Wayne Whalen Digital Archive of the Grand Army of the Republic and Civil War Collections

CPL's Digital Collections document life in Chicago through archival images, documents and artifacts.

Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign by George N. Barnard

Sword, Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer

Blue jacket with red trim and gold buttons

Uniform, artillery jacket

Grant, Ulysses S.

List of candidates including Abraham Lincoln

Union Ticket

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About

This collection comprises camp equipment, weaponry and uniforms used on the homefront and the battlefield, with a focus on the Illinois experience.

Illinois supported the Union effort by sending hundreds of thousands of troops into battle, but the Civil War was also fought on the homefront.

Examine artifacts and photographs from both arenas. Highlights include camp life, swords and uniforms.

Artifacts from the Wayne Whalen Digital Archive of the Grand Army of the Republic and Civil War Collections are housed in the Special Collections and Preservation Division at Harold Washington Library Center.

Questions or concerns about rights and access to this digital collection? See our Copyright and Takedown Policy.

The Wayne Whalen Digital Archive of the Grand Army of the Republic and Civil War Collections is made possible by generous gifts to Chicago Public Library Foundation by the partners of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in honor of Wayne Whalen’s interest in Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

Acknowledgment of Harmful Materials

Chicago Public Library collects images, documents and other archival materials from different communities and time periods to preserve and make available the cultural and historical record. As historical objects, some of these materials contain harmful or disturbing content. CPL presents these artifacts as an unfiltered social record and does not endorse the views expressed therein.

Related CPL Collections

American Civil War Documents, Manuscripts, Letters and Diaries and Grand Army of the Republic Collections: A large portion of this collection focuses on the experience of soldiers and leaders from Illinois told through letters and diaries.
Military Archival Collections: A list of all archival collections related to the Civil War, including records of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, as well as personal collections of service members from other conflicts, such as World War II.