Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 2026

New Book Series Brings Missouri Civil War Voices to Life

First volumes of 1861 Missouri Speaks to be released this August on Amazon

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Fry’s Lyon Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation dedicated to Civil War education, will begin releasing Series 1 and Series 2 of the 1861 Missouri Speaks Collection this August through Amazon.com.
The 1861 Missouri Speaks Collection is an ambitious publishing project—over 70 volumes—presenting transcribed and fully footnoted primary-source documents from the Civil War era, with a focus on Missouri. The series brings together letters, newspaper accounts, official reports, and other firsthand materials that illuminate the political and military crisis that unfolded in Missouri during the opening months of the war.

As a border state divided by competing loyalties, Missouri occupied a uniquely complex position in 1861. The documents in this collection capture the voices of Missourians as they experienced the conflict firsthand—politicians debating the state’s future, soldiers and civilians describing rapidly changing events, and newspapers reflecting deeply divided public opinion.

A Sampler volume, featuring excerpts from each of the collection’s fourteen series, and an atlas will also be released as a preview of the larger project.

Fry’s Lyon Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation dedicated to educating the public about Missouri’s role in the Civil War. Its initiatives include the Missouri Civil War Passport (2019), the 1861 Missouri Speaks Collection, and the companion website, 1861MissouriSpeaks.com, which will provide additional information,

purchasing links, and updates.

Media Contact:
Jackie Worth
Fry’s Lyon Foundation, Inc.
1861MissouriSpeaks@gmail.com

1861MissouriSpeaks.com
Facebook.com/1861MissouriSpeaks​

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