A colorized photo of a woman in the 1850s.

The Past in Color

A short history of hand-colored photos during the Civil War era.
“Words Have Power” exhibit displayed at Fort Pulaski National Monument.

Why I Haven’t Embraced the Terms “Forced Labor Camp” and “Enslaved Labor Camp” in My Work on Slavery

“Forced labor” conflates different forms of labor throughout history and minimizes the uniquely brutal conditions of chattel slavery.
Bernard Lynch's slave pen in St. Louis, with many potential buyers standing outside.

The Remarkable Story of Mattie J. Jackson

Her narrative documents the very real dangers enslaved runaways experienced while traveling through so-called "free states" of the North.
Side profile of Julia Grant

Julia Dent Grant’s Personal Memoirs as a Plantation Narrative

Her memoirs contribute to the inaccurate post-Civil War memory of the Southern plantation.

Black Political Activism and the Fight for Voting Rights in Missouri

Nick Sacco takes a moment to remember the 15th Amendment.
Formal photograph of Ulysses S. Grant.

Public Monuments and Ulysses S. Grant’s Contested Legacy

It is fair to ask whether Grant’s prewar experiences define the entirety of his character, and who sets the bar for which public figures deserve commemoration.

Missouri Compromised

Anti-slavery protest during the Missouri statehood debate.

Teaching the Reconstruction Era Through Political Cartoons

A public historian recommends tactics for explaining an oft-left out period.

The Times Are A Changin’

Reports of the death of nuanced interpretations of the Civil War have been grossly exaggerated.
Political cartoon of the liberation of a slave by going to a free state.

The Mystery of William Jones, an Enslaved Man Owned by Ulysses S. Grant

Looking for traces of the last person ever owned by a U.S. president.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

How do museum gift shops at Civil War sites shape historical memory?