COLLECTION GUIDES

ca. 1860-1880

Guide to the Photograph Collection

Restrictions on Access

Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below).


Collection Summary

Title: 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment photographs
Dates: ca. 1860-1880
Physical Description: 108 photographs in 1 pamphlet box and 1 oversize box
Call Number: Photo. Coll. 72
Location: In the Massachusetts Historical Society Photo. Archives.
Repository:
Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston StreetBoston, MA 02215

Abstract

This collection contains tintype, ambrotype, and albumen portraits of soldiers and officers of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the first Black regiment from the North during the Civil War, as well as photos of the regiment's military camps, battles, and flags.

Collection Description

This collection contains photographs of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the first Black regiment raised in the North during the Civil War. They were collected by Capt. Luis F. Emilio, commander of Company E of the regiment. The photos date from ca. 1860 to ca. 1880 and include tintypes and one ambrotype of African American members of the regiment, as well as albumen photographs of its officers, including Robert Gould Shaw. There are also photographs of the regiment's military camps at Jacksonville, Fla. and Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Folly Island, and Morris Island, S.C., as well as photographs of Fort McAllister, Georgia and the siege of Fort Wagner on Morris Island in 1863. One photograph that depicts the flags of the 54th Mass. Volunteer Infantry Regiment has pieces of the original flags attached. Photographers include George S. Cook and Haas & Peale; most of the photographers are unidentified.

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Arrangement

This collection is arranged by format: tintypes (arranged alphabetically) in one pamphlet box; ambrotype (stored apart from the collection in Photo. Coll. 2, Ambrotype collection); and albumen photographs in one oversize box (listed in the original order in which Capt. Luis F. Emilio pasted them to large sheets of paper).

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Acquisition Information

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment were removed from the Records of the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a gift by Mary Silsbee Emilio to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1920.

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Restrictions on Access

Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below).

Detailed Description of the Collection

All inscriptions in the hand of Luis F. Emilio.

The photographs in this collection have been digitized. Click on the photograph numbers below to access digital images.

Box 1#72.1 digitized
Arnum, Charles H., 1864. Private, Co. E.Photographer unknown (Morris Island, S.C.).Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Copy of photo taken at Morris Is. in 1864. / Pvt. Chas H. Arnum Co. E. North Adams. Prop. of Luis F. Emilio."

Box 1#72.2 digitized
Brown, Abraham F. (d. 1863), ca. 1862-1863. Private, Co. E.Photographer unknown (Readville, Mass.).Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Accidentally killed by a pistol shot, while cleaning the arm July 12, 1863. at James Island, S.C. Probably taken at Readville, M [inscription torn off]."

Box 1#72.3 digitized
Brown, Abraham F. (d. 1863), ca. 1862-1863. Private, Co. E.Photographer unknown.Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Pvt Abraham Brown Co. E. Shot himself accidently July 12 '63 Prop of L. F. Emilio."

Box 1#72.4 digitized
Gomar, Richard, wearing the membership badge of the Grand Army of the Republic, ca. 1880. Private, Co. H.Photographer unknown.Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Richard Gomer or Gomes as he writes it. Pvt. Co H. Cedar Rapids 251 S. 8th St. Iowa."

Listed in Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War (pub. 1931-1937) as "Gomar, Richard."

Box 1#72.5 digitized
Goosberry, John, ca. 1865. Musician, Co. E.Photographer unknown.Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Musician John Goosberry Co. E. 54th Mass. Property of L. F. Emilio."

Box 1#72.6 digitized
Johnson, Alexander H., ca. 1863-1865. Musician, Co. C.Photographer unknown.Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Alex H. Johnson Musician Co. C 54th Mass. Inf. From Capt. Homans."

Box 1#72.7 digitized
Netson, William J., ca. 1863-1864. Musician, Co. E.Photographer unknown.Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Wm J. Netson Mus. Co. E. Return to L. F. Emilio."

Box 1#72.8 digitized
Smith, Charles A., ca. 1880. Private, Co. C.Photographer unknown.Tintype.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 19).

Inscription on back of tintype: "Pvt. Chas. A. Smith. Co. C. Property of L. F. Emilio."

Box 1#2.162 digitized#72.9
Steward, Henry F., 1863. Sergeant, Co. E.Photographer unknown.Hand-colored quarter-plate ambrotype in wood and paper mat.Removed to Special Collections (Miniature cabinet, drawer 22/Daguerreotypes).

Also known by alternate spelling: "Henry F. Stewart."

