ca. 1862, [Cumberland Landing, Va., Federal encampment on Pamunkey River, Va.], James Gibson via the Library of Congress, Civil War Glass Negative Collection

ca. 1862, [Cumberland Landing, Va., Federal encampment on Pamunkey River, Va.], James Gibson

via the Library of Congress, Civil War Glass Negative Collection

ca. 1880’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman, his head super imposed on a hand painted building] via the San Francisco Museum of Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1880’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman, his head super imposed on a hand painted building]

via the San Francisco Museum of Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of the photographer, Benjamin Lochman, with his camera],  B. Lochman’s Photographic Gallery via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of the photographer, Benjamin Lochman, with his camera],  B. Lochman’s Photographic Gallery

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs

c. 1860’s [tintype portrait of a gentleman and his dog and a small child, barely visible to the far left of the image] via I Photo Central

c. 1860’s [tintype portrait of a gentleman and his dog and a small child, barely visible to the far left of the image]

via I Photo Central

ca. 1896, “The Operating Theatre [Metropolitan Hospital, London]” via the Wellcome Library, Archives and Manuscripts Collections

ca. 1896, “The Operating Theatre [Metropolitan Hospital, London]”

via the Wellcome Library, Archives and Manuscripts Collections

ca. 1853, [daguerreotype portrait of Josephine Clofullia, P.T. Barnum’s “The Bearded Lady of Geneva”], Thomas M. Easterly via the Missouri History Museum

ca. 1853, [daguerreotype portrait of Josephine Clofullia, P.T. Barnum’s “The Bearded Lady of Geneva”], Thomas M. Easterly

via the Missouri History Museum

ca. 1850’s, [portrait of a gentleman with photographic equipment] via the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Daguerreobase

ca. 1850’s, [portrait of a gentleman with photographic equipment]

via the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Daguerreobase

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a manically smiling gentleman] via the Daguerreian Society, Julian Wolff Collection

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a manically smiling gentleman]

via the Daguerreian Society, Julian Wolff Collection

ca. 1880-90’s, [cabinet card portrait of snake charmer Lulu Lataska], Charles Eisenmann via the Syracuse University Library, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1880-90’s, [cabinet card portrait of snake charmer Lulu Lataska], Charles Eisenmann

via the Syracuse University Library, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1860, [daguerreotype portrait of two women; one with a letter, the other consoling] via Christie’s

ca. 1860, [daguerreotype portrait of two women; one with a letter, the other consoling]

via Christie’s

ca. 1870-79, [tintype portrait of a pantomimist] via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographs Collection

ca. 1870-79, [tintype portrait of a pantomimist]

via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographs Collection

ca. 1870, [Tintype portrait of a gentleman pensively playing the accordion] via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs

ca. 1870, [Tintype portrait of a gentleman pensively playing the accordion]

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs

ca. 1865-75, [portrait of a gentleman with woodworking tools and a pipe] via the Southern Methodist University Libraries, Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photography Collection

ca. 1865-75, [portrait of a gentleman with woodworking tools and a pipe]

via the Southern Methodist University Libraries, Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photography Collection

ca. 1852, “Fire Engine Dinkey, Union Fire Company”, Thomas M. Easterly via the Missouri History Museum

ca. 1852, “Fire Engine Dinkey, Union Fire Company”, Thomas M. Easterly

via the Missouri History Museum

ca. 1864, [carte de visite portrait of Henry O. Nightingale], JNO Holyland Metropolitan Gallery An abolitionist, Nightingale joined the Northern army at the start of the Civil War in 1861. In 1862 he joined the 108th New York Infantry Regiment. He fought in a dozen battles, including Gettysburg, and was promoted to corporal on March 1, 1864. via the Online Archives of California, UC Merced Special Collections Library, Henry O. Nightingale Diaries

ca. 1864, [carte de visite portrait of Henry O. Nightingale], JNO Holyland Metropolitan Gallery

An abolitionist, Nightingale joined the Northern army at the start of the Civil War in 1861. In 1862 he joined the 108th New York Infantry Regiment. He fought in a dozen battles, including Gettysburg, and was promoted to corporal on March 1, 1864.

via the Online Archives of California, UC Merced Special Collections Library, Henry O. Nightingale Diaries

"Until the handkerchief of history covers us with its Times New Roman black and white post script..."

This blog is a collection of vernacular photography and ephemera focused mainly within the curious and often misunderstood realm of 19th century America. I have a soft spot for all things silly, antiquated, macabre, and grotesque. The content is from a variety of collections; public, academic, and private. In addition, there's an occasional emphasis on Ulysses S Grant and the Civil War, as well.

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