Civil War Era Primary Sources

Exploring a few of the thousands of primary sources related to the Civil War

Civil War Era Photographs

Historians have estimated that during the years of the Civil War, over 5,000 photographers made images of the historical events. From April 1861 to April 1865, photographers covered everything from Fort. Sumter to Appomattox and in between they captured images of battlefields, soldiers, cities, and civilians.

During the war, the process of creating images was still a new process, and photographers such as Matthew Brady were masters of the art of what was known as wet-plate photography. Brady was also the first person to organize a group of field photographers to cover the war. He was also the first to publish albums full of images of the war.

Photography during the Civil War had a wide-reaching impact on the public’s perception of everything from their leaders to the harsh realities of warfare. Most of the soldiers, both North and South, who fought in the war had their photos taken. Most of these images were tintypes. Images of everyday life both at home and in camp were also photographed for the first time during the Civil War.

Historians agree that photography changed how people viewed the war. The horrors of war were on display to the public at exhibits in New York and Washington or even made into engravings in newspapers. Photography also helped those in power, including President Lincoln who credits Matthew Brady with him to be re-elected.

Selected Civil War Photographs Home Page

America’s First Look into the Camera: Daguerreotype Portraits and Views, 1839-1864

U.S. Civil War Center — Images and Art

History of Civil War Photography

The Civil War Photography Center

MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Civil War Battlefields

Photography and the Civil War, 1861–1865 | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline

TreasureNet Historical Image Collection

Civil War Photographs: Taking Photographs at the Time of the Civil War

Does The Camera Ever Lie?

Beyond Face Value: Depictions of Slavery in Confederate Currency

The Daguerreian Society and the Daguerreotype