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The bundle of old photos is a great example of a pile of history that has lost its context. Without the information of who these people were, this stack of at one time significant memories, becomes nearly worthless as it is reduced to just photographs. A well-documented collection can help prevent that.

The Importance of a Well-Documented Private Collection: Part 1

The Importance of a Well-Documented Private Collection: Part 1 I have discussed the importance of cataloging your collection over the course of a few blog posts in the past,…

Photo of the remains of the building after the explosion in 1864 at the Washington Arsenal.

Research Arsenal Spotlight 41: William Prince Ordnance Department

William Prince was the son of a well-known horticulturalist, William Robert Prince, and Charlotte Goodwin (Collins) Prince of Flushing, New York. William Prince initially…

Illustration of New Year's Day by Thomas Nast for the January 1864 Harper's Weekly issue.

New Year’s During the Civil War

“Another Year in the War”: New Year’s During the Civil War As the calendar turned during the Civil War, Americans greeted the New Year not with champagne and fireworks, but wi…

Christmas during the Civil War was a difficult time for both soldiers and civilians as they were often separated from their loved ones during the time of year that is often represented by families spending time together. The one thing that the vast majority of them could not do during the war. "Christmas Eve," Harper's Weekly, January 3, 1863.

Christmas During the Civil War: Voices from the Front and Home

Christmas During the Civil War: Voices from the Front and Home The Civil War did not pause for the holidays, yet Christmas still came. For soldiers and families separated by…

Photo of fortifications along the Petersburg lines.

Research Arsenal Spotlight 40: Benjamin Hulburd 2nd Vermont Infantry

Benjamin Hulburd was born in 1822 in Waterville, Vermont. He was 40 years old when he first enlisted in the 7th Vermont Infantry in 1862. He was discharged for disability…

Camp of the 100th New York Infantry on Morris Island.

Research Arsenal Spotlight 39: Samuel Huntingdon 100th New York Infantry

Samuel Huntingdon was born in 1829 and lived in Carrollton, New York. He was married to Elizabeth “Libby” Desire (Fuller) Huntingdon and the couple had three children: Adele, …

This painting depicts a rather subdued version of events of the West Point Eggnog Riot.

The Great West Point Eggnog Riot of 1826

The Great West Point Eggnog Riot of 1826 The night of December 24–25, 1826, at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, was anything but silent. What began …

Illustration of the Battle of Secessionville showing a bayonet charge of Union troops. Originally appeared in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper dated 12 July 1862 via Wikimedia Commons.

Research Arsenal Spotlight 38: Amasa Hammond 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery

Amasa Hammond was born in Rhode Island in 1846. At the age of 16, he enlisted in the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery as private in Company K. Because of his youth, Amasa…

Photograph of the USS Cairo and crew taken sometime during 1862. https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/68594

The First Ship Sunk by a Naval Mine: The USS Cairo

The First Ship Sunk by a Naval Mine: The USS Cairo This week marks the 163rd anniversary of the sinking of the gunboat USS Cairo. Remarkably, a sinking with no loss of life….

Photo of Richard Weld of the 44th Massachusetts Infantry via findagrave.org.

Research Arsenal Spotlight 37: Richard Weld 44th Massachusetts Infantry

Richard Weld was born in 1835 to Aaron Davis Weld and Abbie (Harding) Weld of West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University and graduated in 1856. After a short…

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