Macculloch Hall Intern Uncovers Pivotal Civil War-Era Documents

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Tiffany Hite, a winter intern at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, has been reading and transcribing 143 documents - primarily speeches and letters - of Senator Jacob Welsh Miller, who served as a U.S. Senator from 1841 to 1853. Hite's work is uncovering the tensions and challenges the nation faced in the lead-up to the Civil War, with Miller's writings capturing the fragility of the country during this pivotal period of American history.

Why it matters

Hite's archival research on Senator Miller's writings provides a unique window into the political and social dynamics of the decades preceding the Civil War, a critical juncture in U.S. history that continues to shape the nation today. Her work sheds new light on the perspectives and debates that were unfolding as the country grappled with issues of expansion and the role of slavery.

The details

Tiffany Hite, a graduate student at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in history, is currently working as a winter intern at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum. As part of her internship, she has been reading and transcribing 143 documents - primarily speeches and letters - of Senator Jacob Welsh Miller, who served as a U.S. Senator from 1841 to 1853 as a member of the Whig Party. Miller's writings capture the fragility and tension of the decades leading up to the Civil War, particularly as the nation wrestled with issues of expansion and the role of slavery.

• Tiffany Hite has just completed her seventh week working in the archives at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum.
• Senator Jacob Welsh Miller served as a U.S. Senator from 1841 to 1853.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Tiffany Hite's research on Senator Miller's writings is ongoing, and the museum plans to share more of her findings as she continues uncovering the voice of this pivotal historical figure and the story of a nation on the brink of the Civil War.