Morse Code: A Means of Communication

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On May 24, 1844, Samuel Morse tapped out “What hath God wrought”, the first telegraph message. Morse code is a communication method that transmits text information as a series of on-off clicks, lights, or tones. Each symbol represents a text character and is represented by a unique combination of dots and dashes. During the creation of the code, it was designed so that the length of each character varies inversely to how often it occurs in the English language. So the letter “E” is the shortest code since it occurs the most often in English. In 1836 Samuel Morse, Joseph Henry and Alfred Vail developed the electric telegraph, but it lacked a code. Therefore Samuel Morse designed the Morse Code in 1844.

In the Cincinnati area, you can find the Milford Amateur Radio Club. Their purposes include educating people in the science of radio communications, providing information about the progress in the field of radio communication, conducting classes in radio science, sponsoring experimental activities in radio communication, and organizing units of licensed radio amateurs who are capable of maintaining radio communication during emergencies or disasters. The Club was founded in 1974 and has since been involved in many local and national events.

Here at the Lebanon Public Library, we have several resources about Samuel Morse and his code, and other forms of communication. Featured below are a few of these titles:

A Nation Rising: Untold Tales of Flawed Founders, Fallen Heroes, and Forgotten Fighters from America’s Hidden History by Kenneth C. Davis. In this adult non-fiction book, Davis tells us about several historical episodes that are remembered today. These include Aaron Burr’s 1807 trial, the story of the Fremonts who helped open the West, and the “Bible Riots” in Philadelphia, which had a connection to Samuel Morse and his first telegraph message.

A nation rising

 

Morse Code: The Essential Language by L. Peter Carron Jr. This non-fiction book presents information about why Morse Code is relevant and how it can be used today. Carron talks about the history of telegraphy, learning to receive and send a message, and the future of Morse Code. Although this is an older book, the information it presents is still applicable to those who are interested in Morse Code.

Morse code

 

Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing by Paul B. Janeczko. This juvenile non-fiction book is a wonderful resource for anyone who is interested in learning about how to make and break codes. The book starts with how to make codes, both secret and nonsecret. Janeczko also introduces the reads to many different kinds of ciphers that can be used to send a message. The second part of the book focuses on breaking codes and the final section of the book deals with hiding the message.

Top secret

 

The Telegraph: A History of Morse’s Invention and Its Predecessors in the United States by Lewis Coe. This adult non-fiction book is a great resource for those who are interested in forms of communication. Coe provides information about Samuel Morse and his work not just on his famous code, but also his work on developing the telegraph. The book outlines the uses of the telegraph including military use and civilian use. Coe also included a section about the life of a telegraph operator and what their responsibilities would have included.

The telegraph

 

Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel B. Morse by Kenneth Silverman. This adult non-fiction book is a biography of Samuel Morse. Samuel Morse was a complex man being not only an inventor, but a painter, a pioneer photographer, an early lecturer on art in America, the first Professor of Fine Arts at an American college, and the founder of the National Academy of Design. He also ran for Congress and for the mayor of New York. Silverman shows the evolution of Samuel Morse’s idea for the telegraph and Morse’s thought process behind the idea. Despite all of these achievements, Silverman describes how Morse viewed his life as accursed since he felt that every achievement seemed to end in loss and defeat.

Lightning man

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you also have access to many databases. Included in these online resources are three identification guides: What Tree Is It?, What’s that Snake?, and What’s The Point?. Each one follows a dichotomous key to help you figure out exactly which of those three things you have. In What Tree Is It? you can  use leaf pattern, bark design, branching patterns, and more to figure out what tree you are looking at. To find all of these resources, go to the Lebanon Public Library website and click on Online Resources. Choose the letter “W” to find all three databases.

Carousels: A World of Amusement

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On May 17, 1620, the first merry-go-round was seen at a fair in Philippapolis, Turkey. A merry-go-round can also be called a carousel or a roundabout. Traditionally, the seats on the ride form rows of wooden horses mounted on posts. The horses move up and down on the posts by gears to simulate galloping, to the turn of circus music. The carousel originated from early jousting traditions in Europe and the Middle East. It was introduced to Europe during the Crusades from earlier Arab traditions. Eventually, the carousel was a cavalry training method that prepared and strengthened riders for combat. Today, you can find carousels at fairs, festivals, amusement parks, and circuses.

