University of Maryland Presents an Exhibit on Women During the Civil War

The University of Maryland is currently showing an exhibit entitled “Women on the Border: Maryland Perspectives of the Civil War.” The exhibit focuses on the lives of women living in Maryland at the time of the War Between the States. Included in the presentation are letters, diaries, photographs, drawings, sheet music, and rare books.

Elizabeth Novara, curator of historical documents of the special collection unit of the University of Maryland library, stated, “We have never looked at our Civil War collections through the lens of women’s history before. Women were activists. They organized fairs to raise money to support the troops and buy medical supplies. They also published political tracts and opinions.”

The exhibit is on display at the R. Lee Hornbake Library on the University of Maryland College Park campus through July 12. A companion exhibit, “A College Divided: Maryland Agricultural College and the Civil War,” is on display in the library’s reception foyer.

An online version of the exhibit is also available. Readers who want to view the online exhibition can do so here.