The Women of Waterford, Virginia: Gender, Unionism, Quakerism and Identity in the American Civil War

• Main Author: Wild, Emily Frances
• Other Authors: History
• Format: Others
• Published: Virginia Tech 2019
• Subjects: Civil War; Women; Gender; Waterford; Virginia; identity; southern unionism; Quaker; Society of Friends; newspaper; journalism
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/91190

Over the course of the Civil War the small community of Waterford, Virginia maintained Unionist sentiments regardless of being a part of the Confederate States of America. These sentiments were rooted in loyalty to the United States, their ostracization from southern culture, and their Quaker faith. In particular, the women of this community became exceptionally vocal with their displeasure with the Confederacy. In the last year of the Civil War they made the deliberate choice to publicly assert their Unionist convictions with their newspaper The Waterford News. The experience of this community, particularly that of its female residents, was influenced by the variety of identities that they held. The women of Waterford were Quakers, female, southern, unionist and editors/producers of a newspaper. The community of Waterford, Virginia was placed in the margins of Southern society because of the cultural differences rooted in their Quaker faith. The Civil War created a chaotic historical moment where those on the margins of society experienced it differently than those around them. By examining their identities as newspaper producers, as citizens of different groups, and within their interpersonal relationships the reality of how war is lived is brought to light. All of these factors reveal how war is lived, and how lives are manipulated to fit within times of chaos. Motivation matters. === Master of Arts === Over the course of the Civil War the small community of Waterford, Virginia maintained loyalty to the United States rather than support the Confederate cause. These sentiments were rooted in patriotism to the United States, their exclusion from southern culture, and their Quaker faith. Women of this community were extremely vocal with their anger over Confederate occupation. In the last year of the Civil War they made the choice to publicly assert their convictions with their newspaper The Waterford News. The experience of this community, particularly that of its female residents, was influenced by the variety of identities that they held. The women of Waterford were Quakers, female, southern, unionist and editors/producers of a newspaper. The community of Waterford, Virginia was excluded from the rest of Virginian society because of their Quaker faith. The Civil War was a traumatic historical event where communities like Waterford experienced it differently than the majority around them. By studying the identities of these women as newspaper producers, as citizens of different groups, and within their interpersonal relationships the reality of how war is lived is revealed. All of these factors reveal how war is lived.