Here in the Cincinnati area, there are many places where you can find a carousel. At Kings Island and Coney Island you can find a carousel. At other fairs and festivals that come through the area you can find the ride as well.

Here at the Lebanon Public Library, we have several resources about carousels and the history of some of the most recognized circus entrepreneurs. Featured below are a few of these titles:

World of Fairs: The Century of Progress Expositions by Robert W. Rydell. In this adult non-fiction book, Rydell shows how artists, architects and scientists were showcased to millions. Rydell highlights several fairs including the 1926 Philadelphia Sesquicentennial, the 1931 Paris Colonial Exposition, the 1936 Dallas Texas Centennial Exposition, and the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair.

World of fairs

 

Merry-Go-Rounds by Art Thomas. This juvenile non-fiction book goes into detail about the history of merry-go-rounds and how they have evolved since their origination. Although this is a book written at a beginner’s level, Thomas provides well researched information about merry-go-rounds. Anyone looking for a basic understanding of the ride will enjoy the information presented.

Merry-go-rounds

 

Cincinnati’s Coney Island by Charles J. Jacques, Jr. This adult non-fiction book tells the history of Cincinnati’s Coney Island. The book shows readers the history of the amusement park and the development of the park. Jacques showcases the floods, blizzards and fires that the park has survived, as well as the effects of twentieth century events such as the Great Depression and World War II.

Cincinnati's Coney Island

 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. This adult novel is about the character Jacob Jankowski and how he jumps on a train that happens to be a circus train. The book is set in the Great Depression, and shows how people’s lives can be brightened by the circus. Readers watch as Jacob Jankowski falls in love and how the glamour can disappear.

Water for elephants

 

P.T. Barnum: America’s Greatest Showman by Philip B. Kunhardt, Jr., Philip B. Kunhardt III, and Peter W. Kunhardt. This adult non-fiction book is a true story about the man who created the most famous circus show. The authors use more than 500 photographs to create this illustrated biography of Phineas Taylor Barnum. Barnum made all of us fall in love with entertainment through his show’s fantastical stunts and performances.

P.T. Barnum

 

The Carousel by Liz Rosenberg and Jim LaMarche. This juvenile picture book highlights how merry-go-rounds take hold of our imagination as we ride them. In this book Rosenberg and LaMarche tell a story of two sisters who remember their mother telling them that the carousel horses sleep during the winter and awake during spring. The girls find a carousel and soar away on the backs of the horses, fueled by their mother’s stories and love.

The carousel

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you also have access to magazines. To find these magazines, come to the Lebanon Public Library and browse through the magazine section. There you’ll find dozens of magazines, including the Cincinnati magazine. In Cincinnati you’ll find a schedule of festivals, fairs, and other events coming to the area. You can also find new restaurants and museum exhibits.

The National Gallery in London: A Nation’s Art Museum

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On May 10, 1824, the National Gallery in London opens to the public at its temporary home in a townhouse on Pall Mall. Pall Mall is a street that connects St. James’s Street to Trafalgar Square in London. At its location on Pall Mall, the National Gallery was often crowded and hot. Many people were embarrassed by the size of the museum compared to the Louvre in Paris, France. As the collection grew from personal, private collections to its current state of a public collection, the National Gallery was moved several times to various locations. Its current location is in the William Wilkins’ building on Trafalgar Square in London.

Besides the National Gallery, there are many museums in London that house the country’s art and history. Some of these include the British Museum, which holds the Rosetta Stone; the Victoria and Albert Museum, which houses decorative arts; and the Tate Modern, which is a powerhouse of modern art.

