Alan J Pitts
Re: ADAH and Birmingham Central Library collections
Thu Jun 28 12:03:12 2001


I agree with all of the above, but would like to add a few words for a first-time visitor. Time is a valuable commodity, and I'd like to help you use it wisely. Allow me to name a few areas of interest and describe the strengths and weaknesses of both the ADAH and the BPL. This isn't everything, so check the links I've added at the end of this post.

CONFEDERATE SERVICE RECORDS -- Don't go to Montgomery expecting to find much. As Hayes mentioned, Alabama microfilm as well as other Confederate collections are available at the BPL. BPL has much more microfilm than the ADAH, and all ADAH microfilm readers are +very+ old. For instance, both institutions have the CSA index on microfilm. However, you won't have access to an automated reader at the ADAH, nor will you be able to look at service records after finding a name/unit on the index.

ALABAMA REGIMENTAL RECORDS -- By all means, go to Montgomery. ADAH has original muster rolls, regimental history and correspondence files on most commands. On occasion you may come across rolls not included in the NARA microfilm, which are priceless. However, it takes time to request and review these files, so you need to decide what you want to see before you make the trip.

BOOKS ON ALABAMA IN THE WAR -- BPL is much better. There's little on the shelf in Montgomery that I haven't seen in Birmingham. BPL has the resources to acquire printed material, and the director is an energetic lady who is highly motivated to identify and purchase books about the war, especially on Confederate/Alabama topics. ADAH just isn't funded to do this. Both libraries have unique books on the shelf; for instance, typescripts donated by local authors/editors. However, unless I'm waiting on a collection to be delievered to my research table, I no longer waste time looking for books at the ADAH.

ALABAMA NEWSPAPERS -- A close call, but I'd probably go to Montgomery. Many antebellum and war-time Alabama newspapers are on microfilm at the ADAH. Get a copy of Ellison's "Alabama Newspapers" so that you have some idea of what's there. For instance, ADAH has original bound copies of the "Mobile Advertiser & Register"; BPL has the same on microfilm. Of course the original is easier to read, but you may find that although ADAH has the newspaper in its collection, the original is so fragile that it can't be handled.

ALABAMA PENSION RECORDS -- The microfilm is available at the BPL. It's available at ADAH as well, but I'd rather use BPL readers.

1907 VETERANS CENSUS -- No question, go the ADAH. BPL has the census in printed form, but hasn't always been transcribed correctly. ADAH has wonderful files on not only for each Alabama county, but also identical files that have been sorted by unit. For instance, if you are looking for a veteran of the 5th Alabama Cavalry, ask for the census file on that command. Individual forms may include narrative that doesn't exist in the printed abstracts.

CENSUS INFORMATION -- Both institutions have good collections on microfilm. BPL has 1860 schedules for agriculture, slaves, mechanical and social data on each Alabama county, as well as the 1866 and 1855 state census. In addition, published data from the Eighth Census &c is available (and quite useful). I'm not certain that ADAH has all this.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS -- Both institutions have unique holdings; ADAH has the largest number of war-related diaries and letters. You cannot rely on a library assistant to identify these for you; you must use finding aides to locate collections that may be of interest to you. Ask the librarian to locate the finding aides and show you how to use them. It's a hit-or-miss proposition if you ask for general types of material. Depending on who you ask, or how you phrase the question, one librarian may know exactly what you w begging for food or bus fare to Atlanta. If you know the streets around the ADAH and arrive at a reasonably early hour, you can find a parking spot that doesn't have a meter. I'm sure there are +homeless+ people in Montgomery, but they don't seem to cluster about the ADAH.

You will need a researcher's car in order to use the research room at the ADAH, which means you need to fill out a form and have a card issued. That may take about twenty minutes. BPL is open to the public. ADAH will not allow you to take personal belongings into the research reading room; you will be issued a key to a locker where they may be stored. Of course you may take a personal computer and notebooks, but you may not use a pen in that room. No restrictions at the BPL.

HOURS -- ADAH always closes at 5:00 PM CDT; BPL is open until 6:00 PM every day except Mondays and Tuesdays. The BPL is open until 8:00 PM on those days. ADAH opens at 8:00 AM on weekdays and 9:00 on Saturday. Of course both institutions are closed for national holidays, and ADAH is closed for state holidays. It's best to check the calendar for these, or you may find that you've wasted a trip to Montgomery. That happened to me once; I got back in the car and drove to Auburn, which also has a fine Confederate research collection. I believe both are open on Sunday afternoons, but I don't know the opening hours.

FOOD -- You're in trouble in either place. I find both Montgomery and Birmingham to be remarkably destitute of restaurants in easy walking distance of the BPL and the ADAH. Ask the librarian what they suggest; the ADAH has snack machines in the basement.

OTHER LIBRARIES IN ALABAMA -- I'm told that Wallace State has a wonderful microfilm collection which extends to all Confederate states, but haven't visited there yet. I've mentioned Auburn, and the University of Alabama has an extensive collection which includes the Henry DeLamar Clayton papers. There are good libraries associated with larger cities and universities, but I'll let others who know them better comment on their holdings.

BPL finding aide URL:

http://www.bham.lib.al.us/

ADAH web site:

http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/military.html#Civil%20War