Visual Materials

American Civil War cartes-de-visite album

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Type: Visual Materials(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1864-1865.
Call number: photCL 252
Provenance: Gift of Miriam Ziegler, October 1980.
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
Rights: The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining permission rests with the researcher.
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Civil War carte-de-visite album

Visual Materials

An album with 177 photographs taken during the Civil War, especially carte-de-visite portraits of Union and Confederate generals, high ranking officers, and contemporary political and public figures. The photographs have handwritten captions in German. A note laid in the front of the volume is signed by Agnes Salm-Salm, the wife of the Prussian mercenary Prince Felix zu Salm-Salm who was appointed colonel of the 68th New York Infantry Regiment. While most of the images are studio portraits, there are a few photographs of military scenes in Tennessee; Dalton, Georgia; and an army field camp in Virginia, dated 1863. Some of the photographs are autographed, including the portrait of General Joseph Hooker. The captions of some of the photographs indicate that the subjects are European aristocrats, including Graf von Paris, Herzog von Chartres, Prinz von Joinville, and Baron von Gerolt. In some cases the captions identify the regiment that the subject is associated with, and there are several members of the 68th New York Infantry Regiment. The album also contains an illustrated portrait of Union General James B. Steedman; a photograph of President Andrew Johnson, dated 1867; a colored sketch of purple and white flowers; and several composite cartes-de-visites of Civil War officers. The collection contains pictures of women and children, including two tin-type photographs, both studio portraits. On the last page of the album there is a studio portrait of John Wilkes Booth; "Washington and Lincoln (Apotheosis)," a photograph after a painting by James Ferris; a photograph of the marriage of Tom Thumb; and a studio portrait of Frederick d'Utassy as a flag bearer.

photCL 84

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Civil War carte-de-visite album

Visual Materials

A photograph album containing Civil War carte-de-visite studio portraits including twenty-six members of the 17th Michigan Infantry, three officers of the 20th Michigan Infantry, and one of the 2nd Michigan Infantry, as well as nineteen portraits of high-ranking Union officers, members of Abraham Lincoln's cabinet, and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. In addition, there is one photograph of a child's body with the head of Jefferson Davis pasted on it, with the handwritten label "Jeff Davis-'on his last legs.'" All but one of the subjects have handwritten identifications written on album page. With handwritten note on flyleaf: "This album was picked up on the battle field after the battle of Nigh Run, Virginia, May 9/64. By C. D. Todd." There are two portraits of Todd in the album.

photCL 569

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Carte-de-visite album

Visual Materials

Two photograph albums of Pilliner family and other portraits, chiefly taken by William H. Pilliner, an early photographer in the American West. Subjects include Pilliner, his wife Eliza Jane (McGuire) Pilliner, members of the Pilliner and McGuire families, and associates. One album contains cartes-de-visite and tintypes, the other is larger, containing mostly cabinet card photographs. The images date from approximately 1870s to 1902, and some are inscribed. The collection also includes a typescript by Cornelia Elizabeth McGuire (Eliza Jane's sister) of the McGuire family genealogy from 1700 to the mid-1900s, and a typescript of W. H. Pilliner's biography. One photograph depicts G. W. Jenkins and I. N. McGuire, the proprietors of the Santa Maria Times, superimposed over a photograph of the newspaper. Some imprints on the images say "W. H. Pilliner, Pioneer Artist" and studio locations include Reno and Idaho Falls. There are also a few photographs by Piggott & Shaw of Santa Rosa, California.

photCL 202

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G.M. Wheeler album of carte-de-visite photographs of engraved portraits of Civil War-era officers

Visual Materials

An album with 100 carte-de-visite photographs of steel engraved portraits of President Abraham Lincoln, his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, members of his administration, and officers of the U.S. Army. All images are photographic reproductions of steel-engraved portraits (creators unknown). One looke photograph has the imprint of "Elias Dexter, 564 Broadway." Sitters include William H. Seward, Edwin M. Stanton, U.S. Grant, William T. Sherman, Joseph Hooker, Philip Sheridan, C.B. Smith, Gideon Wells, Salmon P. Chase, E. Babs, M. Blair, Gen. John Morgan, Robert B. Taney, Valandingham, Winfield Scott, A.L. Duryea, Reno, McCook, Gen. Shields, Gen. E.V. Sumner, Gen Burns, Gen. Pleasanton, Jollicoffer (?), Gen Van Dorn, Gen. Mansfield Lovell, Maj. Gen. Meade, Lt. Worden, Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace, Gen. McClellan, Gen. M.C. Meigs, Gen. Mansfield, Gov. Sprague, Com. Porter, Com. Stringham, Maj. Gen. McDowell, Maj. Gen Sedgwick, Maj. Gen. Sheridan, Col. Ellsworth, Gen. Siegel, Maj. Gen. Rosecrans, Gen. Magruder, Gen. Polk, Gen. Sickles, Gen. Stoneman, Gen. J.H.H. Ward, Gen. Stevens, J.P. Benjamin, Maj. Gen. Schofield, Maj. Gen. Reynolds, Maj. Gen. Smith, Maj. Gen. Wool, Gen. Lyon, Ge. Mitchel, Com. Wilkes, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, Com. Foote, Com. Farragut, Gen. A.P. Hill, Gen. Halleck, Gen. Burnside, Maj. Gen. Hunter, Maj. Gen. W.S. Hancock, Maj. Gen. Banks, Gen. Anderson, Maj. Gen Heintzelman, Gen. Beauregard, Gen. Baker, Maj. Gen. Butler, Gen. Benham, Com. Dupont, Maj. Gen. Dix. Many pages include two portraits of the same subject.

photCL 100

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Carte-de-visite album

Visual Materials

A small album of 32 cartes-de visite, primarily souvenir images of Algiers, dated 1884 in handwriting on the backs of several images. Some photographs of Grace and Dora Dalziel, unidentified people, and tintypes of three men, who appear to be Dalziels.

Volume 10

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Unidentified family carte-de-visite album

Visual Materials

A photograph album of carte-de-visite studio portraits and a few tintypes of men, women, and children. There are no identifications in the album, but a name was found written in ink on the back of the first photograph: William B. Leach, in a portrait by Alexander Hesler, Chicago, Ill. Imprints seen on several other photographs are from studios in Aurora and Elgin, Illinois. There are two portraits of young men in Civil War soldier's uniforms.

photCL 364

American Civil War cartes-de-visite album

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Civil War carte-de-visite album

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