The Valley of the Shadow

The Valley of the Shadow is a digital history project about the American Civil War launched in 1993 by the University of Virginia. It focuses on the experiences of Confederate soldiers from Augusta County, Virginia, and Union soldiers from Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The project was described by its founders, William G. Thomas III and Edward L. Ayers, as "an applied experiment in digital scholarship."

The site includes scanned copies of four newspapers from each county and surrounding areas: the Staunton Spectator (Staunton, Virginia; Whig), the Republican Vindicator (Staunton, Virginia; Democratic), the Franklin Repository and Transcript (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Republican), and the Valley Spirit (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Democratic). Elsa A. Nystrom and Justin A. Nystrom noted that the digital platform encourages users to navigate the material by selecting their own path, allowing for "alternative readings" based on individual interests. They also highlighted the site's potential depth, which could lead users to inadvertently miss some content.

In 2022, to mark its 30th anniversary, New American History released an updated version of the project, featuring enhanced images and improved search functionality. The original and updated versions remain accessible online.