Edwin C. Fishel Papers
Scope and Contents
The Edwin C. Fishel Papers contain research material generated by Civil War historian Edwin C. Fishel for his book "The Secret War for the Union: The Untold Story of Military Intelligence in the Civil War." Of note is correspondence between Fishel and noted Civil War historians, such as Bruce Catton, James M. McPherson, and Stephen W. Sears. Also, Fishel's extensive subject files on a variety of topics are retained. In addition, drafts of Fishel's masterpiece are preserved, and copies of his published articles on Civil War military intelligence are present.
Dates
- Creation: 1918 - 1999
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1980 - 1990
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.
Biographical note
A native of Alliance, Ohio, Edwin C. Fishel moved to Washington, D.C. during World War II while serving with the Army Signal Intelligence Service. After the war, he remained as a civilian with the government codes and cipher organizations. From 1947 to 1968, he worked for the National Security Agency. Thereafter until his retirement in 1972, he worked at the National Cryptologic School Press. Fishel's book "The Secret War for the Union" (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996) was a landmark in Civil War intelligence history. Fishel wrote a number of articles on Civil War military intelligence. He also performed in a jazz band and lectured on jazz. Edwin C. Fishel died on February 11, 1999, in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 84. [Source: "Washington Post" 15 February 1999, p. B7.]
Extent
35.5 Linear Feet (25 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Metadata Rights Declarations
Arrangement
SERIES SYNOPSIS:
Series 1 - Correspondence
Series 2 - Subject Files
Series 3 - Manuscripts
Series 4 - Xeroxed Documents
Series 5 - Printed Materials
Series 6 - Note Cards
Series 7 - Photographs
- Title
- Edwin C. Fishel Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Scott S. Taylor
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2026-04: Edited for DACS compliance by John Zarrillo.
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu