Photographic Album belonging to Nashville photographer C. C. Giers, containing approximately 110 CDVs of members of Nashville's York Rite Commandery of Knights Templar, including President Andrew Johnson. Album cover embossed "Sir Knight Chas. C. Giers Nashville Commandery No. 1 at KT " (Note: Giers was listed in some early documents as "Charles" and "Carl" alternately). The vast majority of the images bear the backstamp of Giers, one of Nashville's most important early photographers. Nearly all CDVs have a pencil inscription beneath identifying them (however, these may not be period inscriptions and may not be entirely accurate); some include photographic negative numbers. This Reconstruction era album contains likenesses of some of Middle Tennessee's most prominent citizens including Civil War veterans and politicians. Most recognizable is Andrew Johnson, who joined the Nashville Commandery in 1859 and was elected President of the United States in 1865. Among those pictured are Col. Lucius Polk (erroneously identified as "Genl Polk" ) , George Dickel (of the whiskey business), Dr. Henry Sheffield, John Frizzell, George N. Wells, Robert Bransford, Dr. George Blackie, Sumner Kirkpatrick, W. F. Foster, Capt. William Stockell, John B. Norris, R.H. Howell, C.W. Peden, H.L. Blanton, Thompson Anderson, Frank Stiener (2 identical images), J. M. Anderson, Dr. W.H. Morgan, H.L. Claiborne, J. B. Clemmons, Capt. Geo. Dashiel, Maj. E.F. Falconet, Ed Hicks II, Edwin Fields, Morton B. Howell, Dan Hillman, Jonathan Huntingdon, J.B. Hamblin, Daniel Hillman, George Jenkins, J.C. Warner, etc. Carl C. (C.C.) Giers himself is pictured, and there are two additional cabinet card images of men wearing Masonic aprons, likely the Grand Masters. Album - 11" x 8 3/8". Circa 1869. NOTE: A list of all identification captions is available on request. Provenance: the estate of Giers descendant Sarah Hunter Hicks Green, formerly of Historic Devon Farm, Nashville, Tennessee. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)

Album Cover has separated from internal pages, with spine and front cover detached from back cover. Pages have foxing, handling grime and some scattered small edge tears. The images themselves are in generally good condition with light discoloration and some scattered spots and stains.