Wow, check this out...

[Bruce Vail]

Wow, here is a well-executed web site devoted to a single Civil War regimental history:

http://www.3nj.org/

It's the Third New Jersey Regiment (infantry).

It's inspiring me to think about creating a similar site.

Best,
Bruce

 

[John Hartwell]

I've been working with the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History in Springfield (Mass.) people who maintain a somewhat similar site, but without the re-enactment element: 31st Massachusetts Volunteers: Honoring the Civil War Soldiers of the Western Bay State Regiment.

Some time ago the Museum came into possession of a huge archive of material that had been assembled about 100 years ago for writing a regimental history of the 31st. The man who was writing it died, and the project was never completed. But, fortunately, all of the "raw material" gathered for it have survived. So, a team of volunteers headed by Cliff McCarthy, Larry Lowenthal and Stan Praeger, have undertaken the task of publishing online the scores of letters, diaries, memoirs, etc, comprising a full history of a regiment that has never before had a regimental history. My only involvement has been in transcribing some of the manuscripts.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for posting

 

[captaindrew]

The Liberty Rifles have a very good web site also, www.libertyrifles.org. The have a research page with a lot of interesting articles. Definitely worth checking out.

 

[JerseyBart]

Nice.

 

[lelliott19]

So, a team of volunteers headed by Cliff McCarthy, Larry Lowenthal and Stan Praeger, have undertaken the task of publishing online the scores of letters, diaries, memoirs, etc, comprising a full history of a regiment that has never before had a regimental history. My only involvement has been in transcribing some of the manuscripts.

I wouldn't say only involvement......I think that is the most important part - and sometimes the most difficult.

 

[Bruce Vail]

I've been working with the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History in Springfield (Mass.) people who maintain a somewhat similar site, but without the re-enactment element: 31st Massachusetts Volunteers: Honoring the Civil War Soldiers of the Western Bay State Regiment.

Some time ago the Museum came into possession of a huge archive of material that had been assembled about 100 years ago for writing a regimental history of the 31st. The man who was writing it died, and the project was never completed. But, fortunately, all of the "raw material" gathered for it have survived. So, a team of volunteers headed by Cliff McCarthy, Larry Lowenthal and Stan Praeger, have undertaken the task of publishing online the scores of letters, diaries, memoirs, etc, comprising a full history of a regiment that has never before had a regimental history. My only involvement has been in transcribing some of the manuscripts.

Stunning! What great work.

Are you able to draw interest outside the CW 'buffs' community?

 

[John Hartwell]

Stunning! What great work.

Are you able to draw interest outside the CW 'buffs' community?

I really don't know the answer to that. For me, the work itself is it's own reward, and I frankly haven't thought about who 'uses' it.

But, just think what a fantastic dream it would be to unexpectedly come across decades of "research" already done on a "favorite" regiment, and laid out before you.

 

[huskerblitz]

I really don't know the answer to that. For me, the work itself is it's own reward, and I frankly haven't thought about who 'uses' it.

But, just think what a fantastic dream it would be to unexpectedly come across decades of "research" already done on a "favorite" regiment, and laid out before you.

I can relate. My upcoming trip next week will allow me to look at regimental files that are not digitized. I have a huge number of items related to my favorite regiment and this trip will fill in more gaps. But what to do with all of this info? I don't think there is a market to right a regimental history. I'm not overly great at building websites. It's not my intent to be the 'source' for this regiment and would like to share it for others, but not sure how to do that.

 

[KansasFreestater]

Wow, here is a well-executed web site devoted to a single Civil War regimental history:

http://www.3nj.org/

It's the Third New Jersey Regiment (infantry).

It's inspiring me to think about creating a similar site.

Best,
Bruce

Wow! Awesome site.

 

[nitrofd]

Someone put a lot of work into that site,well done.

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

I can relate. My upcoming trip next week will allow me to look at regimental files that are not digitized. I have a huge number of items related to my favorite regiment and this trip will fill in more gaps. But what to do with all of this info? I don't think there is a market to right a regimental history. I'm not overly great at building websites. It's not my intent to be the 'source' for this regiment and would like to share it for others, but not sure how to do that.

It sounds like you've built an impressive collection of material, @huskerblitz, and that your research has been rewarding too. Congratulations! No doubt there are others who would be fascinated by what you've discovered. Have you contacted any historical societies in your regiment's home area? Are there any colleges or universities nearby where the history faculty or maybe even a college library with an archival or "special collections" departmet might have a similar interest? Helping to catalog your materials, digitize them and make them available on-line for study might make a great project for student interns or graduate students.

 

[huskerblitz]

It sounds like you've built an impressive collection of material, @huskerblitz, and that your research has been rewarding too. Congratulations! No doubt there are others who would be fascinated by what you've discovered. Have you contacted any historical societies in your regiment's home area? Are there any colleges or universities nearby where the history faculty or maybe even a college library with an archival or "special collections" departmet might have a similar interest? Helping to catalog your materials, digitize them and make them available on-line for study might make a great project for student interns or graduate students.

Thank you, I do have a lot. At this point, over 800 individual items relating to them. And I've scoured several newspaper sites to find any information I can. As far as digitizing...almost all of my stuff is digitized, merely collected together in one set. I know there is more out there on the net as I keep finding stuff or leads to more stuff. I just need to figure out the best way to share what I have put together.