Living in the fracturing nation's capital and watching debates in Congress prior to the secession of the Southern states, Mary Henry was uniquely placed to reflect on the mood of the country. Transcribe her diaries to find out more about the path toward and the beginning phases of war.
Living in the fracturing nation's capital and watching debates in Congress prior to the secession of the Southern states, Mary Henry was uniquely placed to reflect on the mood of the country. Transcribe her diaries to find out more about the path toward and the beginning phases of war.
As daughter of the first Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry, Mary Anna Henry (1834-1903) lived in the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, on the National Mall with her family. She was an active member of D.C. society at the outbreak of the Civil War and looked on as the nation battled to define itself. Living in Washington, D.C., at the beginning of this diary Mary was a twenty-four year old at the cultural and political center of the country.
This diary spans the years of 1858-1863 and covers her life and observations of events in Washington, D.C. and regionally. Her entries include details of visitors to the Castle, her father's work with the Smithsonian, and the beginning years of the Civil War.
Help us transcribe Mary Henry's diaries and discover the lifestyles and challenges facing a country on the path and then into the Civil War. Discover details of Mary Henry's life and the history of the Smithsonian Institution from the Smithsonian Institution Archives, where her diaries are held.