Here at the Lebanon Public Library, we have several resources about London’s museums of art and the collections that they hold. Featured below are a few of these titles:

100 Best Paintings in London by Geoffrey Smith. In this adult non-fiction book, Smith provides an essential guide to one of the best public collections of art. Smith included 100 photos in full color with a detailed description that analyzes the details of the painting. Smith also includes a biography of the artist’s life with the description of the painting. The works included in this book are house at the National Gallery, Tate Modern, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and others.

100 best paintings of london

 

Delacroix and the Rise of Modern Art by Patrick Noon and Christopher Riopelle. This adult non-fiction book focuses on the success of Eugène Delacroix as an artist and his influence on future generations. Delacroix shaped the Romantic movement in France with his use of color and his defiance of the traditional art establishment. After he died, he served as inspiration for Impressionists and their allies including Manet, Monet, Renoir, and Degas. Later, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Matisse would find in him an endorsement of their own artistic choices. The National Gallery is currently has an exhibition of Delacroix’s work, which will continue through May 22, 2016.

Delacroix

 

Art on the Line: The Royal Academy Exhibitions at Somerset House 1780-1836, edited by David H. Solkin. This adult non-fiction book tells the history of England’s Royal Academy of Arts. The Somerset House was the home of the Academy’s annual exhibition for 57 years. In society, the Somerset House was where viewers had to be seen and where artists desperately vied for the attention of art buyers. This book looks at the physical nature of the exhibitions, the audience, and the Academy’s place within the world of urban entertainment.

Art on the line

 

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller. This young adult novel focuses on a young girl at the turn of the twentieth century who is living in London. After posing nude for her illicit art class, she and her family are shamed. Her parents try to marry her off, but her dreams are to become an artist and to attend the Royal College of Art. Throughout the novel, she must decide where her loyalties lie and what decision she will make.

A mad wicked folly

 

The Duke of Wellington, Kidnapped!: The Incredible True Story of the Art Heist That Shocked a Nation by Alan Hirsch. This adult non-fiction book is a true story about the biggest art heist in British history. In 1961, someone broke into the National Gallery in London and stole the museum’s prized painting, The Duke of Wellington by Francisco Goya. The case remained unsolved for four years, and was only solved because the culprit volunteered himself as the thief. Kempton Bunton claimed that he carried out the heist armed only with a toy gun, a cheap disguise and a getaway car. In this book, Hirsch explores the facts behind this historic case and uncovers new evidence.

The duke of wellington kidnapped

 

A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum edited by Malcolm Baker and Brenda Richardson. This adult non-fiction book showcases the works located in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum was founded in 1852 as a pioneering museum of applied and decorative arts. Today, the museum holds over 2,000 years of artistic achievement in many forms, including ceramics, metalwork, jewelry, furniture, textiles, paintings, and prints. This book brings together more than 250 of the museum’s finest treasures and recounts the institution’s history.

A grand design

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you also have access to databases. To access these databases, go to the Library’s website. Click on Online Resources. Here you’ll find an alphabetical listing of databases. If you click on U, you’ll find Universal Class. After clicking on the link to use the resource, you’ll be able to browse the Course Catalog. Under the Arts section, you can find photography, drawing, painting, film appreciation, and more. Once you register in the Library for this database, you can take any number of classes.

Horse Racing: A Centuries Long Tradition

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On May 3, 1975, the 101st Kentucky Derby was won by Jacinto Vasquez on Foolish Pleasure in 2:02. Each year on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby is held in Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby has been run consecutively since 1875. The race is one and a quarter miles long and the horses are all three year old Thoroughbreds. The Kentucky Derby also marks the first leg of the American Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The last horse to win the American Triple Crown was American Pharoah in 2015. Prior to that victory, a horse had not won all three races since 1978.

This year the Kentucky Derby will be held on Saturday, May 7, with a two million dollar guaranteed purse. A purse is the total amount of money paid out to the owners of horses racing at a track over a given period of time. Owners of horses put a lot of time, money, and effort into breeding and training a horse in preparation for a race, particularly one as big as the Kentucky Derby. The most wins by an owner came from Calumet Farm in Kentucky, with a total of eight wins. The last of these wins was in 1968.

