Decatur County Historical Society seeks Civil War-era materials, expands outreach

The Decatur County Historical Society is asking neighbors to help fill gaps in the county’s recorded past by contributing Civil War-era information, photographs, and other local materials, while reminding residents that its resources and upcoming programs remain available to researchers and families.

The society’s January calendar overview highlights a current call for information about Civil War-era activity in the county and invites contributions of documents and images that could clarify troop movements, homefront life, and civilian experiences. The site also lists details on how to order this year’s DCHS historical calendar and commemorative ornaments, and it outlines outreach and educational opportunities open to the public.

For Decatur County residents, the society serves as both a memory bank and a practical research hub. The DCHS website provides resources tailored to local researchers, including catalog descriptions, guidance for submitting material, and scheduling information for outreach events. Those who have family albums, letters, or artifacts from the 19th century are encouraged to bring them forward so small discoveries can broaden the county narrative.

Beyond preserving photos and heirlooms, collecting fuller records from the Civil War era has implications for public health and social equity today. Historical documents can reveal patterns in how communities responded to injury, disease, displacement, and scarce medical resources. Local health planners, educators, and advocates can use those lessons to contextualize long-term social determinants of health in Decatur County — including how land loss, economic shifts, and segregation shaped access to care across generations.

The society’s outreach and educational programs also create space for community dialogue. When archives represent a wider range of voices, from farm families to Black communities and immigrant households, the result is a more accurate civic memory that can inform equitable policy decisions, school curricula, and public commemorations. Ensuring broad participation reduces the risk that the county’s history will be written only by a few and helps center experiences often overlooked in official records.

Residents interested in contributing or using the society’s resources will find ordering details for the calendar and ornaments as well as event schedules on the DCHS website. Bringing originals, copies, or clear scans and basic provenance information will help staff and volunteers evaluate and preserve items for public use.

The takeaway? Share the photos and stories tucked in your attic — adding them to the county archive strengthens our shared memory and gives local leaders and health planners better context for decisions that affect neighbors today. Our two cents? Gather what you can, talk with older relatives, and help make Decatur County’s history more complete and fair for everyone.