Civil War Era Photographic Portraiture #001
Originally Published in American Civil War Chronicles
Title: [Unidentified cadet in Virginia Military Institute uniform]
Date Created/Published: 1845.
Medium: 1 photograph : sixth-plate daguerreotype ; 9.4 x 8.1 cm (case)
Summary: Portrait of a young man who, in later years, might have fought in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier. The initials VMI, visible on his cap, are laterally reversed because of the daguerreotype process.
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-34334 (digital file from original item)
Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Call Number: DAG no. 1447 [P&P]
Notes:
…..Title devised by Library staff.
…..Case: Rinhart, no. 138 (reverse image).
…..Gift; Tom Liljenquist; 2012; (DLC/PP-2012:127).
…..More information about this collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.lilj
…..Purchased from: Bill Turner, La Plata, Maryland, 2012.
…..Forms part of: Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs (Library of Congress).
…..Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress).
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Mike’s notes:
Note – This image has been digitally adjusted for one or more of the following:
– fade correction,
– color, contrast, and/or saturation enhancement
– selected spot and/or scratch removal
– cropped for composition and/or to accentuate subject
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I’ve always had a fascination with the uniforms of the military. Whether that’s the historical details, the pride of wearing it, or simply enjoying the aesthetics of it, I think having something to wear that identifies you as part of a specific sub-culture is important. Here is an unidentified cadet in Virginia Military Institute (VMI) uniform (1845).
When you’re in the military or at a military academy, wearing the uniform is not a choice that enables you to be identified as a part of a sub-culture. It’s a requirement. This student at VMI was required to wear the uniform in 1845.
Thanks for commenting.