One of Special Collection’s main collection strengths is the Civil War and Reconstruction Era. In addition to images and military documents – such as muster rolls, generals’ orders, and supply requests – the department also houses a significant amount of correspondence and journals from the time period. As a collective whole, these materials chronicle the evolution of the American Civil War and the immediate aftermath. UT Libraries’ Digital Civil War Collection provides a selection of digitized journals and correspondence. These materials provide unique insight into the era’s military and regional culture by capturing the perspectives and personal experiences of soldiers as well as civilians affected by the war through personal relationships or geographic location. In addition, these materials record political opinions and regional attitudes about topical issues such as slavery and poverty. Each item includes a digital scan of the original document accompanied by a full text transcript.
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes was a test of the Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach evolution in the public schools. William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow took opposing sides at the trial. Their participation launched a media circus in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee. The Scopes Trial began an ongoing national debate on the intersection of science and religion in education and society.