OS Box 1#72.10 digitized
Shaw, Robert Gould (1838-1863), ca. 1863. Colonel.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.11 digitized
Hallowell, Edward N. (d. 1871), ca. 1863-1865. Colonel, Co. B.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.12 digitized
Hooper, Henry Northey, ca. 1865. Lieutenant Colonel.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.13 digitized
Appleton, John W. M., ca. 1863-1864. Major, Co. A.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.14 digitized
Pope, George, ca. 1863-1865. Major, Co. I.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.15 digitized
Halton, James M., ca. 1863-1865. Major.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.16 digitized
Stone, Lincoln R., ca. 1863-1865. Surgeon.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.17 digitized
Briggs, Charles E., ca. 1863-1865. Surgeon.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.18 digitized
Brigham, C. A., ca. 1863-1865. Assistant Surgeon.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.19 digitized
Pease, Giles M., ca. 1863-1865. Assistant Surgeon.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.20 digitized
Radzinsky, Louis D., ca. 1863-1865. Assistant Surgeon.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.21 digitized
Treadwell, Joshua B., ca. 1861-1864. Assistant Surgeon.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.22 digitized
Appleton, Thomas L., ca. 1863-1865. Captain.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.23 digitized
Bridge, Watson W., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.24 digitized
Chipman, Charles G., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. D.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.25 digitized
Emerson, Edward B., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. E.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.26 digitized
Emilio, Luis F. (b. 1844), ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. E.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.27 digitized
Grace, James W., ca. 1860. Captain, Co. A and Co. C.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.28 digitized
Homans, William H., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. A.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.29 digitized
Howard, Willard, ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. H and Co. I.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.30 digitized
James, Garth W., ca. 1860. Captain, Co. G.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.31 digitized
Jewett, Richard H. L., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. K.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.32 digitized
James, Edward L., ca. 1863-1865. Captain.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.33 digitized
Joy, Charles F., ca. 1864-1865. Captain, Co. F and Co. I.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.34 digitized
Reed, Lewis, ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. F and Co. K.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.35 digitized
Russel, Cabot J., ca. 1863. Captain, Co. H.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.36 digitized
Simpkins, William H., ca. 1863. Captain, Co. K.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.37 digitized
Tucker, Charles E., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. H and Co. I.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.38 digitized
Willard, Samuel, ca. 1863. Captain, Co. B.Photographer unknown.

Inscription under photograph reads: "Capt. Samuel Willard (Mann)."

OS Box 1#72.39 digitized
Cousens, Joseph E., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. E.Copy photograph, original taken by J. S. Variell.
OS Box 1#72.40 digitized
Partridge, David A., ca. 1863-1865. Captain.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.41 digitized
Smith, Orrin E., ca. 1863-1864. Captain Co. G.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.42 digitized
Newall, Robert R., ca. 1863-1865. Captain, Co. B.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.43 digitized
Duren, Charles M., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. D.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.44 digitized
Hallett, Charles A., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.45 digitized
Higginson, Francis L., ca. 1863-1864. Lieutenant, Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.46 digitized
Leonard. Andrew W., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. K.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.47 digitized
Littlefield. Henry W., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. H and Co. K.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.48 digitized
Ritchie, John, ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.49 digitized
Rogers, Frederick E., ca. 1864-1865. Lieutenant, Co. A.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.50 digitized
Spear, Daniel G., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. E.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.51 digitized
Stevens, Edward L., 1864. Lieutenant, Co. H.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.52 digitized
Tomlinson, Ezekial G., ca. 1863-1864. Lieutenant, Co. I.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.53 digitized
Whitney, William L., Jr., ca. 1864-1865. Lieutenant, Co. G.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.54 digitized
Bridgham, Charles B., ca. 1863-1864. Lieutenant.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.55 digitized
Conant, John H., ca. 1865. Lieutenant, Co. A and Co. B.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.56 digitized
Edmands, Benjamin B., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.57 digitized
Jewett, Charles, Jr., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.58 digitized
Johnston, Alexander, ca. 1863. Lieutenant, Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.59 digitized
Knowles, Alfred H., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. A.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.60 digitized
McDermott, William, ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. I and Co. K.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.61 digitized
Pratt, James Albert, ca. 1863-1864. Lieutenant, Co. G.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.62 digitized
Swails, Stephen A., ca. 1863. Lieutenant, Co. D and Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.63 digitized
Tilden, Joseph, ca. 1860. Lieutenant, Co. H.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.64 digitized
Vogelsang, Peter, ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. H.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.65 digitized
Helster, Fred H., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.66 digitized
Welch, Frank M., ca. 1863-1865. Lieutenant, Co. F.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.67 digitized
Wilder, John, ca. 1863. Lieutenant.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.68 digitized
Dexter, Benjamin F., ca. 1863-1864. Lieutenant, Co. C.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.69 digitized
Hunter, David, ca. 1863-1865. Major-General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.70 digitized
Strong, George C., ca. 1863-1865. Major-General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.71 digitized
Hawley, Jos. R., ca. 1863-1865. General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.72 digitized
Gillmore, Quincy A., ca. 1863-1865. Brigadier-General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.73 digitized
Terry, Alfred Howe, ca. 1863-1865. General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.74 digitized
Seymour, Truman, ca. 1863-1865. General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.75 digitized
Saxton, Rufus, ca. 1863-1865. Brigadier-General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.76 digitized
Hatch, John P., ca. 1863-1865. General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.77 digitized
Foster, John G., ca. 1863-1865. General.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.78 digitized
Copy photograph of 90 Civil War officers (most unidentified), n.d.Possibly taken by George S. Cook.

