RALEIGH–The Civil War savaged lives yet secured the future of generations in North Carolina and the rest of the nation, and altered the course of American history. The injustices faced by African Americans were some of the most significant factors leading to the American Civil War (1861-1865). The fight for liberation is just one of many moving features of the Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory: Civil War Sesquicentennial Photography Exhibit, which will visit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library from Oct. 2-29.
The Civil War was the first war widely covered with photography. The Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory exhibit provides images of historic figures, artifacts, and documents that brought the reality of the war from the battlefront to the home front, then and now.
The exhibit will commemorate the bravery and resiliency of North Caroliniansthroughout the Civil War with stimulating images gathered from the State Archives, the N.C. Museum of History, and State Historic Sites. A total of 24 images will be displayed by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources in 50 libraries and four museums throughout the state from April 2011 through May 2013. A notebook will accompany the exhibit with further information and also seeking viewer comments.
The collection depicts African Americans, women and militiamen, including images of artifacts and official documents. One image is a political cartoon from Harper’s Weekly magazine questioning the impact of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and pointing to continued suffering of African Americans.
The state-wide tour will present various aspects of North Carolinians in the Civil War and educate viewers of each area’s participation and commitment during this tumultuous time.
For information on the tour call (919) 807-7389. Forinformation on the exhibit call the library at (704) 461-0152. Library hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.