The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued a
press release sharing the completion of the Freedmen’s Bureau digital indexing
project they sponsored, making the records available that were collected
following the civil war and the emancipation of enslaved persons in the U.S. The records of the Freedmen’s Bureau provide a glimpse into the stories of those freed and their families. Millions of slaves across the country were
“freed” as a result of the 13th amendment in 1865 and the government
set out to aid black citizens who were expected to go out and make a life for themselves
after being held in bondage for more than 400 years. This would be later known as the
reconstruction or the reconstruction era. Reconstruction resulted in the election of
blacks in political offices and provided land ownership opportunities to some,
but it was short lived and lasted for only 15 years. Little is widely known about this period in
American history and it is especially hard to find nonfiction or fiction books
for young people that address the topic.
We went on a hunt to discover what is available for this audience. The
list is inclusive of books that directly address reconstruction or the pursuit
of freedom and equal rights following the civil war by lesser known heroes. We hope to expand the list in the future as
more titles are released. If you would like to read the press release announcing the project completion of the Freedman’s Bureau project take a look here: Freedmen's Bureau Project
The Amazing Age of John Roy lynch Barton, Chris
Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton Tate, Don
Reconstruction: Outcomes of the Civil War Schefelton, Kirsten
The Reconstruction Era Latta, Susan M.
I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly Hansen, Joyce
The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial Goodman, Susan E.
Show Way Woodson, Jacqueline
Each title is linked
to GoodReads , a site that includes reader reviews and links to find books in
your local library, bookstore, or online book seller. Happy
Reading!
Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton Tate, Don
Reconstruction: Outcomes of the Civil War Schefelton, Kirsten
The Reconstruction Era Latta, Susan M.
I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly Hansen, Joyce
The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial Goodman, Susan E.
Show Way Woodson, Jacqueline
