Photo of midshipmen drilling with Dahlgren boat howitzers at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, c. 1860s/1870s. The dormitory named Stribling Hall is said to be building visible in the background. Originally published as a stereoview.
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Friday, May 29, 2026
Photo of Midshipmen Drilling With Dahlgren Boat Howtizers at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland (1860's)
Friday, May 22, 2026
Engraving of a Lost Photo of Lieutenant Cornelius Van Camp (1850's)
Engraving of a lost photo of Lieutenant Cornelius Van Camp who was serving with the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment at the time of his death, c. 1850s. Van Camp was killed at the Battle of the Wichita Village in Indian Territory (today known as Oklahoma) on October 1, 1858. His body was later sent home to be reburied in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in March 1859. The original photo was taken by photographer William L. Gill of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The engraving was published in the April 2, 1859 issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.
Source: Internet Archive.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Engraving of a Lost Photo of Governor Jonathan Trumbull's Tomb in Lebanon, Connecticut (1859)
Engraving of a lost photo of Governor Jonathan Trumbull's tomb in Lebanon, Connecticut, 1859. Trumbull had served as governor of Connecticut during most of the American Revolutionary War. The engraving was originally published in the April 30, 1859 issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. The original photo is attributed to photographer Henry Lord Gay, which might be the same person as the later notable architect. Gay seems to have been living in Connecticut in 1859, but he would have only been around 15 years old when the photo was taken.
Source: Internet Archive.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Engraving of a Lost Daguerreotype Photo of Empress of Haiti Adélina Lévêque (1850's)
Engraving of a lost daguerreotype portrait of Empress of Haiti Adélina Lévêque, c. 1850s. The daguerreotype was taken by the New York City photography firm Meade brothers. The engraving was originally published in the February 12, 1859 issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. There appears to be no known surviving original photos of Lévêque.
Source: Internet Archive.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Engraving of a Lost Daguerreotype Photo of Emperor of Haiti Faustin Soulouque (1850's)
Engraving of a lost daguerreotype portrait of Emperor of Haiti Faustin Soulouque, c. 1850s. The daguerreotype was taken by the New York City photography firm Meade brothers. The engraving was originally published in the February 12, 1859 issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. There appears to be no known surviving photos of Soulouque.
Source: Internet Archive.
Friday, May 8, 2026
Photo of a Lost Battle of Lookout Mountain Painting by English Artist James Walker Featuring One of Mathew Brady's Photography Studio Skylights in the Background (1860's)
Friday, April 10, 2026
Daguerreotype Photo of a Group Posing in Front of a Building Containing J. H. Phillips' Photograph Gallery in St. Louis, Missouri (1865)
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Early Photo of Buildings in Elmira, New York (1856)
"Elmira, N.Y., from Haight's Hotel." Early photo of buildings in Elmira, New York, c. 1856. Taken by photographer Frederick Langenheim and originally published as a stereoscopic photo in an album.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Early Daguerreotype Photo of a Street on a Market Day in Baltimore, Maryland (1840's)
Early daguerreotype photo of a street on a market day in Baltimore, Maryland, c. 1840-1844. A number of market day vendors are visible on the left hand side of the street. Taken by photographer Henry Fitz, Jr.
Friday, March 13, 2026
Photo of Union Soldiers of the 7th New York State Militia Regiment Posing in Front of a Building During the American Civil War (1860's)
Photo of Union soldiers of the 7th New York State Militia Regiment posing in front of a building during the American Civil War, location unknown, c. 1861-1863. Two black civilians and another soldier can be seen peering out of windows/doors on the first floor of the building.
Friday, February 20, 2026
Hand-Colored Photo of Two Cobblers Posing With Tools in a Mockup of a Boot Store Called the J. Brinton Book Maker (1860)
Hand-colored photo of two cobblers posing with tools in a mockup of a boot store called the J. Brinton Book Maker, c. 1860. Originally published as a stereoview and probably produced by a British photography company.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Photo of a Crowd Watching a Parade on a Street in Carthage, Missouri (1870's)
"Public square, north side." Photo of a crowd probably watching a parade go by on a street in Carthage, Missouri, c. 1870s. Tracking down the location of the J. M. Whitsett Dry Goods store was how I was able to identify where this was taken.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Early Photo of a Family Posing in Front of a Log Cabin House Somewhere in Kansas Territory (1859)
"Log Cabin, Kansas." Photo of a family posing in front of an expanded log cabin house somewhere in Kansas Territory, c. 1859. Taken by photographers Charles and Edward Bierstadt while members of the Landers Expedition and originally published as a stereoview. Surviving stereoview cards from this series are extremely rare.
Friday, January 16, 2026
Early Photo of Cattle in a Stockyard in Chicago, Illinois (1870's)
"Chicago Stock Yards No. 1." Early photo of cattle in a stockyard in Chicago, Illinois, c. 1870s. Taken by photographer Louis Magnus Melander and originally published as a stereoview.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Photo of Lucinda Peale Posing with a Fan in the Backyard of the Peale's Residence Along K Street in Washington DC (1860's)
Photo of Lucinda Peale, the second wife of artist Titian Ramsay Peale, posing with a fan in the backyard of the Peale's residence along K Street in Washington, D.C., c. 1860-1865. Taken by Titian Ramsay Peale and originally created as a stereoview. There appears to be another person with crutches or a camera tripod visible at far left.
Friday, January 9, 2026
Photo of Prisoners and Guards in the Yard of Vermont State Prison in Windsor, Vermont (1870's)
Photo of a line of prisoners and guards in the yard of Vermont State Prison in Windsor, Vermont, c. 1870s. Taken by photographer A. S. Vose and originally published as a stereoview.















