Remembering the Civil War on its 150th anniversary

The Civil War began 150 years ago this week. SMU remembers with a special lecture and items at DeGolyer Library.

Private C. R. Battaile of Confederate States Army

Private C. R. Battaile of Confederate States Army
Click to see a slide show of Civil War images from the DeGolyer Library collections.
Tuesday, April 12, marks the 150 anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, the deadliest war in the nation's history.

SMU's DeGolyer Library is home to numerous Civil War-era photographs, manuscripts and and other items. Many of them are available online as part of DeGolyer's digital collections through "Civil War: Photographs, Manuscripts and Imprints" and "Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photographs."

Lucy Pier StevensAmong the most remarkable items in the DeGolyer collections are diaries, a scrapbook and a photo album kept by Lucy Pier Stevens, who was visiting family in Texas, when the war began. Read more about her.

In addition, SMU's the Clements Department of History will host Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Steven Hahn for a discussion of “Why the Civil War Mattered.” Hahn will deliver the Stanton Sharp Lecture Tuesday, April 12, 2011. The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by the lecture at 6:30 p.m. in SMU’s McCord Auditorium, Room 306, Dallas Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Read more.

Check back for updates concerning events related to the Civil War.