Lonnie Roberts of Georgia initially asked about the price of everyday items between 1851 and 1875 and Elizabeth Whitaker of South Carolina noted that many Southern newspapers published somewhat sporadically during the Late Unpleasantness.

 

Further complicating the issue for the early 1860’s is that the Federal government imposed certain restraint of trade policies that resulted in spot shortages of goods throughout the South.  There was also considerable inflation of the local currency during that period and, often it was uncertain if prices quoted were in paper or specie.

 

Nevertheless, in my private research into the Southern Resistance Movement I have seen frequent references in soldier’s letters and official receipts to prices for various items--mostly foodstuffs.  And the remarkable part of it is that in March 1865 the Confederate dollar had more buying power than today's dollar.

 

Perhaps, more to the point, is that in Texas (and probably other states as well) has records of accounts (a.k.a. Claims) paid for military and civilian purposes that document the price of goods ranging from gun caps and fence pickets to draft animals and capital goods.  The Texas Claims Records are available on microfilm 1836-1845 (before the period asked about) but I believe that the Texas State Archives has later Claims as well.  And I doubt that Texas is the only state with Claims records.

 

Another source, if one is interested in the War for Southern Independence is:  "Publication  Washington [District of Columbia] : The National Archives, 1982 Physical  1158 microfilm reels ; 16 mm.  National Archives microfilm publications : M0346  References  (Related (rev) Confederate papers relating to citizens or business firms."

 

Also, Lonnie, if your researcher is interested in the Civil War, have him/her look at Paul A. Levengood, "In the Absence of Scarcity:  The Civil War Prosperity of Houston, Texas," _Southwestern Historical Quarterly_ April 1998.  There are some items there about prevailing prices of goods and the economic and social conditions affecting them.

 

Paul R. Scott, CA, CRM

Records Management Officer

Harris County, TX