Inscription on back of photo: "From photo plate owned by Geo. S. Cook, photographer, 913 E. Main St., Richmond, Va., purchased by me in March 1895, i.e. this photo, having seen the plate in Richmond, Va when there in Jan. 1895 - L. F. E."

OS Box 1#72.79 digitized
Members of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment and 1st New York Engineers at the Siege of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, S.C., 1863.Taken by Haas & Peale.
OS Box 1#72.80 digitized
Members of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Fort Wagner, Morris Island, S.C., after its capture, 1863.Taken by Haas & Peale.
OS Box 1#72.81 digitized
Military camp at Folly Island, S.C., ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.82 digitized
"Beach before Wagner, Morris Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.83 digitized
"Dress Parade in Fort Wagner, Morris Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.84 digitized
"Interior Fort Wagner, Morris Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.85 digitized
"Gun on Morris Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.86 digitized
"Old Beach House, Morris Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.87 digitized
"Camp [at] Folly Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.88 digitized
"Camp of Lieut. Col. Hall on Folly Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.89 digitized
"Stockade for Confederate Prisoners on Folly Island," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.90 digitized
"Port Royal House, Hilton Head, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.91 digitized
"Army Pier at Hilton Head," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.92 digitized
"Transport steamer Fulton," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.93 digitized
"Steamer Nelly Baker," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.94 digitized
"Beaufort Hotel, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.95 digitized
"Arsenal, Beaufort, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.96 digitized
"Episcopal Church, Beaufort, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.97 digitized
"School Teacher Residence, Beaufort, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.98 digitized
"Bay Street, Beaufort, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.99 digitized
"Siege Guns, Beaufort, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.100 digitized
"Camp, 1st N.Y. Engineer near Beaufort," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#71.101 digitized
"Camp in Florida," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.102 digitized
"Street in Jacksonville, Florida," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.103 digitized
"Navy Machine Shop, Navy Point, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.104 digitized
"S. A. Cooley outfit, Port Royal," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.105 digitized
"Quartermaster Depot, Jacksonville, Florida," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.106 digitized
"Fort McAllister, Georgia," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.107 digitized
"[Charleston?] - Charleston, S.C.," ca. 1863-1864.Photographer unknown.
OS Box 1#72.108 digitized
Three flags of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, ca. 1894.Photographer unknown.

Photograph mount also displays cloth pieces of the flags, with captions.

Inscription on photograph: "Portions of 54th flags / -from- / Mrs. [illegible] Homans, Jan 17, 1894."

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Preferred Citation

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment photographs, Photo. Coll. 72, Massachusetts Historical Society Photo Archives.

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Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Cook, George S. (George Smith), 1819-1902, photographer.
Emilio, Luis F. (Luis Fenollosa), b. 1844.
Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863--Photographs.

Organizations:

Haas & Peale, photographers.
United States. Army. African American troops--Photographs.
United States. Army--Flags--Photographs.
United States. Army. Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 54th (1863-1865)--Photographs.

Subjects:

African American soldiers--Massachusetts--Photographs.
Beaufort (S.C)--Photographs.
Folly Island (S.C. : Island)--Photographs.
Fort McAllister (Ga. : Fort)--Photographs.
Fort Wagner (S.C.)--Photographs.
Hilton Head Island (S.C.)--Photographs.
Jacksonville (Fla.)--Photographs.
Military camps--Photographs.
Morris Island, Battle of, S.C., 1863 (July 10-September 7)--Photographs.
Port Royal (S.C.)--Photographs.
Portrait photographs.
Soldiers--Photographs.
Tintypes.
United States--History--Civil War, 1863-1865--Flags--Photographs.
United States--History--Civil War, 1863-1865--Participation, African American--Photographs.
United States--History--Civil War, 1863-1865--Photographs.

Collection processed by Megan K. Friedel, Mar. 2003.

Revised 30 Apr. 2021

Encoded by Megan K. Friedel, Oct. 2004.