Journal captures daily routine of a mining superintendent in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region during the Civil War | 1864

In November 1864, Schuylkill County mine superintendent Gilliard Dock took up his pen and journaled about his daily routine at the coal mine just north of Pine Grove, PA. Dock was active in his journal that fall, writing about politics, the prospects for his mining operation, and the chaotic state of American politics in the fourth year of the Civil War. Read the full story.

A Schuylkill County mine superintendent reveals discomfort and fear of Irish mineworkers in rural mining village | 1864

In the turbulent year of 1864, Gilliard Dock, a mine superintendent in rural Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, expressed deep discomfort with his surroundings and growing fear of the Irish mineworkers he encountered. Dock’s journal entries reveal the tensions between mine management and labor, which were fueled by anti-Irish sentiment and fears of violence. His unease reflected broader concerns over labor unrest in the anthracite coal fields during the Civil War, where violence against management became increasingly common. Explore Dock's personal reflections and the often violent labor environment of the Coal Region during the Civil War. Read the full story.