At the Lebanon Public Library, we have many resources about the horse racing and the different races in the United States. Featured below are a few of these resources:

Horse Racing’s Holy Grail: The Epic Quest for the Kentucky Derby by Steve Haskin. In this adult non-fiction book, Haskin addresses questions such as why three trainers have dominated the Kentucky Derby for the past ten years and why sometimes the best horse loses. The book describes the differences in winners now and in the past, as well as the discrepancies between jockeys.

Horse racing's holy grail

 

Kentucky Derby Dreams: The Making of Thoroughbred Champions by Susan Nusser. This adult non-fiction book follows the path of the newly bred racehorses. Nusser follows the racehorses over eighteen months’ time, and tells the details of their grooming, feeding, and veterinary visits. The book describes the detailed process of breeding the racehorses at the right time to have them debut at the yearling sale in Lexington, Kentucky and all of the preparations that are done to prepare them for racing.

Kentucky Derby dreams

 

Derby Day by D.J. Taylor. This adult fiction book is set in Victorian England and focuses on people’s excitement over Derby Day. The people wait and plot leading up to the day. The favorite horse, Tiberius, is a champion that people depend on. Taylor creates a novel that is filled with idioms of Victorian England and mysteries that pull readers in.

Derby day

 

Horse Racing: The Traveler’s Guide to the Sport of Kings by Michael Walmsley and Marlene Smith-Baranzini. This non-fiction book profiles racetracks around the country, where to stay, what to see, and recaps of historical races. Walmsley and Baranzini have put together a travel guide focused specifically on horse racing and the points of interest related to racing. The book is divided up into regional sections and states that have a significant amount of activity related to horse racing, such as New York and Kentucky, have their own section.

Horse racing

 

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. This juvenile fiction novel is a true story about the friendship of a horse and his master. During World War I, the horse is sold to the army where he is trained to charge the enemy, drag artillery, and carry wounded soldiers off of battlefields. This book features horses in a different light other than racing.  However, other juvenile books such as the biography The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby by Crystal Hubbard and the book Seabiscuit vs War Admiral: The Greatest Horse Race in History by Kat Shehata focus on horse racing from multiple perspectives.

War horse

 

Wild Ride: The Rise and Tragic Fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America’s Premier Racing Dynasty by Ann Hagedorn Auerbach. This adult non-fiction book showcases Calumet Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The farm has produced the highest number of winning horses in the Kentucky Derby and was founded in 1924 by Chicago mogul William Monroe Wright. During the 1980s, J.T. Lundy married a Wright heir and swept the farm into a high stakes venture that ended with notorious deals, huge bank loans, and alleged Mafia ties. In 1990 the fall of the farm shocked the horse industry. This book pieces together the puzzle that is the mystery of Calumet Farm.

Wild ride

 

Racing Through the Century: The Story of Thoroughbred Racing in America by Mary Simon. This adult non-fiction book highlights the history of thoroughbred racing through photographs and research. The book addresses the changes in the sport and how the twenty-first century has offered new developments in horse racing. Simon captures the thrills and defeats, the culture and the business of the racing industry.

Racing through the century

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you also have access to magazines. At the Library you can find many magazines that are current in their subscriptions. One of these magazines is Blood-Horse. Blood-Horse has been in production for 100 years. The objective of the magazine is to offer readers an insight into the upcoming races and horses. This month’s issue is the Triple Crown preview and what readers can expect in the upcoming races.

Blood hores

The Many Faces of Nuclear

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On April 26, 1968, the United States conducted the underground nuclear test “Boxcar”, a one megaton device. “Boxcar” was part of Operation Crosstie, which was conducted in 1967-1968 at the Nevada Test Site. The Nevada Test Site, now called the Nevada National Security Site, is operated under the direction of the United States Department of Energy. It’s located in southern Nevada, about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The first nuclear test conducted at there was on January 27, 1951. During these nuclear tests Las Vegas citizens experienced noticeable seismic effects and the mushroom clouds could be seen for almost 100 miles, making the site of them a tourist attraction. Although there were many above ground tests done, the majority of the nuclear tests were conducted underground.

