Revolutionary, Civil, and World Wars

Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives (SC/UA) holds many manuscript and archival documents concerning the Revolutionary and the Civil War, and the participation of Rutgers alumni and New Jerseyans in the two World Wars. Many of the documents are letters and diaries, and the handwriting may be difficult to read. We have indicated when transcriptions are available.

Jacob J. Janeway (Rutgers Class of 1859)

Revolutionary War

If you want to consult original Revolutionary War materials contact our reference services in advance so that we may supply you with duplicate copies.

Simeon De Witt (1756-1834)

Simeon De Witt was one of the first graduates of Rutgers University (named "Queen's College" at the time). The chief surveyor in George Washington’s army, he drew maps that would guide Washington to battle. SC/UA has letters that De Witt wrote to others, including former classmates, about his experience during the Revolutionary War.

Manuscript collections

Additional information online

Miscellaneous documents relating to the Revolutionary War

  • Detailed list of Revolutionary War documents at SC/UA: available online . Individual items are described in the card catalog in the Reading Room (to be consulted in order to fill in call slips).
  • Diaries and journals: see a list of diaries and journals, 1740s to the 1950s, which includes general diaries, as well as religious, travel, wartime and institutional journals, organized in chronological order.

Civil War

If you want to consult original Civil War materials contact our reference services in advance so that we may supply you with duplicate copies.

Manuscript materials, including letters and journals

We have may a great number of manuscript materials at SC/UA relating to the Civil War, including letters written by soldiers and wartime civilians, records of military organizations, soldiers' journals, and materials from military and veterans' organizations. A detailed guide (indicated below) is available in the reading room. Part 1 includes a description and transcriptions from journals and letters, Part 2 is a guide to additional materials in the collection, without transcripts.

Rutgers College alumni participating in the Civil War

N.B. Rutgers University was named Rutgers College until 1924.

Primary sources

Additional information about Rutgers alumni during the Civil War

World War I ("The Great War")

N.B. New Jersey in the first World War was the subject of an archival exhibit at SC/UA in 2017

Records of Rutgers College's War Service Bureau

The records of Rutgers War Service Bureau include, among others, letters from members of the Rutgers community regarding their activities during the war on the home front and abroad. Correspondents are listed alphabetically in the finding aid.

J.F.C. Fueller Collection

John Frederick Charles "Boney" Fueller (1878-1966) was a writer of military history, who served for thirty-five years as a career officer in the British Army, retiring as a major general in 1933. His papers include correspondence, photographs, publications, printed miscellany, maps and scrapbooks that in part relate to World War I and World War II.

Additional collections and documents

World War II

Rutgers University alumni

E.H. Tepper Collection of World War II posters

The posters serve to document the United States government's attempt to encourage widespread public support for the war effort. The posters champion the purchase of war bonds and stamps, as well as advocate increased industrial production and conservation of foodstuffs and other goods.

J.F.C. Fueller Collection

John Frederick Charles "Boney" Fueller (1878-1966) was a writer of military history, who served for thirty-five years as a career officer in the British Army, retiring as a major general in 1933. His papers include correspondence, photographs, publications, printed miscellany, maps and scrapbooks that in part relate to World War I and World War II.