The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and the Library of Virginia, in conjunction with the Amelia County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and Sailors Creek Battlefield Historical State Park, will seek to locate, identify, and copy original manuscript articles (that is, primary source documents) concerning the Civil War, at the Sailors Creek Visitor Center on December 4, 2010, from 10:00am-4:00pm. The organizers are interested in locally-held private materials such as letters, photographs, maps, hand-drawn sketches, enlistment and discharge papers, diaries, and other Civil War-era documents for future preservation, scholarly research, and public access.

This “scanning event” will occur on the same day as the Sailors Creek Christmas Program and Open House at the Hillsman House. The original items must be owned by the person who presents them for digitization. The public is asked to not bring previously photocopied materials and/or items subject to United States copyright laws. This archiving activity is an important event in Amelia that seeks to bring to light to the broader public documents and holdings previously unexposed to research and dissemination. For an appointment time, or more information, contact the park office at 804-561-7510.

The Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War commemoration has been underway since the summer of 2009. It aims to investigate, educate, publicize, and otherwise engage American citizens with the war's historical events. Major areas of focus include the background and legacies of the war, the African-American experience, the war's home fronts, and the military campaigns. Virginia activities will play a vital role throughout the national commemorative period. Military events will culminate in 2015 with great interest on Lee's Retreat from Petersburg to Appomattox, including through Namozine, Amelia Court House, Jetersville, Amelia Springs, and Sailors Creek. The Amelia committee hopes to also explore the local African-American, home front, and legacy aspects of the war.

Citizens of Amelia who are interested in participating with the Amelia County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee in any of these areas should contact Co-Chairmen Chris Calkins at Sailor Creek Battlefield Historical Sate Park, or Michael F. Whitaker, 561-6461, for more information.