Nuclear science has led to many questions and theories along the path of its discovery. However, due to the sensitivity of nuclear science, it has also led to several disasters or near disasters. A couple of these examples include the Chernobyl disaster, located in Pripyat, Ukraine, and the Three Mile Island partial nuclear meltdown. The Chernobyl accident occurred on April 26, 1986, exactly 18 years after the “Boxcar” nuclear test. This was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history, and one of only two events classified as a Level Seven event, which is the highest classification. The event at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania occurred on March 28, 1978. Although it was only a partial meltdown, it is still the worst nuclear power plant accident in U.S. history.

At the Lebanon Public Library, we have a many resources about the history of nuclear science, the people behind the science and the disasters that have occurred. Featured below are a few of these resources:

The Manhattan Project: The Birth of the Atomic Bomb in the Words of Its Creators, Eyewitnesses, and Historians edited by Cynthia C. Kelly. This adult non-fiction book gives the history of the Manhattan Project through the writings and thoughts of the original participants in the Manhattan Project. Additionally, the book provides a detailed compilation of documents, articles and excerpts from histories, plays, letters and oral histories. The people documented in the book include J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, Klaus Fuchs, Harry S. Truman and Niels Bohr, among others. The information was assembled by the president of the Atomic Heritage Foundation.

The Manhattan Project

 

Waiting for the End of the World by Richard Ross. This adult non-fiction book is a photographer’s journey into the underground world of bunkers. Ross documented not only United States bomb shelters, but also those of Russia, England, China, Vietnam and Switzerland. Some examples included in the book are the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia, an underground city in China, and Hittite shelters in Turkey.

Waiting for the end of the world

 

Meltdown: A Race Against Disaster at Three Mile Island, A Reporter’s Story by Wilborn Hampton. This juvenile non-fiction book is the detailed hour-by-hour account of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. Hampton covered the story as a United Press International reporter and his eyewitness account is riveting. He tells readers the story of the crisis at Three Mile Island and how the accident there returned peoples’ attention to the potential dangers of nuclear activity.

Meltdown

 

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan. This non-fiction book introduces readers to the town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the formation of the town. During World War II, Oak Ridge was the home of 75,000 people and consumed more electricity than New York City. However, many people didn’t even know the town existed. After the war ended was the secret of Oak Ridge revealed. This book uses the voices of the women who lived through this time period.

The girls of atomic city

 

The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman. This fictional adult graphic novel is the first of six graphic novels that focuses on the Manhattan Project. In this graphic novel Hickman visually portrays a paranoid reimagining of the relationships between the creators of the atomic bomb. Although fictional, Hickman draws on historical facts.

The manhattan projects

 

Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster by Svetlana Aleksievich. This adult non-fiction book presents personal accounts of the tragic Chernobyl disaster of 1986. Aleksievich, a journalist, interviewed hundreds of people who were affected by the nuclear meltdown. The stories of citizens, firefighters and others reveal the fear and anger that people experienced in relation to the accident.

Voices from Chernobyl

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you have access to many online resources. One example of these online resources is the database EBSCO Explora. To access this database, go to our website. Then click on the tab titled Online Resources. Under the Resource Categories list on the right hand side, click the Current Events heading. There you’ll find EBSCO Explora, which allows you to find articles and books on many different subjects, including historical events such as Chernobyl.

Egypt: A History from Ancient to Modern Times

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On April 19, 1923, new Egyptian law allows suffrage for men, except soldiers. In 1922, Egypt gained independence from Great Britain through the Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence. This independence was nominal, meaning in name only, in the sense that Britain still had four “reserved areas”, which were foreign relations, communications, the military, and the governance of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. On September 27, 1923, electoral representatives were elected by the general population. Then, in 1924, a general election was held, during which the elected representatives elected members of the new Parliament. The result was that both minority and majority leaders won seats in the government.

At the Cincinnati Museum Center, you can see Umi the Mummy in their Museum of Natural History and Science. Umi is an Egyptian mummy of a young boy, who was around four years old when he died. Scientists from the Cincinnati Museum Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine worked together to perform analyses with little to no damage to the mummy or his wrappings.

