Original and nearly pristine photograph album containing 20 images (18 CDVs and 2 tintypes). The album itself is beautifully embossed in gold and measures a relatively diminutive 5” x 2.75." It bears the maker stamp of Samuel Bowles & Company, Springfield, Massachusetts on the interior of the back cover, and, on the inside of the front cover, a small pasted label that indicates it was sold by L. Merriam, Greenfield, Massachusetts. A pencil inscription also on the inside front cover reads: “From Emma Frances to Aunt Lizzie - July 22nd 1870.”

Highlights of Aunt Lizzie’s album include a wonderful portrait of a woman who appears to be teaching a young African American man in uniform to read. He gazes at her while she points to what appears to be a notebook folded open on the photographer’s table. The young man is dressed simply in a shell jacket and and loose-fitting drab pants, attire commonly worn by "contraband" escaped slaves that affiliated with Union forces. These “runaways” were primarily laborers initially, but many enlisted in United States Colored Troops regiments once recruiting began in 1863. Others, perhaps like this man, were taken North to be educated after their liberation. The subjects are unknown at this time. Under the photo lies the photographer’s mark: “DOANE, Charlestown.” On the verso the photographer’s back mark reads “R.N. Doane (Successor to I. Bryant,) 140 1-2 Main Street, Charlestown, Mass. Additional Copies at any time.”

Powerful image of a young man who was perhaps given the opportunity, for the first time, to shape his own destiny in America through education.

Also in the album is a carte-de-visite portrait of a Union officer holding what appears to be an ornate presentation sword. He is identified on the album page as “J. H. Brown”. J. H. Brown appears to be John Harties Brown, a Canadian who immigrated to Charlestown, Massachusetts from Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1850s and married Elizabeth Sargent (Possibly “Aunt Lizzie”). He enlisted in the 5th Massachusetts, a 60-day regiment, in April, 1861. He then re-enlisted as a sergeant in the 36th Massachusetts Infantry, where he served until August of 1863. He was subsequently commissioned a Captain in the 12th Kentucky Infantry, where he served until July of 1865. On November 30, 1864, Captain Brown captured a Confederate battle flag at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, an action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865. Brown’s CDV is in very good condition and at one point was slightly trimmed along the bottom edge to fit into an album. Importantly, this image has the backmark of “J.H. Van Stavoren’s Metropolitan Gallery, 53 College Street, Nashville, Tenn. H. Hall, Photographer.” This location would of course be entirely consistent with where Brown served during his time as an officer with the 12th Kentucky. We know of no other copy of this image in existence. Brown died in 1905 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Other album highlights - and there are several more - include what appears to be a still-life of a Civil War era telegraph machine, an outdoor shot of the episcopal church in Amherst, Massachusetts (which still stands today), and several images of well-dressed adult men and women. Several of these sitters are at least partially identified on their respective album pages.  Most have backmarks related to either Charlestown or nearby locations in Massachusetts. This is an outstanding and historic album worthy of both additional research and a place in any high-end historic photography collection.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Abolitionist, Abolition, Slave, Slavery, Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln] [19th Century Photography, Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, CDV, carte-de-visite, albumen, cabinet card] [Abraham Lincoln]