- Photograph by
- Hinkle, David, American, 1837 - 1916
- Subject of
- Bell, John R., American, died 1898
- Signed by
- Bell, John R., American, died 1898
- Subject of
- Nields, Henry C., American, 1838 - 1880
- Date
- 1885
- Medium
- photographic gelatin and silver on photographic paper on card mount
- Dimensions
- H x W (image): 5 7/8 × 4 1/8 in. (15 × 10.4 cm)
- H x W (sheet): 6 1/2 × 4 1/4 in. (16.5 × 10.8 cm)
- Caption
- John R. Bell was a steward on the Battleship Maine. Bell officially joined the Navy in 1871, although he may have begun his service as a servant to a naval officer during the Civil War. Prior to the Maine, he served on the St. Louis and Lancaster. He was known as a very kind man, beloved by the sailors on the ships he served. When the Maine was lost in Havana harbor in 1898, Bell was one of the missing men whose body was never recovered from the wreckage.
- Description
- A black-and-white cabinet card portrait of John R. Bell. He is pictured from the waist up and is looking directly at the camera. He has a mustache and goatee and is wearing a dark colored naval jacket over a dark colored necktie and white shirt. The jacket is double breasted with large buttons. A tie tack in the shape of an anchor adorns his necktie. The back of the photograph is inscribed "to Paul," and signed by John R. Bell, dated "Christmas 1885." A second inscription reads, "John R. Bell, with Lieutenant Commander Henry C. Neilds USN, Christmas 1885." The back also has the photographer’s mark, [Hinkle / 4739 & 41 / MAIN STREET GERMANTOWN PA.], at center.
- Place captured
- Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- Liljenquist Family Collection
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Media Arts-Photography
- Type
- cabinet photographs
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
- Topic
- Military
- Photography
- Slavery
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Liljenquist Family
- Object number
- 2018.43.7
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.