Library Services FAQ: Special Collections FAQs

Special Collections holds an extensive collection of published books on regional history.  The books are listed in the library’s catalog, searchable here: https://libguides.bridgewater.edu/. Special Collections books are available for research use by appointment in the Wampler Reading Room. Reach out to Stephanie at sgardner@bridgewater.edu.

Special Collections also holds some unpublished manuscripts and artifacts on the US Civil Wars such as the Jacob B. Click letter, 27 June 1861: https://bridgewater.pastperfectonline.com/archive/1F637048-E99C-4C22-A075-489748391199

Some other places to look:

• Adam Kersh letters, which were featured on the Valley of the Shadow website:  https://valley.lib.virginia.edu/VoS/personalpapers/collections/augusta/kersh.html
• And Jesse Rolston, Jr. and Mary Catharine Cromer Rolston Civil War letters, 1860 – 1865: https://bridgewater.pastperfectonline.com/archive/80843C67-6573-48A3-BD88-322750857209
• Issues of the historic Library of Virginia magazine Virginia Cavalcade are available in Special Collections by appointment.  This webpage from the Library of Virginia indexes them:  https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/cavalcade/index.htm
• A primary source showing the Church of the Brethren response to the Civil War is the historic monthly publication, The Gospel Visitor.  Copies are digitized here by year:  https://archive.org/details/bridgewatercollege?and%5B%5D=Gospel+Visiter&sin=&sort=titleSorter