Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the John Patrick Callaghan Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: John Patrick Callaghan Collection, 1863-1864, Ms2009-065 - Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The John Patrick Callaghan Collection was donated to Special Collections in April 2009.

Alternative Form Available

HarpWeek : The Civil War Era and Reconstruction I & II (1857-1877) database contains digitized versions of Harper's Weekly including illustrations. Virginia Tech Access Only.

The Virginia Civil War Archive is a digital collection of 100 Harper's Weekly images, as well as information on another 300 illustrations. The collection is hosted by George Mason University, and focuses on representations of Virginia in the Civil War.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the John Patrick Callaghan Collection commenced and was completed in April 2009.

Historical Information

In 1850, Harper & Brothers began publishing Harper's Monthly, an illustrated magazine, inspired by the success of similar periodicals in the United States and England. By 1857, the magazine had become Harper's Weekly, featuring national and international news, political commentary, literary contributions, and cartoons and woodcuts by artists like Thomas Nast and Winslow Homer. Its popularity and wide-spread circulation made Harper's Weekly particularly influential throughout the Civil War. The publication was careful to take a moderate stance during the war, in an effort not to isolate its Southern readers.

Following the Civil War, the publication continued its interest in politics and social issues. Leading politicians contributed articles and Harper's Weekly continued to help win presidential campaigns. In May of 1916, it merged with The Independent, which in turn merged with several other periodicals. In 1974, Harper's Weekly re-emerged as a separate publication.

Scope and Content

The collection contains two volumes of Harper's Weekly publications from 1863 and 1864, including several Winslow Homer woodcuts and Thomas Nast cartoons. The 1863 volume covers the weeks of January 3 rd through December 26 th. This box also contains a folder with several news-clippings found inside the volumes. The 1864 volume covers the weeks of January 2 nd through August 20 th. Both volumes are missing some pages.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Index Terms

Subjects:

• Civil War
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865