Tom Liljenquist and his sons, Jason, Brandon and Christian, built a collection of more than 2,000 special portrait photographs, called ambrotypes and tintypes and small card photos called cartes de visite. The photographs show Union and Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and also often show weapons, hats, musical instruments, painted backdrops, and other details that show a bit more about the lives of the soldiers and the culture of the time. The Liljenquist family began donating their collection to the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division back in 2010, and have continued to add to it. You can check out some of the photographs below, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Unidentified soldier in Confederate uniform and slouch hat. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Library of Congress
Unidentified soldier in Union uniform and forage cap with portraits of Lincoln, Johnson, and an unidentified boy in a book-shaped locket with pages.
Date Created/Published: between 1861 and 1865.
African American woman identified as “Aunt Fannie,” servant of the Lott family / Fredricks & O’Neil, Fifth Avenue Photograph Gallery, 179 Fifth Avenue, New York ; L.D. Fredricks ; John O’Neil.
Creator(s): Fredricks & O’Neil, photographer
Three unidentified men in Union uniforms and two unidentified men, one pointing a revolver at another’s head. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Library of Congress
Lynchburg Rifles, J. Ray, Co. E, Va. Regt., Lynchburg, Va., 11th Infantry. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Library of Congress
Unidentified soldier in 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment uniform with rifle and same soldier in uniform with an unidentified woman, probably his wife. Date Created/Published: United States, between 1861 and 1864.
Library of Congress
Lorenzo Hawkins of Company I, 12th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Library of Congress
Unidentified soldier in Confederate shell jacket and tricorn hat with the first model Maynard carbine. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Library of Congress
Brothers Private Henry Luther and First Sergeant Herbert E. Larrabee of Company B, 17th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Major Thomas B. Beall of Company I, 10th Mississippi Infantry Regiment with bayoneted musket, with two stars in case. Taken between 1861 and 1865.
Library of Congress
Private Hiram L. Barrett of Co. K, 7th Connecticut Infantry Regiment in uniform with bayoneted musket, and nine-month-old girl, Marrie. Date Created/Published: 1862.
Sisters Lucretia Electa and Louisa Ellen Crossett in identical skirts, blouses, and jewelry with weaving shuttles. Creator(s): Hall, Alfred, 1826-, photographer
Library of Congress
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