How much ACW information has been lost?

[archieclement]

When I was at Wilsons Creek doing some research, the librarian mentioned one reason Missouri data can be sketchy was alot of ACW records had been kept in a warehouse in St Louis that was lost to fire.

One would think the number of courthouses, warehouses, museums, libraries and private collections that have been lost to accidental causes over 150+ years would be substantial. Not considering possibly intentionally lost through downsizing.

 

[rebelatsea]

The arsonist of Richmond certainly caused a major loss of Confederate naval records, and I found while researching my book, that periodic culls of the National Archive has resulted in losses of material of all types too.

 

[archieclement]

Certainly some Confederate/state records were intentionally destroyed at end of war, just wonder how much has continued to be lost the last 150+ yrs to various causes.

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

... periodic culls of the National Archive has resulted in losses of material of all types too.

Wow, I had no idea that the Archives did this. How do archivists determine what is worth preserving? Isn't it possible that a document or other artifact might seem to be irrelevant but actually have historical significance?

 

[redbob]

The most informative sources of information disappeared with every passing of a Civil War veteran whether they wore the Blue or the Grey.

 

[UCVRelics]

The most informative sources of information disappeared with every passing of a Civil War veteran whether they wore the Blue or the Grey.

So true but their stories and info live on and a great source is

Confederate Veteran archives

 

[Desert Kid]

The fire that rioters caused at the UDC headquarters in Richmond destroyed countless genealogical records and destroyed two vintage flags. One used by the Stonewall Brigade, and one that adorned Stonewall Jackson's casket.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Missouri data can be sketchy was alot of ACW records had been kept in a warehouse in St Louis that was lost to fire.

Was that the same St. Louis fire that destroyed about 90% of U.S Army World War One records ?

 

[UCVRelics]

Was that the same St. Louis fire that destroyed about 90% of U.S Army World War One records ?

Yep and it was a LOT more than WW1

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

periodic culls of the National Archive has resulted in losses of material of all types too.

I've never heard that.

I would enjoy reading some links about such policy.

There's no doubt many records have been buried in their "vaults" and subsequently forgotten.
But I can not believe the National Archives would purposely "cull" anything remotely original and historic ... even if insignificant.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Yep and it was a LOT more than WW1

 

[gjpratt]

Yep and it was a LOT more than WW1

I can't track my father's WW2 service because his records were lost in the St. Louis fire. I don't know what unit he was in. All I know is that he was in the Engineer Corps and served in North Africa, Corsica, Ardennes and Germany, all anecdotal from him. He died in a car accident before I was old enough or wise enough to ask him to tell me about his experience.

 

[AA484]

Wow, I had no idea that the Archives did this. How do archivists determine what is worth preserving? Isn't it possible that a document or other artifact might seem to be irrelevant but actually have historical significance?

I work with archival government records and I can tell you that state records of this significance would almost certainly be preserved. Joe Q. Public generally has an inflated idea about what and how much can be preserved (resources are limited, after all), but I can't imagine the National Archives culling any records that may provide information on a significant number of their citizens -- in rebellion or not.

I will also say that fires are the bane of archivists' existence. You would be amazed at how many county courthouses burned down in the first 200 years of the nation's existence.

 

[rebelatsea]

Gent's I think you may have unwittingly answered the definition of "cull" where sections of documentation may have been outhoused from the Archive to locations where they have been lost to fire, natural disaster etc, Although in one specific case the original plans and specification for CSS Nashville are recorded as "Stolen at date unknown, present location or condition unknown".
In Britain the National Archive at Kew was created as a central resource and is truly an amazing place. Nevertheless. as has been pointed out, there is so much materiel that county records offices and archives still hold much that is destined for Kew. Sadly we have lost much more to the depredations of the Luftwaffe which will never be recovered. Some of which is relevant to British involvement in the ACW.

 

[Dead Parrott]

Lost records happen by accident, neglect, and culling, likely in far greater numbers than by any nefarious motives.

It's simply that not everyone sees the value worth the cost to keep them.

It is a great loss.

 

[DaveBrt]

I have written before about my two uncles who burned up my grandmother's UDC++ papers in the late 1950's. We arrived in time to see the bonfire -- and almost the murder of my uncles by my mother.

I also know, from a letter of his, that Capt. Thomas R. Sharp's Confederate RR papers were still in his possession in 1892. He proudly noted still having all his war records in his wartime chest. The only part to survive is the diary he kept 1858-1863 and the copies of several documents he provided to the National Archives. My guess is that some relative destroyed the rest some time in the past 100+ years.

 

[Tennessee Union Gal]

Most of the 1890 Census was lost in a fire. So many historical records have been lost.

 

[nc native]

I've never heard that.

I would enjoy reading some links about such policy.

There's no doubt many records have been buried in their "vaults" and subsequently forgotten.
But I can not believe the National Archives would purposely "cull" anything remotely original and historic ... even if insignificant.

It's not only the National Archives that culls their records periodically. The SCV camp I am a member recently received several years of the Confederate Veteran magazine that our State Archives in North Carolina decided it had no use for. These issues were going to be headed to the waste heap but fortunately one of our members is a antique dealer who the State Archives contacts whenever they decide they have no use for something to see if he was interested. There's no telling how much history has been erased because something is judged as being insignificant or politically incorrect by decision makers who believe that their opinions and viewpoints are the only ones that matter in coming to their conclusions.

 

[archieclement]

Was that the same St. Louis fire that destroyed about 90% of U.S Army World War One records ?

Think so, was some archival warehouse

 

[archieclement]

Gent's I think you may have unwittingly answered the definition of "cull" where sections of documentation may have been outhoused from the Archive to locations where they have been lost to fire, natural disaster etc, Although in one specific case the original plans and specification for CSS Nashville are recorded as "Stolen at date unknown, present location or condition unknown".
In Britain the National Archive at Kew was created as a central resource and is truly an amazing place. Nevertheless. as has been pointed out, there is so much materiel that county records offices and archives still hold much that is destined for Kew. Sadly we have lost much more to the depredations of the Luftwaffe which will never be recovered. Some of which is relevant to British involvement in the ACW.

Agree the culling while sad isn't all that surprising to me, until recently there was no ability to store digitally.

Every decade would have produced increasing seas of paper documents to have to be kept, likely outpacing storage facilities.