At the Lebanon Public Library, we have a variety of resources about Egypt and its history. Featured below are a few of these resources:

Treasures of the Pharaohs by Delia Pemberton. This photographic book describes the many legends of ancient Egypt, starting at the very beginning of Egyptian civilization and spanning until the Roman Empire. The book tells of the events that inspired the shrines, palaces and tombs that we have seen in modern times. Pemberton shows the beautiful jewels and armor, statues, and murals.

Treasures of the Pharaohs

 

Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt by Joyce Tyldesley. This adult non-fiction book is a biography of the well-known Egyptian woman, Cleopatra. Cleopatra was the last effective ruler of the Macedonian dynasty of Ptolemies who had ruled Egypt for three hundred years. She was clever, educated and ruthless. In this biography, Tyldesley gives us a new perspective on the lady the Romans called the fatal omen, and who Shakespeare portrayed as an icon of tragic love.

Cleopatra

 

Nefertiti: Queen of Egypt, Daughter of Eternity by Michelle Moran. This adult fiction book is the historically accurate story of two Egyptian sisters, Nefertiti and Mutnodjmet. Nefertiti is about to marry Amunhotep, a young pharaoh. From the moment she arrives in Thebes, she is loved by everyone. The trouble begins when Nefertiti and Amunhotep have difficulty conceiving an heir. The only person wise enough to recognize the increasing turmoil within the governing family and brave enough to tell Nefertiti is her sister, Mutnodjmet. This story shows love, betrayal, and political unrest in a fast-paced narrative.

Nefertiti

 

Mirage: Napoleon’s Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt by Nina Burleigh. This non-fiction book introduces readers to the time when Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Army ventured into Egypt. Astronomers, mathematicians, physicists, botanists, and artists all traveled with the Army to participate in the first large-scale interaction between Europeans and Muslims in pursuit of discovery. The three year expedition produced an exhaustive encyclopedia of Egypt, making Napoleon’s scientists the first to document the accomplishments of ancient Egypt.

Mirage

 

Building the Pyramid by Kevin Jackson and Jonathan Stamp. This adult non-fiction book traces the history of the Giza site, from the early Greek and Roman travelers to the French invasion in 1798. The book explores possible links to Freemasonry, and the effects of mass tourism. Finally, the authors examine less orthodox theories about how the Great Pyramid has become a magnet for all manner of con artists.

Building the great pyramid

 

Imagining Egypt: A Living Portrait of the Time of the Pharaohs by Mark Millmore. This adult non-fiction book shows readers how to decode hieroglyphs, tells how the pyramids were built, how to read ancient myths and legends and what the daily life would have been like during the time of the ancient Egyptian rulers. Illustrations paired with photos and original diagrams carry readers back to an exotic and fascinating time period. Millmore shows not only the ruins and artifacts but also the way of life through stories and imagery.

Imagining Egypt

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you have access to many online resources. One example of these online resources is the database Points of View Reference Center, powered by EBSCOhost. This database effectively presents different viewpoints on a subject, such as World War II. To access this database, go to our website. Then click on the tab titled Online Resources. Under the Resource Categories list on the right hand side, click the Current Events heading. There you’ll find Points of View Reference Center, which allows you to look at different institutions and their research. Once choosing a heading, such as Government and Military, you can choose a subject, such as History. Then you have the opportunity to browse through various historical abstracts written by many different authors.

Fort Sumter, South Carolina: The Start of the Civil War

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On April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, South Carolina was shelled by the Confederacy, marking the start of the Civil War. Fort Sumter is located near Charleston, South Carolina, and from April 12-14, 1861, it was attacked and eventually taken by the Confederacy. Prior to this attack there had been rising tensions between South Carolina and the United States. On December 20, 1860 South Carolina formally seceded following the election of President Abraham Lincoln. Sitting President James Buchanan attempted to resupply Fort Sumter in January 1861 and failed when the U.S. merchant ship was fired upon by South Carolina forces. At that time, South Carolina authorities seized all United States property in the area except Fort Sumter. After the attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, the American Civil War had officially begun.

