Post-Centennial Trends in American Civil War Monographic Literature, 1966-1990

Abstract

Widespread interest in the American Civil War has produced a massive amount of literature. In addition to dissertations and countless journal articles, one recent account estimates that over 50,000 monographs alone have appeared on various aspects of the conflict. This study is based on 863 selected monographs that have been published since the close of the Civil War Centennial in 1965 through 1990 imprints. The primary purposes of this sample are to classify these works by major areas of emphases, to identify trends in the monographic literature, and to draw some comparisons between the pre-centennial and lost-centennial eras. In combination with bibliographical sources, this study will prove helpful to librarians who are responsible for building collections on this pivotal period in American history.