FAQ

A primary sources is a first-hand account of an historical event or time period.  These can include diaries, letters, reports, photographs, creative works, financial records, memos, newspaper articles, and government documents to name a few.  Primary sources also include first-hand accounts that were documented later, such as autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories.

A secondary source is one that was created after the historical event or time period by someone who did not participate in or witness the event. Secondary sources include scholarly books, articles, encyclopedias, websites, and dissertations to name a few. 

Yes!  We will continue to add primary and secondary sources to broaden and deepen the bibliography.

Currently, there are 5 number of American wars represented in this bibliography.  They are: American Revolutionary War, American Civil War, World War II, Vietnam War, and the Korean War.  More will be added, however, as the bibliography continues to grow.

While we can’t guarantee that every book included in the bibliography is in your local library’s collection, we have included in each individual book record a link to get it from a library.  This link will take you to a resource called WorldCat which will help you identify which libraries closest to your location (by zip code) own the title.  You may be able to check out the book from your local library or you will need to contact your local library to inquire about interlibrary loan options.

While we can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to purchase every book included in the bibliography, most all of them can be found and purchased through a variety of major booksellers.  Included in each individual book record is a link to learn more which typically includes purchasing information.

Specific prison locations included on the map were determined by the content of the book.  For instance, if the book is primarily about a specific prison, then that geo-location is represented on the map.  But if the book includes a POWs experience at multiple prison camps (often POWs were moved to a variety of locations), then a general geo-location is represented on the map.

We have identified some additional resources including links and short descriptions for researching US wars.  You can find those on the home page under the Resources section.  In addition to the bibliography, we will continue to grow these lists of resources.