During the Civil War Ohio provided troops and supplies to the Union army. Ohio also played an important role in the Underground Railroad prior to the start of the War. At the time of the War, Ohio was the third most populous state in the Union and contributed many well-known officers to the Union army, notably Generals Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and Philip H. Sheridan. Although many Ohio men and women contributed to the war effort, only two minor battles were fought within the state borders, sparing it the brutal effects of the war.

At the Lebanon Public Library, we have a variety of resources about the Civil War and its aspects. Featured are a few of these resources:

The Civil War: A Traveler’s Guide edited by Len Riedel. This National Geographic book is a travel guide that provides detailed information on more than 500 historic sites related to the Civil War. The book includes many maps, walking tours, and dozens of photos. The book is divided up according to states, making it convenient to plan a trip. In addition to the main battlefields, the book also contains off the beaten path sites that viewers may find interesting.

Civil War a traveler's guide

 

The American Civil War: 365 Days by Margaret E. Wagner. This wonderfully detailed book, published by the Library of Congress, shows the events of the Civil War on each day during the years of the war, 1861-1865. The book delves into the memories held within the walls of the Library of Congress, providing photographs, lithographs, battlefield drawings, political cartoons, posters, and maps.

American civil war 365 days

 

The South vs. The South: How Anti-Confederate Southerners Shaped the Course of the Civil War by William W. Freehling. This non-fiction book argues that the Confederacy did not lose the Civil War because of the Union’s strength in numbers and industrial power, but because of anti-Confederate Southerners. Many border states had divided loyalties, but among the men in the states many more joined the Union forces instead of the Confederate ones. Freehling argues that in addition to white men’s loyalties, slaves’ actions led to a series of white decisions that turned federal forces into an army of liberation.

The south vs the south

 

Our Man in Charleston: Britain’s Secret Agent in the Civil War South by Christopher Dickey. This non-fiction book tells the story of Robert Bunch, who arrived in Charleston in 1853 at his post as the British consul. Bunch’s job included sending intelligence back to Britain, and as the Civil War neared, Bunch found himself leading a double life. Although he was living in the South, Bunch tried to thwart their plans to create the Confederacy. Specifically, Bunch relayed messages to Britain about the South’s true intentions to reopen the Atlantic slave trade. Dickey uses this book to tell of Consul Bunch and the impact he had on the outcome of the War.

Our man in charleston

 

Junius and Albert’s Adventures in the Confederacy:  A Civil War Odyssey by Peter Carlson. This narrative non-fiction book tells the story of Junius Browne and Albert Richardson, two reporters for the New York Tribune until Confederates captured them. The two went from prison to prison until the escaped and trekked across the Appalachians. During their adventures, Junius and Albert encountered many people, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, spies from both sides, a secret society called the Heroes of America, and many others.

Junius and Albert

 

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker. This young adult non-fiction book won the Robert F. Sibert Informational Medal and was an American Library Association Notable Book. For more than one hundred years, the H.L. Hunley laid on the bottom of the ocean floor near Charleston, South Carolina. H.L. Hunley was a Civil War stealth weapon, the first submarine to ever sink an enemy ship in 1864. In 1995 the H.L. Hunley was discovered after being lost, and this book is her story.

Secrets of a civil war submarine

 

Smithsonian Civil War: Inside the National Collection foreward by Jon Meacham. This non-fiction book showcases, for the very first time, the treasures from the Smithsonian Civil War collection. This collection includes uniforms, personal belongings, photographs, and documents. Curators from thirteen Smithsonian museums and archives helped develop this to fully highlight the political, military, social and cultural climate of the time. The book is laid out in 150 entries to honor the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Smithsonian civil war

 

With your Lebanon Public Library card, you have access to many online resources. One example of these online resources is the database World Book Online. To access this database, go to our website. Then click on the tab titled Online Resources. Under the Resource Categories list on the right hand side, click the General Reference heading. There you’ll find World Book Online, which allows you to look at sections for kids, students, and even has a timeline section. Under the timeline section you’ll be able to search based on subject or notable people, including Ulysses S. Grant.
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