- Photograph by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Unidentified Man or Men
- Date
- 1861-1865
- Medium
- albumen and silver on paper on card mount
- Dimensions
- H x W (Image): 3 3/4 × 2 1/4 in. (9.5 × 5.7 cm)
- H x W (Sheet): 4 × 2 3/8 in. (10.2 × 6 cm)
- Caption
- This unidentified young man's age combined with his civilian clothing (excepting the kepi) and his carrying of a canteen and valise indicate he was likely the servant of a U.S. military officer and not a soldier himself. The teenager is probably carrying the canteen and valise of the officer who employed or enslaved him.
- Description
- A carte-de-visite with an albumen print depicting an unidentified young man or teenaged boy wearing civilian and military clothing in front of a camp scene backdrop. He wears a kepi, a dark vest buttoned over a high-necked white shirt, a light colored roundabout jacket, and light colored baggy trousers. A canteen is slung across his chest and he holds a valise in his left hand. A pocket watch can be seen on his left chest on top of his vest, and another metal pin is attached at his proper right breast onto his vest. The painted studio backdrop behind him depicts a military camp scene with tents, soldiers by a cannon, and a U.S. flag flying from a tall pole. The print is mounted on off-white cardboard. Written at the reverse top edge in graphite is the name "Ben".
- Collection title
- Liljenquist Family Collection
- Classification
- Photographs and Still Images
- Type
- cartes-de-visite
- albumen prints
- portraits
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
- Object number
- 2016.166.21
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




