Nineteenth Century Life Documents

What made the 19th century an interesting but tumultuous time? What technological, cultural and social changes influenced life then? Explore those issues in this story collection.

Elizabeth Packard's legal troubles began when she was asked to join a Bible-study class led by a deacon in her church.  Abijah Dole was unable t...

Elizabeth Packard wrote several books to financially support herself (since, under Illinois law, she no longer had the right to her dowry becase she w...

The Semi-centennial of Ottawa County details eye-witness accounts of the historic fire in Holland Michigan on October 9, 1871. Click on the image for...

Image of Virginia Governor John Floyd's letter to John Hamilton. Click on the image for a better view.

Image of Virginia Governor John Floyd's letter to John Hamilton - page 2. Click on the image for a better view.

Frederick Douglass writes to then-Secretary of State, James G. Blaine, responding to the President's invitation that Douglass serve as the U.S. Ambass...

Frederick Douglass was a much-sought-after speaker.  This image depicts a page from one of his lectures honoring John Brown. Among other observa...

Second page of a letter from Frederick Douglass to America's then-Secretary of State, James G. Blaine, accepting the offer (made by President Benjamin...

In this letter, Caroline Purdy explains how the famous Star-Spangled Banner flag was made. 

Page two of the letter, Caroline Purdy [Mary Pickersgill's daughter] wrote to Georgiana Appleton [Major Armistead's daughter] describing how the Fort ...

In his book, The Underground Railroad, William Still includes a story about four slaves who wanted to escape from Delaware (a slave state which remain...

Bookcover image of Gods and Generals: A Novel of the Civil War, by Jeff Shaara.

Show tooltips