Libraries abroad: Partnership aims to digitize Civil War items

The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are partnering with Wabash Valley Vision and Voices (WV3), the Indiana State University's Cunningham Memorial Library, the Vigo County Public Library and the Vigo County Historical Society to digitize more than 1,000 Civil War era items in an effort to preserve content of original documents and promote local renewed research as the nation prepares for the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.

Group members plan to digitize field journals, letters, discharge papers, photographs, medals ribbons, canteens, uniforms and more. After the items are processed, they will be fully accessible for online research at www.visions.indstate.edu. By digitizing material, preservation of the often-fragile documents will be maintained.  

During the Civil War, Indiana Gov. Oliver P. Morton asked the Sisters of Providence for medical assistance. Superior Gen. Mother Mary Cecilia Bailly made arrangements to assist the hospital and on May, 17, 1861, the sisters were in charge of all "domestic arrangements," such as washing, cooking and cleaning. Their services also included nursing care.

The Sisters of Providence are one of several congregations honored in a memorial called "The Nuns of the Battlefield," in Washington, D.C.