There is a country cemetery near me with a tombstone of a young woman and her newborn baby, both dying on the same day giving birth. How sad to see it! There is also the concern of having to care for a house full of children too. I read a letter written by a woman in central Wisconsin to her sister, and she was lamenting the fact that she was "in the family way again" and she was telling her sister how she didn't want to go through this again. You could hear how depressed she was in her words of yet another upcoming child to care for and telling her sister that if she could, to avoid following in her footsteps. I think these sentiments were more common than what we are aware of in this era of less than effective birth control, let alone the limited knowledge of reproduction.

2. Sources that would be helpful would be primary sources of all kinds. Looking at the copyright of the book is 1994, when the internet was in it's infancy, but oh! how there is so much research today on the web! Ms. Leisch did a wonderful job of pulling it all together.

3. I love the photo! I agree with others who posted that I don't think this is a school photo. It looks to me the ladies are holding a book of songs perhaps? Is this perhaps a group that is practicing for an upcoming event? Could there be a visiting dignitary coming to town months later? A celebration of some kind, and these ladies are part of the program, and they are practicing? It was very common for a special event to go for several hours, with singing by choirs in between the speeches or other parts of a program. Could the older gentleman in the left corner behind the ladies by a choir director? The young man next to him his assistant? Were the group of young boys just playing, and saw all the ladies come out, and there being a photographer, just happened to be in the photo? If there was an event they were practicing for, many times in the local newspaper there would be an announcement of said practice, or if perhaps there was an event later in the year, there would be an announcement with write ups not too long after of the splendid day. A perusal in the local paper of the time could shed light on this photo. I think we could all agree this photo was at least mid-1860s, so it would take some research.

One thing that strikes me about the photo is how demure the young ladies look, looking down into their book. Could this be by direction of the photographer, or by someone else telling them to look into their book? If the young boys in the background are part of the group, it strikes me as how the majority of the women are looking down, almost as if they are taking instruction and being the demure woman, like what is expected of them in the women's sphere, and the young men are staring straight into the camera, as if to say they are a strong young man, growing into manhood.

Yes, so many questions! Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

Lenora Gillespie

2/15/2018 10:25:49 pm

What stood out for me was the high respect for morals. They began instilling them from a very early age. There was also a strong sense of belonging and usefulness within the family! Everyone had a job to do.

Good resources, and my favorite, is diaries! Followed by newspaper articles!

I like the variety of clothing in this particular photograph. There were coats, no coats, hats, no hats! Makes me wonder what time of year it was!

Joni Wolf

2/20/2018 11:33:42 am

The first chapter of the book reminded me so very much of what life was like when I was little. The bar of social expectations was set very high and your "community" was family. Church life was huge in my family and high moral values were the norm.

My favorite "Civil War" recipe is "Miss Bridget's Spice Cookes" by Fanny and Vera - an Internet posting that I printed off so many years ago. It helped form my first guidelines as a reenactor. Vanny and Vera say that you can use these cookies to bribe any soldier on a picket line!

The picture again reminded me of my grade school years. I actually went to first grade in a one room country school. Had the school burned, we undoubtedly would have been brought to an other location (the church) for classes or some kind of education. Being from Wisconsin, I know that there are days in the spring where snow is still on the ground but the air is so warm that you just HAVE to take off your coat! This is what I see in this picture. Good memories!

Chapter I: Mid 19th Century America

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